Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #108

[MimosaMornings]

I returned home from my travels on Monday morning. No symptoms or ill effects as far as I can tell.

And that is a relief because I walked through 4 crowded airports, stood in 4 very tight, compact security stations. I never took off my mask, but EVERYONE else was unmasked. Or at least, 90% were unmasked.

Then I went to an assisted living complex with 225 residents, staying for 8 days. And again, 90% of the residents and employees were unmasked.

I'll admit that I did take my mask off for the Cinco De Mayo Margarita Party. lol. I have never had guacamole and tequila with 90 year olds before but it was quite fun.

Yesterday, I went to my granddaughter's 7th birthday party and I was nervous about it, not wanting to take Covid to her door. So I used one of my home tests---but I know they aren't that accurate.but it was negative, fwiw.

My 94 yr old mom needs more help than previously. She does have daily caregivers, but my brother and I are spending 2 weeks of each month in her little apartment with her from now on. I am considering driving from now on instead of flying, to avoid the germs airports every 6 weeks.

Yeah, very few people wearing masks.
The airline CEO’s bragged about the great air filtration in their cabins and hepa filters on their planes but try sitting at the gate or on the tarmac for 1-2 hours in an economy seat with limited air circulation.
I don’t think external preconditioned air provided at the gates pass through HEPA filters.
Maybe rotate flying/driving? It’s going to be tough with increased passenger loads and more weather disruptions during the summer months.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Here's why you might still want to wear masks on public transport

Sure, you don't have to wear a mask on airplanes, buses and ride shares anymore, but you still might want to depending on the circumstances. Here's what experts say about the risks.

www.npr.org

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Considering the extremely high covid death numbers under this administration, I honestly wonder if early intervention therapeutics would be a better use of funding. Considering the amount of people who have opted out of vaccination, it might be wise to look at that. While I realize it's very unpopular to have a dim view of the vaccines, I'm not the only one with an adverse reaction to them. I am fully vaccinated but as of March 2021. I am literally terrified of getting a "booster" due to previous adverse reaction. JMO

DH and I had our initial boosters on November 16 and could get the second booster at any time. We definitely felt that 4 months was too soon and thought we'd wait at least 6 months. Theoretically, we're due for our second boosters next Monday, but we are going to wait another month or two so that we're better protected if there is a Covid surge in the fall. We're not opposed to getting boosters but hope it will not need to be as frequent as every 4-6 months. I don't blame you for being reluctant to get boosters if you had adverse reactions to the initial vaccine. Be well.

 

[ilovepierre]

Here's why you might still want to wear masks on public transport

Sure, you don't have to wear a mask on airplanes, buses and ride shares anymore, but you still might want to depending on the circumstances. Here's what experts say about the risks.

www.npr.org

My province has lifted all COVID restrictions (except mandatory quarantine for positive cases), but masks are still required on all transit (buses and trains). They’re optional on taxis and ride shares...in other words, no one will wear one.

Even during the worst of the pandemic and the surges that followed, no one wanted to follow any of the guidelines that were in place. At one time, we had more active cases per capital than our largest province.

 

[acutename]

7 COVID cases announced at work today- on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th floors... nice no? I never stopped wearing my mask. Now people will understand why, though I am not sure it is sufficient for the omicron.

 

[Teche]

Considering the extremely high covid death numbers under this administration, I honestly wonder if early intervention therapeutics would be a better use of funding. Considering the amount of people who have opted out of vaccination, it might be wise to look at that. While I realize it's very unpopular to have a dim view of the vaccines, I'm not the only one with an adverse reaction to them. I am fully vaccinated but as of March 2021. I am literally terrified of getting a "booster" due to previous adverse reaction. JMO

My husband and I received our 2nd Moderna booster. Before getting vaccinated today, I spoke with the regional director of our state’s Department of Public Health hoping that I would qualify for a full dose instead of a booster. The director is extremely involved in our state’s Covid crisis. I didn't qualify for a full dose but she recommended continuing with Moderna. She stated that current research indicates that immunity is higher with the Moderna vaccine.

 

[WichitaFalls]

7 COVID cases announced at work today- on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th floors... nice no? I never stopped wearing my mask. Now people will understand why, though I am not sure it is sufficient for the omicron.

Hopefully you work on the 6th or 7th floor? I wear my mask when I'm out and honestly can't imagine that I won't be wearing it for a very long time. Stay well.

 

[katydid23]

Are masks not required in airports in the US anymore? How about on the planes? I think in Canadian airports and Canadian airlines, masks are still required...I could be wrong though! I know vaccination requirements have changed.

I’m still masking at events where there’s lots of people. I’m also still masking at work and when I go shopping. My immune system just isn’t what it used to be and I can’t risk getting anything...I’m taking my little brother to a concert in July and it’s going to be the first concert post-COVID and the first large indoor event I’ll be attending. I’m anxious to say the least, lol!

It did not appear as though masks were required anymore.
I took this same flight last February and there were signs all over the airport and on the plane saying MASKS REQUIRED.
And everyone was masked up.

But this month there were no signs that I could see and very few people had on masks. Not even the flight attendants.

 

[ilovepierre]

7 COVID cases announced at work today- on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th floors... nice no? I never stopped wearing my mask. Now people will understand why, though I am not sure it is sufficient for the omicron.

