wildrose wrote:Symptom list for COVID-19 has been expanded
Reportedly schools planning on live, in-person classes are asking students and staff to self-screen and to stay home if they have any covid-19 symptoms. The problem with that is that the list of covid-19 symptoms is expansive and includes: chest congestion, temperature, nasal congestion, sore throat, upset stomach, diarrhea, and general body aches. (Additionally, swollen testicles and chest pain are two less common symptoms which have been added to the list.) If staff and students take this literally, then they would be expected to stay home quite frequently, which could be more than just a little problematic, it seems to me. Add to this the fact that people can spread the virus long before symptoms ever appear and it seems ridiculous to even consider in-person education at this time.
There is no solution other than staying away from other people that will stop the spread of the virus. You can have it without even realizing it and be spreading the virus the whole time. You could test every two weeks, but still wind up getting it two days after a test and be spreading it during the interval before the next test. You could have symptoms, but really have something else. You might not have symptoms, but actually have it. You might dismiss symptoms and go about your business as if there were no issues only to be spreading the virus the whole time. Social distancing and masks are not anywhere close to a guarantee that the virus won't be transferred. The closest thing there is to a guarantee is just staying completely away from other people. Even that is difficult, but it is the best method available to ensure the containment of the virus.