Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #108

[Lilibet]

No surprises there!

Today my husband went to his endocrinologist who told him the pandemic is over and to go live his life and do whatever he wants to do- my husband is 80---

Were you with your husband and did you hear the doctor say this? I believe you’ve mentioned that your husband has to be “reminded” to be cooperative about covid precautions…or am I getting you mixed up with another member? He may have heard what he wanted to hear. Personally, I would call the office or message the doctor on MyChart and ask if that’s the info they’re giving out. It sounds like a “misunderstanding” to me!

 

[Gemmie]

Made strange purchases during pandemic? Experts can tell you why

View attachment 342288

While I didn't buy mine during CV, I have one that's similar that one of my cats used to play what I call Kitty Golf. There's a half dozen ping pong balls all over the house and she bats them around and I would come home from work and find several inside the tent. And it had a much smaller opening!! I was like Awwwwwww.... =^..^=


Ping pong balls make great cat toys. They are so light that one smack with their paw sends them flying. (Sorry for going off topic here) One of my cats loved to fetch and used to stuff one into her mouth and run over to me with it. Then you'd hear a "Puh" sound as she forced the ball out of her mouth with her breath, then look around wildly for me to throw it again. She'd do this over and over and over. The only thing is she never let me see her actually shove the ball into her mouth. Her back was always to me and I'd see her sit up telling me both front paws were then off the floor stuffing the ball into her mouth.

Sorry for the off topic! @Cool Cats post made me do it!! =^..^=

 

[Lilibet]

Shortened and BBM for focus.

When the pandemic began, the CDC said COVID exposure was considered as 15 minutes or more less than six-feet away from someone infected with the virus. Health experts at UW Health say omicron doesn't follow that rule.

"It was under 15 minutes you were unlikely to get infected but I don't think that message has necessarily been updated as we've had more contagious variants so like 15 Minutes is no longer at all pertinent. Right now, with omicron we don't measure contact times in minutes it's in seconds. If you're around someone for 10-30 seconds who has omicron you're exposed enough to get infected," explained Pothof.

UW Health: Omicron exposure takes seconds, addresses nose vs. throat testing

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) - This week, the United States FDA cautioned against using at-home COVID-19 tests to collect samples from the throat instead of a nasal sample, as the tests instruct. "FACT:

www.cbs58.com

Thanks. Good info. I wonder if the CDC has updated. I didn’t see it when I posted their guidelines. I’ll check later.

 

[Gemmie]

OK, all caught up after finding this thread due to the new site format making it pop up. I apologize if it felt like I took over the thread. That was me catching up and responding as I went. All done now! Well, I'll continue to respond... just not back to back like I did. lol

 

[Lilibet]

OK, all caught up after finding this thread due to the new site format making it pop up. I apologize if it felt like I took over the thread. That was me catching up and responding as I went. All done now! Well, I'll continue to respond... just not back to back like I did. lol

I’ve appreciated your posts and look forward to more.

 

[Gemmie]

I’ve appreciated your posts and look forward to more.

Thank you. I'm glad I found this thread because I like to help people with this issue, but no one I know in real life wants to hear what I've got to say as it's too depressing for them. Now I found a place I can contribute to where people are interested about the topic.

I'm a believer that data can help you be safe, pretending something doesn't exist does not.

Speaking of which... I don't recall seeing anyone talk about the free N95 masks that were sent to pharmacies across the country. Are you guys aware of that?

with the omicron variant raging across the United States, you might be wondering: Are your favorite cloth masks enough to keep you protected?

cloth masks, which are often made of materials like cotton, don’t do much to protect you from inhaling particles that carry the virus — and with a virus as infectious as omicron, that becomes a problem.

“Essentially, interactions that previously wouldn’t have resulted in infection are now making people sick,” Dr. Gordon says. “Researchers are still pinpointing exactly how much more infectious omicron is than its predecessors, but at this point, it’s clear that omicron is indeed more infectious — which means we all need to be taking additional precautions.”

In mid-January, the CDC announced that loose-fitting cloth masks were not enough to protect against omicron. To give yourself the best shot against the variant, upgrade your cloth masks and instead choose a high-filtration mask that fits closely to your face.

