Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #109

[tabitha111]

Is one of these the person that roams the halls?

No actually that person has been released from quarantine these are four new people that have been exposed and are now positive.

 

[anneg]

Another person from our rather small group of close, also elderly friends (all of us vaxxed and double boosted) now has Covid.

He and his wife went to a family reunion last weekend in another state. He started having symptoms after the reunion but says they are mild. His wife has tested negative so far. He was given Legevrio (molnupiravir) instead of Paxlovid due to another drug he is taking that interacts with Paxlovid.

 

[MimosaMornings]

No actually that person has been released from quarantine these are four new people that have been exposed and are now positive.

Wow. I hope they are able to contain the spread. Try and stay safe!

 

[Sundog]

Fly by. Sorry if this has been posted. 3rd round of free tests.

COVID-19 Testing

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order an additional 4 free at-⁠home tests beginning November 20. If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests.

www.covid.gov

After I saw your post, I ordered the 3rd round of free tests. They arrived today. From Kansas, again, and the expiry date on all the boxes is August 19, 2022. I was hoping to have these rapid tests available if needed this fall when they are projecting a possible new wave of infection. These tests expire in about seven weeks, so they won't do much good I am guessing that the federal government offered the 3rd round of free tests to get rid of the stock they had that was about to expire.

Edited to add: The tests are iHealth rapid antigen tests. Four boxes permitted per address when ordered, and two tests in each box, so a total of 8 free tests. That expire in August.

 

[Lilibet]

After I saw your post, I ordered the 3rd round of free tests. They arrived today. From Kansas, again, and the expiry date on all the boxes is August 19, 2022. I was hoping to have these rapid tests available if needed this fall when they are projecting a possible new wave of infection. These tests expire in about seven weeks, so they won't do much good I am guessing that the federal government offered the 3rd round of free tests to get rid of the stock they had that was about to expire.

Edited to add: The tests are iHealth rapid antigen tests. Four boxes permitted per address when ordered, and two tests in each box, so a total of 8 free tests. That expire in August.

I got my third round of free tests awhile back, also with July and August expiration dates. Here’s a chart from the FDA showing extended expiration date info. I’m going to check all my tests and write the new dates on the boxes.

Your 8/19 expiring ihealth tests have been extended to 11/18/22.

At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests

Expiration dates and more about authorized at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests information.

www.fda.gov

Edit: I‘ve labeled my 12 boxes of tests. Of the 4 boxes I purchased for a trip in early December, BinaxNow has been extended from 6/19 to 9/19/22, but Intelliswab has not been extended and expires as shown on the box 7/31/22.

The 8 boxes of ihealth tests I received from the gov’t were extended 3 months to 10/12, 10/19, 10/27 and 11/12/22.

It will be interesting to see what further guidelines we get about whether they are accurate for the newest Omicron variants.

 

[ilovepierre]

90 days?? I don’t recall hearing that.

Yep. The person is no longer infectious, though.

 

[ilovepierre]

The tests that we’ve been getting here since last December’s don’t expire until January 2, 2023.

 

[Lilibet]

The tests that we’ve been getting here since last December’s don’t expire until January 2, 2023.

What brand? Do you mind saying where you are (U.S., Europe, etc)?

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Where’s the herd immunity? Our research shows why Covid is still wreaking havoc​

'Living with the virus’ is proving much harder than the early vaccine success suggested: this fight is far from over

• Danny Altmann is a professor of immunology at Imperial College London

(...)

Rather than a wall of immunity arising from vaccinations and previous infections, we are seeing wave after wave of new cases and a rapidly growing burden of long-term disease. What’s going on? The latest scientific research has some answers.

During May and June two new variants, BA.4 and BA.5, progressively displaced the previous Omicron subvariant, BA.2. They are even more transmissible and more immune-evasive. Last week a group of collaborators, including me and a professor of immunology and respiratory medicine, Rosemary Boyton, published a paper in Science, looking comprehensively at immunity to the Omicron family, both in triple-vaccinated people and also in those who then suffered breakthrough infections during the Omicron wave. This lets us examine whether Omicron was, as some hoped, a benign natural booster of our Covid immunity. It turns out that isn’t the case.

(...)

Contrary to the myth that we are sliding into a comfortable evolutionary relationship with a common-cold-like, friendly virus, this is more like being trapped on a rollercoaster in a horror film. There’s nothing cold-like or friendly about a large part of the workforce needing significant absences from work, feeling awful and sometimes getting reinfected over and over again, just weeks apart. And that’s before the risk of long Covid. While we now know that the risk of long Covid is somewhat reduced in those who become infected after vaccination, and also less in those from the Omicron than the Delta wave, the absolute numbers are nevertheless worrying.

