Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #103

[Trident]

More about the timeline on the Pfizer oral treatment:

In November, President Joe Biden’s administration announced it planned to purchase 10 million courses of Paxlovid for more than $5 billion. Pfizer says it expects to produce up to 80 million treatment courses by the end of 2022, with 30 million courses available in the first half of the year. In a conference call today, Jeffrey Zients, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, said 265,000 courses of Paxlovid will be available in the United States in January 2022. But because manufacturing of the drug can take up to 8 months, the full 10 million treatment courses ordered by the Biden administration won’t be available until late summer of 2022.

Ready for the next variant...?

I'm not only ready for the next variant, I'm as ready as can be for natural disasters. I look up, for my redemption draweth nigh.

 

[GRT]

South Africa's COVID-19 rates rapidly drop after Omicron spike

More good news. If this holds true, then maybe this is the end, as some predicted. Omi will infect so many, so fast (with minimal symptoms) that it will finally run out of hosts.

I'm hoping this is the case.

 

[SouthAussie]

Early modelling out of the UK.
(Based on 56,000 cases of Omicron and 269,000 cases of Delta during the first two weeks of December.)


Vaccinated - with Omicron:
Attending a hospital = 20-25% lower than with Delta
Spending at least one night in a hospital = 40-45% lower than with Delta

Unvaccinated - with Omicron:
Risk of hospitalisation = 11% lower than with Delta

Risk of hospital stay 40% lower with Omicron than Delta, UK data suggests
Report 50 - Hospitalisation risk for Omicron cases in England

 

[IceIce9]

Within 3 days? If the symptoms are cold type symptoms and tests are hard to find I find I wonder how many of us can get tested and start treatment within 3 days.

That is definitely a problem. In the area where I live all the COVID testing centers are booked out for an entire week, and that includes CVS, Walgreens, and the other pharmacies that offer testing.

The only way to get a same day or next day COVID test is at your family doctor’s office or urgent care clinic, and that is only if you can get an appointment.

 

[CharlestonGal]

How is this possible? I woke up in the middle of the night with night sweats. I didn't think much of it as it happens sometimes. Now this morning, I have a scratchy throat, congestion, sneezing, muscle aches and fatigue. I've only had one outside contact in the last two weeks - my trip to Harris Teeter yesterday. The only person who has been inside my house in the last two weeks was my housekeeper, two weeks ago today.

The earliest I can get a test today is 6:30 pm, which I just booked. My housekeeper is coming today, which is absolutely necessary as I'm scheduled to have Christmas dinner at my house. Do you think it would be okay if I open some windows before she comes and then leave for the 2-3 hours she'll be here? She's vaccinated and wears a mask when she comes. I texted her and she is comfortable with that plan.

Maybe it's just a simple cold? And what the heck am I going to do about Christmas??

 

[jjenny]

How is this possible? I woke up in the middle of the night with night sweats. I didn't think much of it as it happens sometimes. Now this morning, I have a scratchy throat, congestion, sneezing, muscle aches and fatigue. I've only had one outside contact in the last two weeks - my trip to Harris Teeter yesterday. The only person who has been inside my house in the last two weeks was my housekeeper, two weeks ago today.

The earliest I can get a test today is 6:30 pm, which I just booked. My housekeeper is coming today, which is absolutely necessary as I'm scheduled to have Christmas dinner at my house. Do you think it would be okay if I open some windows before she comes and then leave for the 2-3 hours she'll be here? She's vaccinated and wears a mask when she comes. I texted her and she is comfortable with that plan.

Maybe it's just a simple cold? And what the heck am I going to do about Christmas??

All of those symptoms sound like Omicron.
I dunno where you could have gotten it-you could have picked it up at the store yesterday, but incubation period is usually longer than just overnight. But then it is faster than with other variants.

 

[anneg]

How is this possible? I woke up in the middle of the night with night sweats. I didn't think much of it as it happens sometimes. Now this morning, I have a scratchy throat, congestion, sneezing, muscle aches and fatigue. I've only had one outside contact in the last two weeks - my trip to Harris Teeter yesterday. The only person who has been inside my house in the last two weeks was my housekeeper, two weeks ago today.

The earliest I can get a test today is 6:30 pm, which I just booked. My housekeeper is coming today, which is absolutely necessary as I'm scheduled to have Christmas dinner at my house. Do you think it would be okay if I open some windows before she comes and then leave for the 2-3 hours she'll be here? She's vaccinated and wears a mask when she comes. I texted her and she is comfortable with that plan.

Maybe it's just a simple cold? And what the heck am I going to do about Christmas??

Sorry to hear that you are sick! Let us know your test results. Do you have any rapid tests? Maybe you should postpone Christmas.

 

[CharlestonGal]

All of those symptoms sound like Omicron.
I dunno where you could have gotten it-you could have picked it up at the store yesterday, but incubation period is usually longer than just overnight. But then it is faster than with other variants.