Are Cloth Masks Enough To Protect Against Omicron?

Is your collection of cloth masks enough to protect you from the more infectious omicron variant? Learn why you should upgrade your face mask.

health.clevelandclinic.org

Free masks (I'd call first so you're not running all over town. I can see some pharmacies not updating the CDC. I have noticed a LOT of discrepancies when it comes to CV data): Masks and Respirators

Just to be clear... I didn't mean the CDC has discrepancies (but they likely do), I'm talking about all the data I track (and it's a lot!) that shows very different data, even for the same exact thing. For instance... the same site show my counties case count per 100K different in 2 places on the same page. It's frustrating because I track this data in a spreadsheet with graphs that I created. I'm keeping a close eye on things around here.

 

[Gemmie]

I didn't see anyone post about Aaron Collins, the self-proclaimed Mask Nerd.

By day, Collins, 37, works as mechanical engineer at a Minneapolis company that makes hard drives. Because he has a background in aerosol science, Collins became curious about how well the face masks available to the public actually worked.

“I happen to be a super nerd. And at the start of the pandemic, I had all the equipment in my basement needed to do basic tests of masks,” he said. “So I wondered, how good were these KN95s and KF94s I was hearing about?”

Here is his twitter with a link to his spreadsheet with all the tests he's performed. Fair warning... it's a LOT and a tad overwhelming.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1476668499649044484

Here's his Google docs drive with all his testing data, how to figure out mask sizing, etc.

Mask Testing Data - Google Drive

drive.google.com

Here is his youtube with a lot of vidoes he's made on his testing. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3fF_rzkmZD0ufN685YE7lg

 

[anneg]

OK, all caught up after finding this thread due to the new site format making it pop up. I apologize if it felt like I took over the thread. That was me catching up and responding as I went. All done now! Well, I'll continue to respond... just not back to back like I did. lol

Gemmie, are you aware that this thread is part of the Covid Forum?

Coronavirus - Covid-19

www.websleuths.com

Some of the threads are no longer active

 

[Gemmie]

Gemmie, are you aware that this thread is part of the Covid Forum?

Coronavirus - Covid-19

www.websleuths.com

Some of the threads are no longer active

No, I did not. Thank you!

 

[Springrain]

Has anyone tried MaskC brand masks? I ordered some KN95s from them that are on the way now. Hoping they offer good protection with COVID and all the other nasty stuff going around.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I'm curious about something. Do they know for SURE that they never had an asymptomatic breakthrough case? I ask because even the healthy, with no underlying conditions, can end up with heart problems (and/or diabetes). That risk to develop either is for ~1 yr after infection.

Myocarditis: inflammation of the heart. The coronavirus may infect and damage the heart’s muscle tissue directly, as is possible with other viral infections, including some strains of the flu. The heart may also become damaged and inflamed indirectly by the body’s own immune system response.

Coronavirus infection also affects the inner surfaces of veins and arteries, which can cause blood vessel inflammation, damage to very small vessels and blood clots, all of which can compromise blood flow to the heart or other parts of the body.

Stress cardiomyopathy. Viral infections can cause cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disorder that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. When attacked by a virus, the body undergoes stress and releases a surge of chemicals called catecholamines, which can stun the heart. Once the infection resolves, the stressor has ended and the heart can recover.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that emerged in December 2019. Learn about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

People who got COVID-19 and were asymptomatic, or got COVID-19 that was so mild that they were able to nurse it at home, without going to the doctor still developed an increased risk of heart problems a year out.

COVID and the Heart: It Spares No One | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

New evidence suggests anyone infected with COVID is at higher risk for heart issues—a risk that persists even in relatively healthy people long after the illness has passed.

publichealth.jhu.edu

People who had covid-19 were at greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within a year than those who managed to avoid the coronavirus, according to a large review of patient records released Monday.

