Could this be happening, people exposed to virus occilating shedding/not shedding?

[grahamg]

This is just my two pennyworth, and not backed by any science at all, but it occurs to me some of those previously exposed to this Coronavirus, and maybe asymptomatic, or mostly asymptomatic on first exposure, may nonetheless occilate, as their immune systems go up or down, due to stress or whatever, to either shedding the virus, or not shedding it, when their own overall health varies?

My work placement issued digital thermometers four months ago, (I work through an agency, so a temporary post). We were encouraged, or told, to take our own temperatures before coming to work, and frequently during the day, and given charts to record the temperatures, as it varies quite a bit, even when you're not I'll, and each individual can be helped by knowing your normal range. I found it most useful, and have carried on taking my temperature ever since, but some work mates couldn't be bothered to take their own temperatures once.

Issuing everyone with a thermometer might be a simple, and practical step, and if there is anything in my notion, as our immunity varies, and thus our potential risk to others varies, should we have once been infected unknowingly, or without any obvious symptoms, but it still makes us intermittent shedders of the virus? .

 

[MarciKS]

We're forced to take our temps before work & record them. We don't have a choice in the matter. If our employee number doesn't show up when we've worked something will be said. What I don't like is the communal digital thermometer they gave us. We're supposed to sanitize it use it & sanitize it again. That doesn't always happen. I put on my gloves & sanitize it both before & after use. I keep the gloves on for the communal pen to record it on the communal clip board.

Also that thing isn't very accurate. It reads me too low. If I had an actual fever of 100° or more it would show that I was normal @ 98°.

 

[grahamg]

We're forced to take our temps before work & record them. We don't have a choice in the matter. If our employee number doesn't show up when we've worked something will be said. What I don't like is the communal digital thermometer they gave us. We're supposed to sanitize it use it & sanitize it again. That doesn't always happen. I put on my gloves & sanitize it both before & after use. I keep the gloves on for the communal pen to record it on the communal clip board.

Also that thing isn't very accurate. It reads me too low. If I had an actual fever of 100° or more it would show that I was normal @ 98°.

I agree as to accuracy of some digital thermometers, and when I returned from the placement I mentioned, I went back to using my own digital one, and have more faith in its accuracy, (the difference wasn't so great as to make the ones we were given significantly misleading though).

I agree, it is a very bad idea to share a thermometer, and wouldn't trust any efforts to disinfect it completely. .

 

[Tommy]

What I don't like is the communal digital thermometer they gave us. We're supposed to sanitize it use it & sanitize it again.

Wow! What a good example of "penny wise and pound foolish". Digital thermometers can be purchased for under $10 and non-contact thermometers for under $40. Can you bring your own?

 

[garyt1957]

Seems counter productive to let people take their own temps. Only takes one person to test high but decide they can't afford to go home so they fake the number. Or some jacka-- to just not care.

 

[StarSong]

At this age, I know when I have a fever. A thermometer merely confirms it and lets me know the exact temperature.

Agree with @garyt1957, self-reporting isn't necessarily the smartest way to go. When I've had to go to a doctor, dentist or ER since mid-March, someone has been at the entryway, scanning everyone with a contact-free thermometer before allowing them inside. Patients and employees alike.

 

[grahamg]

Wow! What a good example of "penny wise and pound foolish". Digital thermometers can be purchased for under $10 and non-contact thermometers for under $40. Can you bring your own?

It does seem a very odd thing to do, as you'd expect them to be liable to getting sued, should the worse happen, and you could prove where the infection came from somehow(?).
A none contact thermometer would sound a much better bet, if they have to be used communally.
One last point, I agree forcing everyone to take their temperature has pitfalls, but there is an element of reassurance to the individual in having a chart showing your temperature reading, measured over a long period, and it must give some kind of reassurance to others, that the company is taking the risks seriously, and trying to minimise them, and if there are " Typhoid Marys" out their, you have to accept some might not teprt a high temperature whatever you do. .
(Apologies for being unable to spell "oscillating" yesterday btw! ).

 

[StarSong]

(Apologies for being unable to spell "oscillating" yesterday btw! ).

LOL - I chalked it up to a British spelling of the word and didn't give it a second thought.