[katieHaylor (OP)]

John says:

Hypothetical scenario - I have a temperature, new cough, anosmia, and generally feel unwell.
I isolate, go to bed for rest, take paracetamol, and hopefully improve.

Do I have to tell anyone? Do I have to go outside for a test? If no one knows, my infection will not be logged into the stats...

[evan_au]

Do I have to tell anyone? Do I have to go outside for a test?

I don't know what the laws are in your area....
- But knowing these symptoms, if you intentionally interacted closely with large numbers of people, that could be seen as blatant disregard for your fellow human beings; if someone dies as a direct result, this could be viewed as culpable.
- One of the people who die could be your family member, a friend or a colleague. Their other relatives, friends or colleagues may not feel quite so charitable towards you in future...
- Acting responsibly, you should get tested, and isolate until you are confirmed as negative for COVID-19

Testing is free in my country, so there is no real barrier to being tested.
- I recognize that in some other countries, there may be a significant financial barrier to getting tested
- Barriers like that means that it will be much harder to control the pandemic in those countries - a false economy

If no one knows, my infection will not be logged into the stats...

That is true.
- In fact, many (perhaps most) SARS-COV2 infections are not recorded in the stats, because so many are asymptomatic.
- But in avoiding testing, contact tracers will not be tracking down the person who gave it to you - and they are likely to be off infecting others, who will infect still others...
- And contact tracers will not be contacting the people you have been with over the previous couple of days, who may start infecting others in another 3 to 5 days
- The fact that you are experiencing symptoms means that you are more likely to become one of the people requiring hospitalization. Having a confirmed diagnosis means that appropriate monitoring and treatment can begin more quickly, and medical staff can take appropriate precautions.
- Even if it just a common cold that has symptoms similar to COVID-19, by staying away from others, you will be reducing the number of people infected with viruses that camouflage the spread of COVID-19.
- In some countries, being diagnosed with COVID-19 makes you eligible for support payments while you are in isolation (if you have no support available from sick leave, etc)

Unless you break some legal lockdown, or intentionally set out to infect as many people as possible, you are unlikely to be prosecuted for having COVID-19.
- But there is a moral responsibility to wear a mask, get a test, and stay away from others while you are ill with COVID symptoms

[set fair]

Agree. I would add that I wouldn't take paracetamol or anything which reduces fever unless the fever gets above 41. There is good evidence that fever is part of the immune response.

[evan_au]

If I have Covid symptoms, do I need to get a test?

I mentioned this question to my other half...

Get a test, ning-nong whinger!

Get a tested, you crazy complainer!

[Colin2B]

Get a test, ning-nong whinger!

Get a tested, you crazy complainer!

Not sure about that translation @evan_au
Google translate suggested ning nong is Chinese, but translated it as Ning Nong!