But it can't be that much faster.....can it? Less than 24 hours to symptoms? Vaccinated 3 months ago? If not for the sweats, muscle aches (which are getting worse by the moment) and fatigue I would put it down to allergies, which I do have in the fall and the spring. This is not that. What on earth is happening? I have been 100% isolated the last two weeks. Until yesterday.

I do qualify for monoclonal antibodies as I have a pre-existing heart condition. I have a call in to my doctor's office to pre-schedule that for tomorrow if my PCR comes back positive this evening. Waiting to hear back about a tentative time.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Is Covid here to stay? What experts say about the move from pandemic to endemic (nbcnews.com)

Covid could take on a similar ebb and flow to the flu, but there is plenty left to figure out about just how severe and disruptive it will continue to be.

SEATTLE — Early in the pandemic, many people seized on the hope that Covid-19 could be stopped in its tracks and buried for good once vaccines rolled out.

But hope for a zero-Covid country fizzled for most scientists long ago.

“Everyone has stopped talking about getting rid of Covid,” Dr. Elizabeth Halloran, an epidemiologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, said of her fellow researchers. “It’s not going away, and that means it’s going to be endemic.”

Most scientists now expect the virus to circulate indefinitely with lower and more predictable case numbers — a status known as endemicity. That would make the coronavirus like many other viruses that humanity has learned to deal with, such as influenza. It remains unclear, however, whether the coronavirus will remain a greater health risk than other endemic respiratory viruses...

 

[CharlestonGal]

North Carolina police chief placed on unpaid leave for telling officers about 'clinic' to obtain Covid-19 vaccination card without getting the shots - CNN

(CNN)A North Carolina police chief has been placed on unpaid leave and probation for telling officers about a "clinic" that would issue them a Covid-19 vaccination card without actually receiving the shot, local officials said.

T.J. Smith -- the police chief of Oakboro Town, North Carolina -- violated policies including, fraud, willful acts that endanger the property of others and serving a conflicting interest when he allegedly told officers about the scheme, according to a letter addressed to him from Town Administrator Doug Burgess.

Smith, in a statement to the local newspaper, said in part: "To make a long story short, in retrospect, I made a mistake." Smith told the Stanly News & Press that a friend called and told him about a mobile vaccination clinic.

 

[Jsizzle]

Unfortunately, some seem to believe anyone who isn’t vaccinated is also out there while Covid positive just living it up, without a care in the world, trying to infect as many as possible. It’s like anyone who isn’t 1000% on board with every single precaution to the most extreme degree must be an ogre who hates mankind. It’s baffling, really. But yeah. It’s absolutely possible for a family to not be vaccinated and also not go galavanting around spreading disease and death once infected. People can think so….. black and white… and IME people are so much more complex than that in their beliefs and behaviors. All IMO.

My sister in law is a perfect example. She’s an amazing woman and a school teacher and she isn’t for the vaccines for her or her family. But she goes to work, doesn’t go out and generally keeps to herself. I respect her tremendously and she’s not out to get anyone Ans she’s certainly not out there spreading Covid around like Wildfire at raves. There can be a happy Medium. She’s just not for the vaccines for her family. I am somewhere in the middle. My husband and I got it because we travel. And we traveled all through the pandemic. But I’m not ok with vaxxing my kids (yet). I need time and more research and they are my kids and what I say goes. People should generally respect other people’s Decisions And stop questioning them and their “motives”.

 

[Jsizzle]

Its a real shame you dont have the system in place we do, where school kids have to test three times a week regardless of symptoms.

Personally, I think that’s insane.

 

[Turkeytrot]

My sister in law is a perfect example. She’s an amazing woman and a school teacher and she isn’t for the vaccines for her or her family. But she goes to work, doesn’t go out and generally keeps to herself. I respect her tremendously and she’s not out to get anyone Ans she’s certainly not out there spreading Covid around like Wildfire at raves. There can be a happy Medium. She’s just not for the vaccines for her family. I am somewhere in the middle. My husband and I got it because we travel. And we traveled all through the pandemic. But I’m not ok with vaxxing my kids (yet). I need time and more research and they are my kids and what I say goes. People should generally respect other people’s Decisions And stop questioning them and their “motives”.

I'm in the same boat as you.

 

[CSIDreamer]

How is this possible? I woke up in the middle of the night with night sweats. I didn't think much of it as it happens sometimes. Now this morning, I have a scratchy throat, congestion, sneezing, muscle aches and fatigue. I've only had one outside contact in the last two weeks - my trip to Harris Teeter yesterday. The only person who has been inside my house in the last two weeks was my housekeeper, two weeks ago today.

The earliest I can get a test today is 6:30 pm, which I just booked. My housekeeper is coming today, which is absolutely necessary as I'm scheduled to have Christmas dinner at my house. Do you think it would be okay if I open some windows before she comes and then leave for the 2-3 hours she'll be here? She's vaccinated and wears a mask when she comes. I texted her and she is comfortable with that plan.

Maybe it's just a simple cold? And what the heck am I going to do about Christmas??

