Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #109

[ilovewings]

DH is finally back to normal after our second boosters and will go swimming this afternoon. He swims every other day but did not feel up to it yesterday. He had gone to the pool on Tuesday morning before we had our boosters. I didn't sleep well on Wednesday night due to my arm and neck hurting. Yesterday, I felt weak and a little dizzy, so I sipped Pedialye which seemed to help. Took my temperature but did not have a fever. Slept better last night, and my arm/neck are no longer sore. Upon learning that the President has Covid, we are glad that we got our second boosters.

Good that you and DH are back to normal. Sounds like you both had some unpleasant side effects, but fortunately they were short-lived.

 

[Arkay]

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

Not so fast: There are many factors at work that are preventing what is thought to have been herd immunity in situations like this. People are getting reinfected. The article states that the fourth booster's effectiveness wanes sooner than the others that came before it.

I agree with the article's author, but even though he claims that the fourth shot, the second booster, wanes very quickly, he is mainly discussing England.

According to him the fourth shot is not widely available there, and uptake is slow. Of course that doesn't negate that the fourth shot wanes more quickly, but that the majority of the population haven't received it is problematic, IMO.

I'm 64, with several underlying conditions. So far, thank God, I have not had Covid.

First shot January 2021, second shot February 2021, 3rd shot October 2021, 4th shot March 2022. I am maniacal about wearing a good mask anywhere indoors, and I don't go out to dinner if it's indoors at all. I live in a very big apartment building in NYC and I wear my mask through my hallway, elevator and lobby just to leave my home.

I retired four years ago and had many plans to travel, but Covid and family health issues squelched all that. Yesterday I came home from my fourth trip in a year to care for my parents in Florida. I wouldn't travel at all if they didn't need me, but they do.

I think my sister, niece, brother in law and I were the only ones wearing masks in the airports and on the planes. Last night the unmasked woman behind my sister coughed all through the flight; but since masks are no longer mandated, we couldn't do a thing.

I will run, not walk, to take any booster available to me. I took my eldest granddaughter for the three shots that were available to her. I know the shots are not as miraculous as we thought at first, but IMO they definitely helped us get through the worst of it.

I know several, maybe 8 or 10 people who died in the first burst of Covid, prior to the vaccines. I know dozens of people who are vaccinated and boosted and have gotten Covid this year, but none have died or even needed to be hospitalized. That includes my friend's father, a 96- year old veteran of Iwo Jima. This batch of people includes some who received Paxlovid and some who did not.

I don't have confidence that I won't catch it, but I am much more hopeful than two years ago that if I do, I won't be on a ventilator or die.

My worry is mainly for my parents. They have all four shots but when we are not there to remind them, they don't always wear masks.

Jmo and experiences.

Wishing all here and your families good health.

 

[anneg]

Wishing all here and your families good health.

And the same to you and your family! I hope your parents can avoid Covid.

DH and I have not gotten Covid so far, but I believe that we will get it sooner or later. Like you, we will be happy to get the next booster.

I also know a lot of people who have had Covid this year, and even though many are elderly, none have been hospitalized or have died. Some have been pretty sick and miserable, though. I'm grateful for the vaccines and the treatments available.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I guess I need to suck it up and talk to my doctor about which (if any) boosters might be safe for me. I had my vaccinations in March 2021 and am just half terrified of going through that again.

 

[katydid23]

My daughter and her boyfriend had Covid 6 weeks ago. They were both pretty sick, but just for 2 or 3 days---then they quickly recovered.

Last Monday, her boyfriend found out he was exposed again at work. [ the source of his last exposure as well. He works as a teamster and is currently on a tv show set for Warner Bros, working transportation]

A co-worker that he worked with closely, including driving around in a vehicle together much of the day on Monday, tested positive for Covid on Tuesday.

So my daughter was exposed as well because she lives with her boyfriend. He came home from work that Monday, picked her up and they went out to dinner together.

So far he has not tested positive, with home tests, and neither has she.

But 'Workplace Covid' protocol sure has changed. Boyfriend's co-worker tests positive at work on Tuesday, and the company knows they went by vehicle, together, unmasked, to another location to pick up paperwork and return to original location. In prior protocol, boyfriend would have been sent home out of caution, to quarantine.

But this week, not only did they keep him at work, around others, but they didn't even test him all week....

 

[MimosaMornings]

Meet the covid super-dodgers — The Washington Post

The no-covid club gets more exclusive every day. And some members have no idea how they’re still there.

apple.news

 

[Sundog]

Meet the covid super-dodgers — The Washington Post

The no-covid club gets more exclusive every day. And some members have no idea how they’re still there.

apple.news

Paywalled article. Can you summarize for us?

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Scientists are narrowing in on why some people keep avoiding Covid. BA.5 could end that luck.

