Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #103

[nhmemorymaker]

Out of curiosity, why would it be medically necessary to know which variant it is for any one particular individual? Would it change the recommended treatment?

This is now getting very confusing.... IF they keep reporting these explosive Omicron numbers in the states, it appears as if they are doing the testing for the counts.

But the data being exchange here, makes it sound as if the Omicron verification is just a crap shoot.

 

[Satchie]

...millions are still flying in spite of rising coronavirus cases. The TSA says it screened 2.19 million people at airports across the country on Thursday, the highest figure since the uptick in holiday travel started a week ago.

RSBM

As you've experienced, I have this vision of millions of people around the world, shopping, wrapping their gifts, preparing elaborate meals, decorating, going to church, travelling long distances, all so that, in the spirit of generosity, they can bring covid to those they love the most, and all fall wretchedly ill together. The true spirit of Christmas!

Get well soon!

 

[Rose in SC]

My daughter's Christmas plans just exploded. She is in Philly, her fiance's family in Jersey. Six, SIX different family members have come down with "something"... three already tested positive for covid. It's almost as if we are all "glad" that it happened just before Christmas, rather than during.....

That's exactly how I felt when my son-in-law tested positive on Tuesday. So far my daughter and their toddler are fine; she was boosted, son-in-law was not. Pretty sure it's Omicron. His only symptoms are a bad head cold and extreme fatigue.

 

[CrimeAway]

COVID deaths obscured by inaccurate death certificates

 

[jakat]

A member of my family was boosted in October only to learn she didn't have any antibodies left from the first two shots. She has had Moderna for all 3 shots, which is what I have had. Everyone in my family has had Moderna, except for my husband who had 3 shots of Pfizer.

I can only wonder how many people are out there who have not gotten a booster yet or are unwilling, who don't have any antibodies left. Might as well say they're unvaccinated. Scary thought.

 

[CharlestonGal]

I was just in the kitchen making lunch and realized I feel markedly better. I was a bit dubious yesterday when the infusion center said I would likely feel much better by today, but I do. At the moment I only feel like I have a mild/moderate cold instead of feeling like death warmed over.

It's remarkable.

 

[jakat]

I was just in the kitchen making lunch and realized I feel markedly better. I was a bit dubious yesterday when the infusion center said I would likely feel much better by today, but I do. At the moment I only feel like I have a mild/moderate cold instead of feeling like death warmed over.

It's remarkable.

So happy your feeling better.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

I was just in the kitchen making lunch and realized I feel markedly better. I was a bit dubious yesterday when the infusion center said I would likely feel much better by today, but I do. At the moment I only feel like I have a mild/moderate cold instead of feeling like death warmed over.

It's remarkable.

That is great news! I hope you continue to improve and are feeling better soon.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

More than 2,000 flights canceled on Christmas Eve - CNN

New York (CNN Business)Airlines have canceled thousands of flights on Christmas Eve, including hundreds of US domestic flights, as staff and crew call out sick during the Omicron surge.

Globally, airlines have canceled over 2,000 flights, 454 of which are within, into or out of the United States.

Operational snags at airlines are coming as millions are still flying in spite of rising coronavirus cases. The TSA says it screened 2.19 million people at airports across the country on Thursday, the highest figure since the uptick in holiday travel started a week ago.

My traveling kids report the airports were busy and all of their flights were delayed a bit. The two from NY flew in Wednesday. Thankfully, the last one arrived late last night from Maine after several delays. They all said that most everyone wore a mask and drinks were not served on the plane to avoid mask removal. No unruly passengers, either.

 

[ilovewings]

I was just in the kitchen making lunch and realized I feel markedly better. I was a bit dubious yesterday when the infusion center said I would likely feel much better by today, but I do. At the moment I only feel like I have a mild/moderate cold instead of feeling like death warmed over.

It's remarkable.

I am so happy for you-- thank goodness they have a treatment now
that can turn this thing around in a short period of time----

 

[MajorHoople]

The third paragraph sounds hopeful.

New York smashes its COVID record AGAIN with 44,431 new cases recorded in 24 hours | Daily Mail Online

"New York shattered its COVID cases record for the third day running, recording an enormous 44,431 new cases on Christmas Eve.

The numbers were shared by State Governor Kathy Hochul at a Friday morning press conference. She blamed the huge spike on the Omicron variant, estimated to be behind 92% of new infections in the Empire State, and said: 'This is a very, very contagious variant.'

But Hochul also struck a note of optimism, insisting: This is not Delta. This is Omicron, which thus far has demonstrated that it's not as severe in its impact. This is not the same situation we had in March 2020 or even last winter’s surge. We’ve had more testing. We’ve had more opportunities."