The finding is true even for people who had less severe or asymptomatic forms of coronavirus infection, though the chances of developing new-onset diabetes were greater as the severity of covid symptoms increased, according to researchers who reviewed the records of more than 181,000 Department of Veterans Affairs patients diagnosed with coronavirus infections between March 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/21/covid-infection-diabetes/

Doctors have known about the diabetes for some time I believe. I was diagnosed pre diabetic early in 2021 from an annual bloods review after having Covid in March 2020. Back then, the nurse said they were seeing a pattern emerging.

 

[Lilibet]

Doctors have known about the diabetes for some time I believe. I was diagnosed pre diabetic early in 2021 from an annual bloods review after having Covid in March 2020. Back then, the nurse said they were seeing a pattern emerging.

I was diagnosed pre-diabetic in March 2021 about a month after having covid. I’m not surprised, and assumed it was family history and my own poor habits. I didn’t realize there was a pattern until recently.

 

[Lilibet]

Speaking of which... I don't recall seeing anyone talk about the free N95 masks that were sent to pharmacies across the country. Are you guys aware of that?

with the omicron variant raging across the United States, you might be wondering: Are your favorite cloth masks enough to keep you protected?

cloth masks, which are often made of materials like cotton, don’t do much to protect you from inhaling particles that carry the virus — and with a virus as infectious as omicron, that becomes a problem.

Yes, we talked about the free N95 masks several threads ago. I prefer a reputable K95 mask as it’s easier for me to get on and off. Of course, I have to make sure my hearing aids don’t go flying in the process!

 

[weepingangel]

And it’s so important especially now with everyone else being UNmasked that the one you’re using (if you so choose) is a good one. N95 if you can (I know some can’t)

Watching an new (I think) HBO documentary “How to survive a Pandemic” just getting started - on the vaccine and Warp Speed.

How to Survive a Pandemic movie review (2022) | Roger Ebert

An inherently engrossing documentary, considering its subject matter, that preaches to the double-boosted choir.

www.rogerebert.com

Thank you. I'm glad I found this thread because I like to help people with this issue, but no one I know in real life wants to hear what I've got to say as it's too depressing for them. Now I found a place I can contribute to where people are interested about the topic.

I'm a believer that data can help you be safe, pretending something doesn't exist does not.

Speaking of which... I don't recall seeing anyone talk about the free N95 masks that were sent to pharmacies across the country. Are you guys aware of that?

with the omicron variant raging across the United States, you might be wondering: Are your favorite cloth masks enough to keep you protected?

cloth masks, which are often made of materials like cotton, don’t do much to protect you from inhaling particles that carry the virus — and with a virus as infectious as omicron, that becomes a problem.

“Essentially, interactions that previously wouldn’t have resulted in infection are now making people sick,” Dr. Gordon says. “Researchers are still pinpointing exactly how much more infectious omicron is than its predecessors, but at this point, it’s clear that omicron is indeed more infectious — which means we all need to be taking additional precautions.”

In mid-January, the CDC announced that loose-fitting cloth masks were not enough to protect against omicron. To give yourself the best shot against the variant, upgrade your cloth masks and instead choose a high-filtration mask that fits closely to your face.

Are Cloth Masks Enough To Protect Against Omicron?

Is your collection of cloth masks enough to protect you from the more infectious omicron variant? Learn why you should upgrade your face mask.

health.clevelandclinic.org

Free masks (I'd call first so you're not running all over town. I can see some pharmacies not updating the CDC. I have noticed a LOT of discrepancies when it comes to CV data): Masks and Respirators

Just to be clear... I didn't mean the CDC has discrepancies (but they likely do), I'm talking about all the data I track (and it's a lot!) that shows very different data, even for the same exact thing. For instance... the same site show my counties case count per 100K different in 2 places on the same page. It's frustrating because I track this data in a spreadsheet with graphs that I created. I'm keeping a close eye on things around here.

 

[anneg]

Yes, we talked about the free N95 masks several threads ago. I prefer a reputable K95 mask as it’s easier for me to get on and off. Of course, I have to make sure my hearing aids don’t go flying in the process!

I mostly use the KN95 masks. However, we use KF94 masks (recommended for singers) for singing with the choir and the community chorus.

I'm quite familiar with the flying hearing aids problem! The combination of a mask, hearing aids, and glasses always presents a challenge!