Beyond behavior, a person's genetics, T cells and the effects of inflammatory conditions like allergies could influence their Covid risk — but only to a point.

www.nbcnews.com

A majority of people in the U.S have had Covid-19 at least once — likely more than 70% of the country, White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha said on Thursday, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many have been infected multiple times. In a preprint study looking at 257,000 U.S. veterans who'd contracted Covid at least once, 12% had a reinfection by April and about 1% had been infected three times or more.

This raises an obvious question: What is keeping that shrinking minority of people from getting sick?...

 

[ilovepierre]

My daughter and her boyfriend had Covid 6 weeks ago. They were both pretty sick, but just for 2 or 3 days---then they quickly recovered.

Last Monday, her boyfriend found out he was exposed again at work. [ the source of his last exposure as well. He works as a teamster and is currently on a tv show set for Warner Bros, working transportation]

A co-worker that he worked with closely, including driving around in a vehicle together much of the day on Monday, tested positive for Covid on Tuesday.

So my daughter was exposed as well because she lives with her boyfriend. He came home from work that Monday, picked her up and they went out to dinner together.

So far he has not tested positive, with home tests, and neither has she.

But 'Workplace Covid' protocol sure has changed. Boyfriend's co-worker tests positive at work on Tuesday, and the company knows they went by vehicle, together, unmasked, to another location to pick up paperwork and return to original location. In prior protocol, boyfriend would have been sent home out of caution, to quarantine.

But this week, not only did they keep him at work, around others, but they didn't even test him all week....

Our COVID protocol has changed at my workplace too.
Once my province lifted ALL restrictions, my workplace took away the self-screening binder we had to fill out and sign every shift. COVID + employees no longer have to self isolate (government guidelines) and can come to work sick now if they want! Employees with symptoms can come to work if they want!

It’s kinda scary.

 

[ilovewings]

Combined Virus Swabs Would Better Detect Omicron, 2 Papers Suggest

People with coronavirus infections of the omicron variant often have significantly different viral levels in their noses, throats and saliva, and testing just a single type of sample is likely to miss a large share of infections, according to two new papers, which analyzed omicron infections...

www.yahoo.com

This article describes that it is thought that combined virus swabs (throat and nasal) testing would better detect Omicron. The article states that we are not doing combined swabs in the United States at this time.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Biden's Covid symptoms 'continue to improve,' doctor says

The president's "primary symptoms, though less troublesome, now include sore throat, rhinorrhea, loose cough and body aches,” said White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor.

www.nbcnews.com

President Joe Biden's Covid symptoms "continue to improve" after finishing his second full day of his treatment on the antiviral Paxlovid Friday night, his doctor said Saturday in a letter.

“His primary symptoms, though less troublesome, now include sore throat, rhinorrhea, loose cough and body aches,” White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote. “His voice remains deep. His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain entirely normal. His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear.”

Biden, 79, will continue Paxlovid as planned and his symptoms will continue to be "treated supportively" with oral hydration, Tylenol, and an inhaler that he uses as needed, 2-3 times a day, for cough, O'Connor said. "He is experiencing no shortness of breath at all. He will continue low dose aspirin as an alternative type of blood thinner."...

O'Connor said Saturday that preliminary sequencing results indicate the president's causative agent is likely the Covid subvariant known as BA.5, which is now responsible for most coronavirus infections in the U.S. This information does not affect Biden's treatment plan, the doctor added...

 

[Teche]

Biden's Covid symptoms 'continue to improve,' doctor says

The president's "primary symptoms, though less troublesome, now include sore throat, rhinorrhea, loose cough and body aches,” said White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor.

www.nbcnews.com

President Joe Biden's Covid symptoms "continue to improve" after finishing his second full day of his treatment on the antiviral Paxlovid Friday night, his doctor said Saturday in a letter.

“His primary symptoms, though less troublesome, now include sore throat, rhinorrhea, loose cough and body aches,” White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote. “His voice remains deep. His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain entirely normal. His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear.”

Biden, 79, will continue Paxlovid as planned and his symptoms will continue to be "treated supportively" with oral hydration, Tylenol, and an inhaler that he uses as needed, 2-3 times a day, for cough, O'Connor said. "He is experiencing no shortness of breath at all. He will continue low dose aspirin as an alternative type of blood thinner."...

Low dose aspirin as a blood thinner. I wish they’d name the inhaler. I hope we all get offered the same cocktail as the president if and when we test positive.

 

[Stunned]

Our COVID protocol has changed at my workplace too.
Once my province lifted ALL restrictions, my workplace took away the self-screening binder we had to fill out and sign every shift. COVID + employees no longer have to self isolate (government guidelines) and can come to work sick now if they want! Employees with symptoms can come to work if they want!

It’s kinda scary.

And they wonder why the Covid cases are climbing.