I’ve still been wearing my mask at work too.

 

[Niner]

DH and I had our initial boosters on November 16 and could get the second booster at any time. We definitely felt that 4 months was too soon and thought we'd wait at least 6 months. Theoretically, we're due for our second boosters next Monday, but we are going to wait another month or two so that we're better protected if there is a Covid surge in the fall. We're not opposed to getting boosters but hope it will not need to be as frequent as every 4-6 months. I don't blame you for being reluctant to get boosters if you had adverse reactions to the initial vaccine. Be well.

Europe is not offering any 2nd booster over here. But I still wear my mask everywhere I go...

 

[anneg]

I have a high school reunion event this weekend during the day. Weather permitting, we will be outside. If we have to move inside, I will mask up, but if we're outside, I will take it off. I had my second booster (Moderna after 3 Pfizer shots) less than 2 weeks ago, so I expect that will protect me to some extent if I am exposed to Covid. We are all elderly folks and I hope anyone who has been exposed or has symptoms will stay home!

 

[gogrannypop]

I have a high school reunion event this weekend during the day. Weather permitting, we will be outside. If we have to move inside, I will mask up, but if we're outside, I will take it off. I had my second booster (Moderna after 3 Pfizer shots) less than 2 weeks ago, so I expect that will protect me to some extent if I am exposed to Covid. We are all elderly folks and I hope anyone who has been exposed or has symptoms will stay home!

Be safe and have fun. Although, you can never count on others to do the right thing.

 

[ilovepierre]

I have a high school reunion event this weekend during the day. Weather permitting, we will be outside. If we have to move inside, I will mask up, but if we're outside, I will take it off. I had my second booster (Moderna after 3 Pfizer shots) less than 2 weeks ago, so I expect that will protect me to some extent if I am exposed to Covid. We are all elderly folks and I hope anyone who has been exposed or has symptoms will stay home!

Have fun and stay safe!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

A million empty spaces: Chronicling COVID's cruel US toll

On the deadliest day of a horrific week in April 2020, COVID took the lives of 816 people in New York City alone.

apnews.com

 

[anneg]

A million empty spaces: Chronicling COVID's cruel US toll

On the deadliest day of a horrific week in April 2020, COVID took the lives of 816 people in New York City alone.

apnews.com

What a good article--moving stories of people we lost over the past two years. Thanks for posting.

 

[Sundog]

DH and I had our initial boosters on November 16 and could get the second booster at any time. We definitely felt that 4 months was too soon and thought we'd wait at least 6 months. Theoretically, we're due for our second boosters next Monday, but we are going to wait another month or two so that we're better protected if there is a Covid surge in the fall. We're not opposed to getting boosters but hope it will not need to be as frequent as every 4-6 months. I don't blame you for being reluctant to get boosters if you had adverse reactions to the initial vaccine. Be well.

That was our plan as well, to wait another month or so, that way we would have protection going into the fall. But now with the infection rates and hospitalization rates going up in Ohio over the last few weeks, we are re-thinking that, and will probably get our 2nd booster shots next week, since they take 2 weeks to take effect. I think we will have the fall vaccine for covid by end of September, to have it ready to be administered with the flu shot, so hopefully the gap of covid booster and fall covid vaccination won't be too large.

 

[LaborDayRN]

I received my booster during the first week of April. I wanted to have some time between this booster and the one in the fall due to the side effects I suffer from the vaccine.
I always run a fever of around 102 degrees, suffer vertigo, chills and headaches. My husband on the other hand has virtually no side effects! I'm happy for him, I wish I could join that club!

 

[ilovepierre]

I received my booster during the first week of April. I wanted to have some time between this booster and the one in the fall due to the side effects I suffer from the vaccine.
I always run a fever of around 102 degrees, suffer vertigo, chills and headaches. My husband on the other hand has virtually no side effects! I'm happy for him, I wish I could join that club!

I don’t normally get side effects from vaccines, but when it came to the COVID ones, I got mild flu like symptoms and a super sore arm.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

That was our plan as well, to wait another month or so, that way we would have protection going into the fall. But now with the infection rates and hospitalization rates going up in Ohio over the last few weeks, we are re-thinking that, and will probably get our 2nd booster shots next week, since they take 2 weeks to take effect. I think we will have the fall vaccine for covid by end of September, to have it ready to be administered with the flu shot, so hopefully the gap of covid booster and fall covid vaccination won't be too large.

Cases are going up in Michigan, as well, so we might reconsider our plan to wait until July or August for second boosters. Oakland County, where I live, is one of two Michigan counties that CDC is encouraging to once again wear masks indoors.

 

[MimosaMornings]

I have a high school reunion event this weekend during the day. Weather permitting, we will be outside. If we have to move inside, I will mask up, but if we're outside, I will take it off. I had my second booster (Moderna after 3 Pfizer shots) less than 2 weeks ago, so I expect that will protect me to some extent if I am exposed to Covid. We are all elderly folks and I hope anyone who has been exposed or has symptoms will stay home!

I just snorted my Diet Coke when I read the last sentence.

The last ten people that tested positive on a PCR test came to work.
Each one insisted they didn’t have Covid but came to work with varying degrees of symptoms and stated.....

“It’s just allergies”
“It’s just a runny nose”
“I have a cold not covid!”
“Just a bad head cold”