Not having got long Covid after a prior infection in the earlier waves offers no guarantee against getting it this time. As an immunologist struggling to decode long Covid mechanisms and potential treatments, it is both perplexing and not a little devastating that this mysterious, lingering disease finds a way to continue wreaking havoc in the face of a largely vaccinated population and a supposedly milder variant. There’s an ever-growing cohort of rather desperate long-haulers, many now affected for well over two years, starting to have difficult legal conversations about medical early retirement and personal independence payment support. They need answers, treatments – and to know that we take the situation sufficiently seriously to stop creating more cases.

The first generation of vaccines served brilliantly to dig us out of the hole of the first year, but the arms race of boosters versus new variants is no longer going well for us.

(...)

Where’s the herd immunity? Our research shows why Covid is still wreaking havoc | Danny Altmann

‘Living with the virus’ is proving much harder than the early vaccine success suggested, says professor of immunology Danny Altmann

www.theguardian.com

 

[Lilibet]

Where’s the herd immunity? Our research shows why Covid is still wreaking havoc​

'Living with the virus’ is proving much harder than the early vaccine success suggested: this fight is far from over

• Danny Altmann is a professor of immunology at Imperial College London

(...)

Rather than a wall of immunity arising from vaccinations and previous infections, we are seeing wave after wave of new cases and a rapidly growing burden of long-term disease. What’s going on? The latest scientific research has some answers.

During May and June two new variants, BA.4 and BA.5, progressively displaced the previous Omicron subvariant, BA.2. They are even more transmissible and more immune-evasive. Last week a group of collaborators, including me and a professor of immunology and respiratory medicine, Rosemary Boyton, published a paper in Science, looking comprehensively at immunity to the Omicron family, both in triple-vaccinated people and also in those who then suffered breakthrough infections during the Omicron wave. This lets us examine whether Omicron was, as some hoped, a benign natural booster of our Covid immunity. It turns out that isn’t the case.

(...)

Contrary to the myth that we are sliding into a comfortable evolutionary relationship with a common-cold-like, friendly virus, this is more like being trapped on a rollercoaster in a horror film. There’s nothing cold-like or friendly about a large part of the workforce needing significant absences from work, feeling awful and sometimes getting reinfected over and over again, just weeks apart. And that’s before the risk of long Covid. While we now know that the risk of long Covid is somewhat reduced in those who become infected after vaccination, and also less in those from the Omicron than the Delta wave, the absolute numbers are nevertheless worrying.

Not having got long Covid after a prior infection in the earlier waves offers no guarantee against getting it this time. As an immunologist struggling to decode long Covid mechanisms and potential treatments, it is both perplexing and not a little devastating that this mysterious, lingering disease finds a way to continue wreaking havoc in the face of a largely vaccinated population and a supposedly milder variant. There’s an ever-growing cohort of rather desperate long-haulers, many now affected for well over two years, starting to have difficult legal conversations about medical early retirement and personal independence payment support. They need answers, treatments – and to know that we take the situation sufficiently seriously to stop creating more cases.

The first generation of vaccines served brilliantly to dig us out of the hole of the first year, but the arms race of boosters versus new variants is no longer going well for us.

(...)

Where’s the herd immunity? Our research shows why Covid is still wreaking havoc | Danny Altmann

‘Living with the virus’ is proving much harder than the early vaccine success suggested, says professor of immunology Danny Altmann

www.theguardian.com

Thank you for this article. Although it’s discouraging, it explains clearly why we can’t let down out guard just because we are double boosted.

 

[ilovewings]

Thank you for this article. Although it’s discouraging, it explains clearly why we can’t let down out guard just because we are double boosted.

I agree but then there is reality- and living life- My husband is going to visit his daughter and her family next week in Virginia. I would not allow her to come to Florida in February because Omicron was circulating heavily in Florida. We are obviously in the very vulnerable category, but He has not seen his daughter in 3 years and it is just time for him to see her and her family ( I am not going). It makes me nervous because this damn virus and its variants won't let up and remains a danger, but one just has to live with some risk: he is double boosted - I had one booster, not two. I will have him take a home test when he comes home-- So, we are letting our guard down somewhat, but you just have to live life to some degree.

 

[tabitha111]

I live in a small town in Virginia close to Virginia Beach and well...you see how that is going. Virginia is not much better than Florida and no one wears masks!! Hope hubby stays safe. I suggest that he masks everywhere he goes, regardless of what others do.

