Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #108

[ilovewings]

I still mask everywhere I go in public. I can't believe how rampant this thing still is. I'm one of the few people I know who haven't had Covid yet and more and more people I know are getting it every day. I suppose it's just a matter of time no matter how careful I am but I'll still do my best to avoid it. My brother is still wiped out from an infection over a month ago and he was fit and healthy and boosted and all that jazz. A lot of my friends who are finally flying away on belated holidays to Spain and Italy and places like that are coming home and testing positive, sometimes for the first time but in many cases for the second time. Their symptoms and severity vary from mild to really quite horrible. I'll stay put for now.

I am beginning to think we will all eventually contract this virus------ I read that
As of now 60% of Americans have been infected

 

[weepingangel]

Fauci backs out of White House correspondents' dinner over Covid risk more@link
Fauci, 81, President Joe Biden's top Covid adviser and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told The New York Times on Tuesday that he decided not to go to the dinner "because of my individual assessment of my personal risk."

 

[Yesiamapirate]

We were due May 6th for our second booster. Despite being so careful Omicron found us. Husband had very mild symptoms. Headache and stuffy nose for a couple of days. I would say mine symptoms were mild too. I had no fever, lots of sneezing, weird film coating my mouth. No sense of taste. Muscle and joint pain. I still have joint pain in my knees and ankles. I'm sure that will pass. Thankfully it wasn't severe. I still mask. Surprised at how many are maskless here since mandate was dropped.

I am sorry you got COVID. I hope you and your husband fully recover soon.

 

[ilovewings]

DH and I went to an outdoor neighborhood gathering on Thursday. We were there (in one couple's driveway) for about an hour.

It was wonderful to see our neighbors--some new ones and some we hadn't seen for months or only in their car. No one wore masks, and neither did we. I figured we were taking a chance on being exposed but decided to do it anyway. No sign of Covid, thank goodness. I realize though, that next time we might not be so lucky.

I think at this point in the Pandemic each of us has to decide what activities we are willing to get involved in based on a risk-reward basis--- anything we do that involves being around other people involves some level of risk. The activity you reference, gathering outdoors with some neighbors, seems to me like a low risk activity- when I go to the grocery store without a mask, at this point in the pandemic when cases are relatively low here in Michigan, I consider that low risk. That could change as cases rise. While in Florida I did go to breakfast at a restaurant, when there were not many people there. But here in Michigan the cases are going up so I don't think we will be going out to breakfast.

After two years I have to say I thought this miserable virus would be pretty much gone. I thought when I got the vaccine in Feb 2021, this was the beginning of the end of the pandemic, at least here in the United States. But of course that is not what happened: too many people decided not to get vaccinated and then we got hit by variants, the first being Delta, then Omicron and now sub-variants of Omicron are out there.

Then there is the problem that the vaccine, wonderful miracle that is , loses its effectiveness too soon. The booster confers good protection for about 4 months, then you need another one. So I will get my second booster mid-May: then what? will I need another booster in 4 more months? I'll be honest, it makes me nervous to get booster shots in such a short period of time. I never got a flu vaccine because I was afraid of having an allergic reaction and I didn't fear the flu (I know it can kill but it didn't scare me)- Covid of course is an evil killer and horrible virus- it tortures people as it takes lives and so many survivors have Long Covid, I made the decision to get vaccinated but I wonder now, how often are we going to need to get a booster.

 

[Niner]

I believe I'm the only one in the grocery store yesterday that was wearing a mask...

not going to risk getting covid!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Fauci backs out of White House correspondents' dinner over Covid risk more@link
Fauci, 81, President Joe Biden's top Covid adviser and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told The New York Times on Tuesday that he decided not to go to the dinner "because of my individual assessment of my personal risk."

Fauci to speak at 'comeback' UM commencement for 2020 grads; Shriver for '22 grads (detroitnews.com)

Speakers for University of Michigan commencement ceremonies this spring include Dr. Anthony Fauci, who will be speaking at a ceremony for 2020 graduates who did not get an in-person event due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The "comeback" ceremony will be held on May 7 at Michigan Stadium...

 

[MimosaMornings]

Fauci to speak at 'comeback' UM commencement for 2020 grads; Shriver for '22 grads (detroitnews.com)

Speakers for University of Michigan commencement ceremonies this spring include Dr. Anthony Fauci, who will be speaking at a ceremony for 2020 graduates who did not get an in-person event due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The "comeback" ceremony will be held on May 7 at Michigan Stadium...

I’d pick outdoors in the largest stadium in the US on a stage/podium as one of the speakers versus an indoors correspondents party (even with Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian in attendance). MOO
We are all wearing masks for an upcoming outdoor graduation. Keeping fingers crossed for good weather!

 

[Bravo]

It's a good thing I continued to mask. My husband and I were infected at the time but didn't know it. We were leaving Home Depot and I had the biggest sneeze as people were coming in. It was one of those huge hard sneezes. I would have expelled virus for sure. Not uncommon for me to sneeze this time of year due to seasonal allergies. It was only 2 days later Husbands Sister called to say she was positive. My Husband had been at their house days earlier for about 15 minutes to pick up their Mom. My MIL who is 87 caught it but sailed right thru it. Thankfully.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Birx: U.S. should prepare for summer COVID surge in South — CBS News

 

[ilovewings]

Fauci to speak at 'comeback' UM commencement for 2020 grads; Shriver for '22 grads (detroitnews.com)

Speakers for University of Michigan commencement ceremonies this spring include Dr. Anthony Fauci, who will be speaking at a ceremony for 2020 graduates who did not get an in-person event due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The "comeback" ceremony will be held on May 7 at Michigan Stadium...