I had a cold knock me over in September. I just don't get colds, flu, etc. It's been at least 25 years since I "caught" anything. I was sick for 2 weeks. Hoping it's "just" a cold.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

How is this possible? I woke up in the middle of the night with night sweats. I didn't think much of it as it happens sometimes. Now this morning, I have a scratchy throat, congestion, sneezing, muscle aches and fatigue. I've only had one outside contact in the last two weeks - my trip to Harris Teeter yesterday. The only person who has been inside my house in the last two weeks was my housekeeper, two weeks ago today.

The earliest I can get a test today is 6:30 pm, which I just booked. My housekeeper is coming today, which is absolutely necessary as I'm scheduled to have Christmas dinner at my house. Do you think it would be okay if I open some windows before she comes and then leave for the 2-3 hours she'll be here? She's vaccinated and wears a mask when she comes. I texted her and she is comfortable with that plan.

Maybe it's just a simple cold? And what the heck am I going to do about Christmas??

The following is MOO.

We have a large immediate family so our Christmas Day will be 20+ people at my sisters. We are not all testing before but we are all vaccinated and do not have any high risk folks in the group. If someone in the family gets sick with COVID like symptoms, they would test. If it is negative and some other virus, they are still welcome. That would include the host or family. That said, we are all on the same page on this and discussed it in advance. Every family is different. You will need to let everyone know. And I hope you just have a cold and feel better quick so you can carry in with Christmas.

 

[Jsizzle]

I'm in the same boat as you.

Everyone pushing this on kids needs to just slow down.

How is this possible? I woke up in the middle of the night with night sweats. I didn't think much of it as it happens sometimes. Now this morning, I have a scratchy throat, congestion, sneezing, muscle aches and fatigue. I've only had one outside contact in the last two weeks - my trip to Harris Teeter yesterday. The only person who has been inside my house in the last two weeks was my housekeeper, two weeks ago today.

The earliest I can get a test today is 6:30 pm, which I just booked. My housekeeper is coming today, which is absolutely necessary as I'm scheduled to have Christmas dinner at my house. Do you think it would be okay if I open some windows before she comes and then leave for the 2-3 hours she'll be here? She's vaccinated and wears a mask when she comes. I texted her and she is comfortable with that plan.

Maybe it's just a simple cold? And what the heck am I going to do about Christmas??

sounds exactly like my husband and me…..like to a T. We tested positive for Covid and should be out of Q by the 27th if our kids don’t end up with it. Hosting Christmas is looking grim
For you unfortunately. We had to cancel everything we had planned except friends coming to stay with us from FL for 5 days. Thankfully they are coming the day our Q ends lol

 

[Jsizzle]

The following is MOO.

We have a large immediate family so our Christmas Day will be 20+ people at my sisters. We are not all testing before but we are all vaccinated and do not have any high risk folks in the group. If someone in the family gets sick with COVID like symptoms, they would test. If it is negative and some other virus, they are still welcome. That would include the host or family. That said, we are all on the same page on this and discussed it in advance. Every family is different. You will need to let everyone know. And I hope you just have a cold and feel better quick so you can carry in with Christmas.

Agreed. It really depends on everyone’s comfort level.

 

[CharlestonGal]

I had a cold knock me over in September. I just don't get colds, flu, etc. It's been at least 25 years since I "caught" anything. I was sick for 2 weeks. Hoping it's "just" a cold.

I just got off the phone with my doctor. She's going to slide me in for a test this morning. She said IF it is covid my level of symptoms is reflective of a viral load that would almost certainly return a positive test. If it is negative, we will test again tomorrow and on Christmas morning to assure it stays negative. She's also going to run a flu test. So, fingers crossed that Christmas is not about to implode.

 

[WichitaFalls]

The following is MOO.

We have a large immediate family so our Christmas Day will be 20+ people at my sisters. We are not all testing before but we are all vaccinated and do not have any high risk folks in the group. If someone in the family gets sick with COVID like symptoms, they would test. If it is negative and some other virus, they are still welcome. That would include the host or family. That said, we are all on the same page on this and discussed it in advance. Every family is different. You will need to let everyone know. And I hope you just have a cold and feel better quick so you can carry in with Christmas.

How lucky you are to have a family that's all on the same page and that page is reasonable. Have a Merry Christmas.

 

[CharlestonGal]

The following is MOO.

We have a large immediate family so our Christmas Day will be 20+ people at my sisters. We are not all testing before but we are all vaccinated and do not have any high risk folks in the group. If someone in the family gets sick with COVID like symptoms, they would test. If it is negative and some other virus, they are still welcome. That would include the host or family. That said, we are all on the same page on this and discussed it in advance. Every family is different. You will need to let everyone know. And I hope you just have a cold and feel better quick so you can carry in with Christmas.

Yes, that's kind of the plan at the moment. Since I am obviously sick everyone is on notice we may have to postpone our Christmas party to a later date or make a short notice change of location, where I will not attend if my test is positive.

We've already talked about this previously as well. So everyone is prepared to make last minute adjustments. The irony is I'm the only one who is high risk so plans were made more to protect me than anyone else. Yet I'm now the one they need protected from.

It is what it is. I'm off to the doctor's.