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Almost 15 million people died due to pandemic - WHO​

The Covid-19 pandemic killed almost 15 million people in 2020 and 2021, the World Health Organization has estimated.

This is up to triple the number of deaths attributed directly to the disease.

The World Health Organization's long-awaited estimate of the total number of deaths caused by the pandemic - including lives lost to its knock-on effects - finally puts a number on the broader impact of the crisis.

"New estimates from the World Health Organization show that the full death toll associated directly or indirectly with the Covid-19 pandemic between 1 January, 2020 and 31 December, 2021 was approximately 14.9 million (range 13.3 million to 16.6 million)," the UN health agency said in a statement.

The figure calculates what is termed as excess mortality due to the Covid-19 crisis, which has upended much of the planet for more than two years.

"These sobering data not only point to the impact of the pandemic but also to the need for all countries to invest in more resilient health systems that can sustain essential health services during crises, including stronger health information systems," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Excess mortality is calculated as the difference between the number of deaths that have occurred and the number that would have been expected in the absence of the pandemic, based on data from earlier years.

Excess mortality includes deaths associated with Covid-19 directly, due to the disease, and indirectly due to the pandemic's impact on health systems and society.

(...)

The WHO said that most of the excess deaths - 84% - were concentrated in southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas.

(...)

The WHO said the 14.9 million figure was produced by leading world experts who developed a methodology to generate estimates where data is lacking.

Many countries do not have the capacity for reliable mortality surveillance and therefore do not generate the data needed to work out excess mortality rates - but can do so using the publicly available methodology.

Almost 15 million people died due to pandemic - WHO

The Covid-19 pandemic killed almost 15 million people in 2020 and 2021, the World Health Organization has estimated.

www.rte.ie

 

[Chelly]

I am still wearing a mask in public, either a KN95, or sometimes an N95. I don't go to many places and sometimes I am one of the few people in Walmart wearing a mask. I had an appointment for cataract surgery assessment last week. None of the technicians nor doctors wore a mask. But I did. The three technicians and doctor got really close to my face during exam. I could smell what two of them had for lunch. I hope to heck that when they perform my cataract surgery, masks will be worn.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Has anyone tried MaskC brand masks? I ordered some KN95s from them that are on the way now. Hoping they offer good protection with COVID and all the other nasty stuff going around.

Yes, I have tried that brand and wear daily. The solid black seem to make my “maskne” worse so I stick with the lighter colors.
I can tolerate this type for work and find them comfortable.
Don’t tug on the black ear loops too hard or they will break off at the mask point of attachment. (I’ve done this three times while trying to stretch the ear loop on one side because it seemed a bit shorter than the other side) lol
The colors are pretty. JMO

 

[Mo Thuairim]

I am still wearing a mask in public, either a KN95, or sometimes an N95. I don't go to many places and sometimes I am one of the few people in Walmart wearing a mask. I had an appointment for cataract surgery assessment last week. None of the technicians nor doctors wore a mask. But I did. The three technicians and doctor got really close to my face during exam. I could smell what two of them had for lunch. I hope to heck that when they perform my cataract surgery, masks will be worn.

Can you ask that they wear a mask next time? I understand why that might feel awkward but they probably wouldn't mind if it would put you more at ease. In my country, staff and patients are both still required to wear masks in medical settings although it's optional just about everywhere else. I had an eye appointment recently and everyone was masked up so I was happy as the case numbers were high at the time, and they really get up in your face for all the testing. I'm sure a polite and friendly request that they wear a mask would be no big deal to them. I guess if they say no, at least you tried! But anyway during the actual surgery itself I'm sure masks will be worn, as with all surgical procedures.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Were you with your husband and did you hear the doctor say this? I believe you’ve mentioned that your husband has to be “reminded” to be cooperative about covid precautions…or am I getting you mixed up with another member? He may have heard what he wanted to hear. Personally, I would call the office or message the doctor on MyChart and ask if that’s the info they’re giving out. It sounds like a “misunderstanding” to me!

If my husband’s endocrinologist said that I’d be looking for a new one.

Sending the doctor a message on MyChart sounds like a good idea.
JMO