Ahead of Fourth of July weekend, Va.'s COVID positivity rate surpasses 20% — a first since February

More than 20% of Virginians getting tested for coronavirus are receiving positive results ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, marking the state’s highest positivity rate since February.

richmond.com

 

[tabitha111]

Interesting article published 1 Jul 22 regarding immunity and inefectivity in Covid Immunity and infectivity in covid-19

• The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is greatest just before symptom onset and in the early symptomatic period
  (snip)
  When is an individual non-infectious?
  There are insufficient data to precisely delineate when an individual is no longer infectious, and the risk is a continuum with considerable inter-person variability. Individual risk assessments will probably always be required (box 1) and will need to take into account the general risk of infection in the community, including risks posed by new variants (box 2).

 

[ilovewings]

I live in a small town in Virginia close to Virginia Beach and well...you see how that is going. Virginia is not much better than Florida and no one wears masks!! Hope hubby stays safe. I suggest that he masks everywhere he goes, regardless of what others do.

Ahead of Fourth of July weekend, Va.'s COVID positivity rate surpasses 20% — a first since February

More than 20% of Virginians getting tested for coronavirus are receiving positive results ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, marking the state’s highest positivity rate since February.

richmond.com

Here's the thing: none of his family wears masks: they haven't for 2 years and he will not wear a mask during his visit there. that is just the way it is. His daughter had Covid a couple months ago, as did her son. I really have no control over what he does while he is there. I just have to let him go see his daughter and hope for the best. According to Covidactnow the Community Risk Level for Prince William County in Virginia is medium ( it is low in the county I live in Michigan).

 

[anneg]

Yep. The person is no longer infectious, though.

If I understand, you are saying that the statement that people can remain infectious up to 90 days after a Covid infection is based on only one person. I would be interested in learning more about that, if you have a link. (I searched but didn't find one.)

 

[Sundog]

I got my third round of free tests awhile back, also with July and August expiration dates. Here’s a chart from the FDA showing extended expiration date info. I’m going to check all my tests and write the new dates on the boxes.

Your 8/19 expiring ihealth tests have been extended to 11/18/22.

At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests

Expiration dates and more about authorized at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic tests information.

www.fda.gov

Edit: I‘ve labeled my 12 boxes of tests. Of the 4 boxes I purchased for a trip in early December, BinaxNow has been extended from 6/19 to 9/19/22, but Intelliswab has not been extended and expires as shown on the box 7/31/22.

The 8 boxes of ihealth tests I received from the gov’t were extended 3 months to 10/12, 10/19, 10/27 and 11/12/22.

It will be interesting to see what further guidelines we get about whether they are accurate for the newest Omicron variants.

Thanks for this information. Good to know that some of the the expiration dates have been extended.

 

[tabitha111]

Here's the thing: none of his family wears masks: they haven't for 2 years and he will not wear a mask during his visit there. that is just the way it is. His daughter had Covid a couple months ago, as did her son. I really have no control over what he does while he is there. I just have to let him go see his daughter and hope for the best. According to Covidactnow the Community Risk Level for Prince William County in Virginia is medium ( it is low in the county I live in Michigan).

I grew up in Prince William county and my parents still live there so do my brothers and sisters. It's a suburb of DC so very crowded. I was just there a couple weekends ago house sitting for one of my sisters. I saw more mask wearing up there because it's closer to the city than it is where I am. Although I did not go anywhere besides the supermarket while I was there and I was always masked in public, but I was able to come away covid-free each time I visited this past year.

 

[ilovewings]

I grew up in Prince William county and my parents still live there so do my brothers and sisters. It's a suburb of DC so very crowded. I was just there a couple weekends ago house sitting for one of my sisters. I saw more mask wearing up there because it's closer to the city than it is where I am. Although I did not go anywhere besides the supermarket while I was there and I was always masked in public, but I was able to come away covid-free each time I visited this past year.

It is good you take the proper precautions- I am somewhat anxious about his going there but I think he needs to see his daughter after 3 years-- I will hope for the best-- Take care of yourself!!!!!

 

[MimosaMornings]

Here's the thing: none of his family wears masks: they haven't for 2 years and he will not wear a mask during his visit there. that is just the way it is. His daughter had Covid a couple months ago, as did her son. I really have no control over what he does while he is there. I just have to let him go see his daughter and hope for the best. According to Covidactnow the Community Risk Level for Prince William County in Virginia is medium ( it is low in the county I live in Michigan).

Keeping fingers crossed!

 

[margarita25]

Just in case