That is awesome!!!!

 

[SA55]

Birx: U.S. should prepare for summer COVID surge in South — CBS News

Is that really doc birx? Looks 20-30 yrs younger than when I last saw

 

[Sundog]

Birx: U.S. should prepare for summer COVID surge in South — CBS News

Interesting interview. Dr. Birx said that because she has a 93 year old mother and young grandchildren, she is very careful about testing before she sees them. She wore a mask at last night's Correspondents Dinner, and now she will test for five days as she always does if she believes she had an exposure.

She said that statistically, about 15-20 people at the dinner last night were covid-19 positive, even though they had to show negative tests taken within 24 hours, so she considers last night's dinner to be an exposure event.

She also says that according to past surges, she expects that the southern US will have a surge this summer, and that the northern states will have a surge this fall/winter, a surge that will be accelerated from Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings.

So I guess more boosters in the fall, once the four month point passes and booster #2 wanes.

 

[Sundog]

Is that really doc birx? Looks 20-30 yrs younger than when I last saw

If she retired from government service, then that would be a lot less stress, even though she wrote a book since then.

 

[ilovewings]

Birx: U.S. should prepare for summer COVID surge in South — CBS News

Dr. Birx had good information she shared on Face The

Is that really doc birx? Looks 20-30 yrs younger than when I last saw

I know!!! Hardly recognized her- she let her hair grow- she looks so much better- must have been all that stress that is no longer present

 

[weepingangel]

Is that really doc birx? Looks 20-30 yrs younger than when I last saw

The scarves aged her
I’ve heard she’s had some work done *shrug* maybe just less stress and alla that.

She’s got a book to promote so has been on the news a bit lately.

 

[ilovewings]

The scarves aged her
I’ve heard she’s had some work done *shrug* maybe just less stress and alla that.

She’s got a book to promote so has been on the news a bit lately.

I was thinking she may have had some work done ---

 

[WildOrchid]

SO got his 4th Moderna yesterday (2nd booster). He was fine for 6 hours and then a sudden onset of 102 fever and terrible body aches. It passed within 12 hours and now just a low grade fever and arm soreness. At this point, he said no more shots as this was the worst reaction yet.

 

[Teche]

Is that really doc birx? Looks 20-30 yrs younger than when I last saw

Looks like she used her time off to write a book and go under the knife.

 

[anneg]

It's a good thing I continued to mask. My husband and I were infected at the time but didn't know it. We were leaving Home Depot and I had the biggest sneeze as people were coming in. It was one of those huge hard sneezes. I would have expelled virus for sure. Not uncommon for me to sneeze this time of year due to seasonal allergies. It was only 2 days later Husbands Sister called to say she was positive. My Husband had been at their house days earlier for about 15 minutes to pick up their Mom. My MIL who is 87 caught it but sailed right thru it. Thankfully.

Good for your MIL! Hope you all will remain healthy after recovering from Covid.

 

[beatrixpotter]

I think at this point in the Pandemic each of us has to decide what activities we are willing to get involved in based on a risk-reward basis--- anything we do that involves being around other people involves some level of risk. The activity you reference, gathering outdoors with some neighbors, seems to me like a low risk activity- when I go to the grocery store without a mask, at this point in the pandemic when cases are relatively low here in Michigan, I consider that low risk. That could change as cases rise. While in Florida I did go to breakfast at a restaurant, when there were not many people there. But here in Michigan the cases are going up so I don't think we will be going out to breakfast.

After two years I have to say I thought this miserable virus would be pretty much gone. I thought when I got the vaccine in Feb 2021, this was the beginning of the end of the pandemic, at least here in the United States. But of course that is not what happened: too many people decided not to get vaccinated and then we got hit by variants, the first being Delta, then Omicron and now sub-variants of Omicron are out there.

Then there is the problem that the vaccine, wonderful miracle that is , loses its effectiveness too soon. The booster confers good protection for about 4 months, then you need another one. So I will get my second booster mid-May: then what? will I need another booster in 4 more months? I'll be honest, it makes me nervous to get booster shots in such a short period of time. I never got a flu vaccine because I was afraid of having an allergic reaction and I didn't fear the flu (I know it can kill but it didn't scare me)- Covid of course is an evil killer and horrible virus- it tortures people as it takes lives and so many survivors have Long Covid, I made the decision to get vaccinated but I wonder now, how often are we going to need to get a booster.

I went ahead and got my 2nd booster about 10 days ago or so. I have never had a flu vaccine either. But I've never been concerned about the flu. I've had it once in my life and I had the mildest case in the house. I will say I had like no symptoms after the booster except a mildly sore arm. EXCEPT I had an excruciating lower back ache. I have lower back problems and my back had been drastically better after physical therapy. The day after my booster I was in excruciating pain and it was the worst it had been in a LONG time.

I did some googling and discovered tons of people asking about back pain after covid shots and found it listed as a rare side effect. I was terrified it was going to last and I was going to be basically crippled (that's how bad the pain was) but it got better after a few days. But good grief. I'm now wondering why it's causing that level of inflammation. Is it worth getting it again? Why the back pain? I was reminded that one vaccine was stopped due to serious spinal inflammation. I stopped reading about it after that. I did not need any more anxiety over the shot when I realized that could be a side effect.

But I'm now totally back to my normal self thankfully.