What symptom might indicate a cook should be reassigned to duties such as cleaning tables?

The symptom that indicates a cook should be reassigned to duties such as cleaning tables is persistent drainage from the nose, eyes, or mouth. This symptom can be a sign of an infectious condition, such as a cold or flu, which poses a risk for foodborne illness or cross-contamination in a food preparation environment. Individuals who exhibit symptoms that could be contagious should be moved away from food handling tasks to ensure food safety and to prevent the spread of illness to customers or other staff members.

While the other symptoms, such as frequent headaches, persistent cough, and fatigue, may indicate that an individual is unwell, they do not specifically suggest a direct risk of transmitting illness to food. Headaches can arise from various non-contagious causes, and while a persistent cough could be symptomatic of an illness, it may not involve direct secretions that could contaminate food unless accompanied by other symptoms like drainage. Fatigue and tiredness, although potentially indicative of an underlying condition, do not demonstrate an immediate risk of spreading infections in the same way that drainage can.