 

[LaborDayRN]

I agree with the article's author, but even though he claims that the fourth shot, the second booster, wanes very quickly, he is mainly discussing England.

According to him the fourth shot is not widely available there, and uptake is slow. Of course that doesn't negate that the fourth shot wanes more quickly, but that the majority of the population haven't received it is problematic, IMO.

I'm 64, with several underlying conditions. So far, thank God, I have not had Covid.

First shot January 2021, second shot February 2021, 3rd shot October 2021, 4th shot March 2022. I am maniacal about wearing a good mask anywhere indoors, and I don't go out to dinner if it's indoors at all. I live in a very big apartment building in NYC and I wear my mask through my hallway, elevator and lobby just to leave my home.

I retired four years ago and had many plans to travel, but Covid and family health issues squelched all that. Yesterday I came home from my fourth trip in a year to care for my parents in Florida. I wouldn't travel at all if they didn't need me, but they do.

I think my sister, niece, brother in law and I were the only ones wearing masks in the airports and on the planes. Last night the unmasked woman behind my sister coughed all through the flight; but since masks are no longer mandated, we couldn't do a thing.

I will run, not walk, to take any booster available to me. I took my eldest granddaughter for the three shots that were available to her. I know the shots are not as miraculous as we thought at first, but IMO they definitely helped us get through the worst of it.

I know several, maybe 8 or 10 people who died in the first burst of Covid, prior to the vaccines. I know dozens of people who are vaccinated and boosted and have gotten Covid this year, but none have died or even needed to be hospitalized. That includes my friend's father, a 96- year old veteran of Iwo Jima. This batch of people includes some who received Paxlovid and some who did not.

I don't have confidence that I won't catch it, but I am much more hopeful than two years ago that if I do, I won't be on a ventilator or die.

My worry is mainly for my parents. They have all four shots but when we are not there to remind them, they don't always wear masks.

Jmo and experiences.

Wishing all here and your families good health.

I with you 100% on taking any booster available to me. I'm 62 and also have an underlying condition (asthma) for which I take daily medication. I wear my mask whenever I'm out. I'm never the only one in any indoor space here in So Cal that has a mask on (I'd say about 30% still wear masks indoors in my community). I'm thankful for that as it doesn't make it uncomfortable at all but even if no one wore a mask, I still would.

 

[anneg]

Paywalled article. Can you summarize for us?

Here's a gift article link to the story:

https://wapo.st/3IYGZcs

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Doctor: Biden likely has highly contagious COVID-19 strain

President Joe Biden likely has contracted a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus spreading rapidly through the United States, according to an update from his doctor.

www.detroitnews.com

Washington — President Joe Biden likely contracted a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus spreading rapidly through the United States, and now has body aches and a sore throat since his positive test, according to an update from his doctor on Saturday.

The variant, known as BA.5, is an offshoot of the omicron strain that emerged late last year, and it's believed to be responsible for the vast majority of coronavirus cases in the country.

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, wrote in his latest update on Biden's condition that Biden's earlier symptoms, including a runny nose and a cough, have become “less troublesome.” O'Connor's earlier notes did not mention the sore throat or body aches...

 

[anneg]

Combined Virus Swabs Would Better Detect Omicron, 2 Papers Suggest

People with coronavirus infections of the omicron variant often have significantly different viral levels in their noses, throats and saliva, and testing just a single type of sample is likely to miss a large share of infections, according to two new papers, which analyzed omicron infections...

www.yahoo.com

This article describes that it is thought that combined virus swabs (throat and nasal) testing would better detect Omicron. The article states that we are not doing combined swabs in the United States at this time.

Interesting! I remember reading months ago about people using a single nasal swab to swab both throat and nose to get more accurate Covid test results, although the FDA says don't do it. Here's one article: Coronavirus FAQ: Why are some folks hacking home COVID tests by swabbing their throat?

Seems to me we should have combined swabs available in the U.S. But if more and more people aren't bothering to test at all, maybe it's not going to happen.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Here's a gift article link to the story:

https://wapo.st/3IYGZcs

Thank you @anneg
Very interesting article. I'm sure if/when I come down with Covid I will feel a bit deflated myself. lol

 

[anneg]

Thank you @anneg
Very interesting article. I'm sure if/when I come down with Covid I will feel a bit deflated myself. lol

Haha, me too!

 

[MimosaMornings]

Here's a gift article link to the story:

https://wapo.st/3IYGZcs

Thank you for the link!

Different people interviewed who had yet to come down with Covid after careful precautions for two years.
Until recently.
Perhaps thinking they were invincible, decided they couldn’t get it or something along those lines.
One decided to play in a poker tournament over several days, one guy went to a bar on July 4th, sang karaoke with a woman, kissed a different woman, etc.
Kind of my take of the article.
JMO