Fears of spreading Covid

[Pab89]

I am a Bank Nurse with the NHS, so I work in a variety of wards, some of them Covid.

One day, I came to work a tad lightheaded with mucus sitting in my throat. I had had trouble sleeping, and commonly overproduce mucus at this time of year, so I chalked it up to that.

Throughout the day, I was constantly clearing my throat, coughing once (though not in front of patients, and while wearing a mask that I immediately changed), but because I didn't display any of the major Covid symptoms (which the NHS say you need to have to qualify for a test), I assumed it was a cold or seasonal allergies, as I am prone to these around this time.

A week or so passes, the symptoms die away, and I work in two other wards. I inform the nurses of the phelgm in my throat (they're happy to let me work), and I wear my PPE (visor included as these were Covid wards) and practice proper hand hygiene and distancing where appropriate (my thinking being that even a cold is bad to have).

After the week passes, I wake up one day and realise my sense of taste and smell is gone. Immediately, I arrange for a test and call the Bank to cancel future shifts. The test comes back positive, and my mum and I isolate (she also tests postive).

I later come to find that the first of the three wards I worked in has since become a Covid ward (it wasn't when I was last there), and now I am of course worried that I am the one that spread the virus here.

When the Track and Trace system phoned me, I told them everything about the onset of the loss of smell and taste, but also about the phelgm and the wards I worked in. I was told that they only take into consideration the main symptoms: fever (which I didn't have), loss of senses (which I later had), and continuous cough (mine wasn't continuous). Nonetheless, they took all my information.

I would definitely be more aware of this symptoms as a potential Covid symptom were it to happen again, whether it was or wasn't, but I can't help but worry about potential patients and/or staff I may have infected.

[Kitiger, RN]

 

2 hours ago, Pab89 said:

 

 

 

Throughout the day, I was constantly clearing my throat, coughing once (though not in front of patients, and while wearing a mask that I immediately changed), but because I didn't display any of the major Covid symptoms (which the NHS say you need to have to qualify for a test), I assumed it was a cold or seasonal allergies, as I am prone to these around this time.

A week or so passes, the symptoms die away, and I work in two other wards. I inform the nurses of the phelgm in my throat (they're happy to let me work), and I wear my PPE (visor included as these were Covid wards) and practice proper hand hygiene and distancing where appropriate (my thinking being that even a cold is bad to have).

 

 

 

Your symptoms were vague and mild. You used your PPE correctly and informed those in charge. And when you came up with a clear COVID symptom, you immediately canceled your shifts and got tested. 

What more could you have done? 

While it is possible that you spread COVID, I find it unlikely. Don't be too hard on yourself.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

From the government website;

"You can only get a free NHS test if at least one of the following applies:

you have a high temperature

you have a new, continuous cough

you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed

you’ve been asked to get a test by a local council

you’re taking part in a government pilot project

you’ve been asked to get a test to confirm a positive result

You can also get a test for someone you live with if they have symptoms."

https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

 

From what you have written none of these applied at the time and when they did you did everything correctly and got a test (and importantly, told your employer).

It's Winter, a time of coughs and sniffles so while yes, you could have infected others I agree with Kitiger it is unlikely. Much more likely to have come in with a patient. Don't be hard on yourself.

Take care of yourself, rest up and get well soon.