 

[ilovewings]

A member of my family was boosted in October only to learn she didn't have any antibodies left from the first two shots. She has had Moderna for all 3 shots, which is what I have had. Everyone in my family has had Moderna, except for my husband who had 3 shots of Pfizer.

I can only wonder how many people are out there who have not gotten a booster yet or are unwilling, who don't have any antibodies left. Might as well say they're unvaccinated. Scary thought.

That is probably true and oddly, there are lots of people
who have not gotten that booster and I cant understand why so few people haven't gotten it- I heard only 35% of people have gotten it

 

[CrimeAway]

A member of my family was boosted in October only to learn she didn't have any antibodies left from the first two shots. She has had Moderna for all 3 shots, which is what I have had. Everyone in my family has had Moderna, except for my husband who had 3 shots of Pfizer.

I can only wonder how many people are out there who have not gotten a booster yet or are unwilling, who don't have any antibodies left. Might as well say they're unvaccinated. Scary thought.

Antibodies always drop after vaccination or infection. They should hopefully have B and T cells in the background. B cells recognize a foreign antigen, and make new antibodies, and T cells are believed to help prevent against severe disease. JMO.

 

[musicaljoke]

Out of curiosity, why would it be medically necessary to know which variant it is for any one particular individual? Would it change the recommended treatment?

Possibly, but the bigger issue is that covid is a global, public health, reportable disease, and data about variants is collected so that the global issue can be studied.

So while an insurance provider might not need to collect the data, the public health system uses the information in order to track outcomes, speed of transmission, vulnerable populations, emerging variants, treatments, prevention protocols, etc.

 

[nightowl1975]

Possibly, but the bigger issue is that covid is a global, public health, reportable disease, and data about variants is collected so that the global issue can be studied.

So while an insurance provider might not need to collect the data, the public health system uses the information in order to track outcomes, speed of transmission, vulnerable populations, emerging variants, treatments, prevention protocols, etc.

A random sampling of test samples are sent for genomic sequencing to determine which variants we are dealing with in any particular community/area. I’m still not understanding why we would expect private health insurance companies to pay for testing that doesn’t appear to be medically necessary in order to treat a specific individual. We are already collecting data on different variants with the federal government footing the bill for that testing. Why would a private insurance plan agree to pay for testing just to appease someone’s personal curiosity? That doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[Bravo]

I had my Pfizer booster a week ago today. I had side effects for 3 days. Which I was happy to have. Be safe everyone.

 

[nightowl1975]

The fun has begun at work with two employees testing positive. One had Covid in 2020 and is triple vaccinated with Pfizer. Another that’s triple vaccinated. I’m expecting more to come up positive when staff re-test next week. It had been several months since we had seen a positive employee, so it definitely feels discouraging, though not at all surprising.

 

[Arkay]

That is probably true and oddly, there are lots of people
who have not gotten that booster and I cant understand why so few people haven't gotten it- I heard only 35% of people have gotten it

If you'll forgive me, @CharlestonGal , I think your case speaks to @ilovewings point.

From what we know of charlestongal online, I imagine she would've gotten boosted, but couldn't because of an underlying heart condition. Not her decision, of course.

However, the people I know (a growing number) that have gotten omicron have not gotten as sick as charlestongal has, because they are boosted.

Even my New Jersey friend who is immunocomprised and was deathly afraid since Covid started has only had cold symptoms since she contracted Covid, which we attribute to the booster.

So please everyone who can, please get boosted! It's a three-shot regimen, similar to many vaccines. I, too, cannot understand people who are eligible to get boosted, but willingly forfeit it. Not to mention the completely unvaccinated.

And @CharlestonGal, I'm so relieved you are doing much better today.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Christmas travelers stranded as omicron forces cancellation of thousands of flights (nbcnews.com)

"It was a bit of a gut punch," said Jaclyn Stanton, 36, who was expecting to reunite with her parents for the first time since February 2020.

Jaclyn Stanton was excited to reunite with her parents for the first time since February 2020, when she last saw them before the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Stanton said she and her husband were expecting to board their flight on Christmas morning from Chicago to Sacramento, California, where her family lives. But on Thursday night, she got a text alert from United Airlines informing her their flight had been canceled...

Stanton is one of thousands of would-be travelers who were hoping to make it home for Christmas this year but were left stranded as airlines around the world canceled hundreds of flights amid the spread of the omicron variant...

 

[CharlestonGal]

Possibly, but the bigger issue is that covid is a global, public health, reportable disease, and data about variants is collected so that the global issue can be studied.

So while an insurance provider might not need to collect the data, the public health system uses the information in order to track outcomes, speed of transmission, vulnerable populations, emerging variants, treatments, prevention protocols, etc.

That's exactly what they did with mine. Health Insurance isn't playing, but the department of public health wanted it.