Coronavirus prep
Replies
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cwolfman13 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Anyone else having problems finding a new vet? We've just moved, and wanted to switch to Mom's vet, but they are not taking new clients, and neither is the second place I tried.
Our old vet is part of the VCA chain, which does have a location near enough us, so I guess we will stick with them.
Not getting a new vet, but appointments for our vet right now are about a month out. I have also heard that they are not currently taking new patients.
A couple months back when my cat had an emergency issue I called about 10 vets before I finally found a place about an hour away. Her regular vet has been working 12 plus hours a day for months.1 -
@Redordeadhead Other than info I have seen in the French news and on an expat forum I enjoy all I know about this is that my neighbors, (a French/German couple) have tried twice to travel back to their house in Germany were turned back at the border both times.
Best of luck with your travel. The big problem has been the inconsistency on what the border control and even airline people actually know because of the constant changes.1 -
Possibly knowing, were you to decline the third vaccine, that vaccine would not accrue into a box to be sent overseas. Nor that a box arriving in a country would automatically have a line of persons in a position to vaccinate their population. This is very sad but true. I heard of one politician, possibly ex UK PM Blare, saying the international emphasis should be directed to supporting the vaccination process as well as providing vaccine to the countries which need help.1
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So, has anyone read the NYT article that says they have found the Coronavirus can infect fat cells directly? They think this may explain why obesity is such a risk factor even when other risk factors such as heart disease aren’t present, since obese people have more fat cells numerically, and also that it may have something to do with long Covid, with the virus hiding out in fat cells.
So, serious question - it used to be said that once you gain fat cells, you never lose them by dieting, they just empty out, but remain ready to be filled with fat again. Is this still the current state of belief, and if so, wouldn’t this be super bad news for people like me, and many others here, who used to be obese? Wouldn’t it essentially mean that losing weight didn’t reduce Covid risk? And if so, has anyone looked at the risk in people who have lose large amounts of weight? I’m guessing not, simply because large losers who stay slim are statistically rare enough that probably no one has studied them in this context.7 -
@rheddmobile I have a feeling that because the cells are empty of fat then the danger caused from fat cells wouldn’t have any effect. In other words if fat is the problem if it is gone then not a problem.2
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Finally got my booster this morning. I was so thankful. I took a chance and went to the vaccine clinic, the only one that lets in walk-ins, if they've got time. I got there early and they had time. I was all done and people were piling up in the waiting room. I'm so thankful they could take me in; I've put it off way too long, fearing I'd have side affects and not be able to help my neighbor. Now I have no reason not to get it done.
It feels like everybody I know, knows someone who has Covid or has tested positive, or has been around someone who's positive. I felt like my chances of getting sick were increasing every day. I know I can still contract it but hopefully, mildly. Our small local hospital is full.
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Reenie please remember it will take 10 days to get your levels up. I'm sure you knew this, please keep on being careful. We get on Friday, feels like a lifetime since we became eligible.
Someone thought keeping the NHS out of the vaccine equation was a good idea, now its been recognised the vaccine programme can't get there without them. Then last night another demand was made of them, everyone eligible to be offered before the end of the month. I'm knows those running the clinics are having nightmares, how do keep their surgeries open for serious things and provide staff for the covid clinics simultaneously. At least Scotland were told the endeavour is to offer by the end of the month though the ability to provide might not be fulfilled till January.3 -
Reenie please remember it will take 10 days to get your levels up. I'm sure you knew this, please keep on being careful. We get on Friday, feels like a lifetime since we became eligible.
Someone thought keeping the NHS out of the vaccine equation was a good idea, now its been recognised the vaccine programme can't get there without them. Then last night another demand was made of them, everyone eligible to be offered before the end of the month. I'm knows those running the clinics are having nightmares, how do keep their surgeries open for serious things and provide staff for the covid clinics simultaneously. At least Scotland were told the endeavour is to offer by the end of the month though the ability to provide might not be fulfilled till January.
Thank you.
I've been careful right along. I don't trust anything 100%. Makes me nervous with so many not masking up anymore. 5 -
Masks are almost non-existent in Iowa.☹️ I am in the minority wearing one.8
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They are mandated indoors (if public) in IL.
I don't know anyone who has tested positive/gotten covid recently, however. I'm sure it's my particular social circle.2 -
FWIW, I do know a handful of people locally who've gotten a breakthrough case of Covid, despite being vaccinated. (I think it was pre-boosters, based on timing.)
In the cases aware of - and I'm not saying this is a reliable statistical pattern - it's been people unavoidably in higher-risk situations (and their household members who got it from them pre-symptomatically), or people who (IMO) put themselves in a higher-risk position than essential (though of course I don't know whether that's how they caught it, and neither do they).
Examples:
* Late-twenty-something friend who works as a server/bartender, and who is in barber school at the phase where he's giving haircuts/treatments to the public under instructor supervision. (His housemate/partner got it from him pre-symptomatically, too.)
* A couple who are . . . well, let's say they follow some news sources that IMO have imbalanced/misleading pandemic coverage, but they did get vaccinated. Then they went traveling all over the state, meeting with lots of buddies at restaurants and brewpubs, posted maskless huggy photos with bunches of those people on Facebook, etc.
* Son of one of my doctors, got Covid from unvaccinated roommates at college, came home for Thanksgiving (but isolated in the lower level of the house and the rest of the family didn't get it).
One thing I found interesting (and a little reassuring?): The local NPR station ran an interview with the president of a major hospital (Grand Rapids Mercy). He's a doctor, normally an administrator, now spending half each day caring for Covid patients. The interview was a walk-around though the hospital, looking at the impact on the facility.
Here's the quote from the written summary of the audio interview:Dr. Biersack says this hospital is really seeing two kinds of COVID right now. One kind is not as common, or severe. That’s the COVID in fully-vaccinated patients. Then there’s the kind that is really swamping this hospital, and every other hospital in the state: that’s COVID in unvaccinated patients.
He says the difference is stark.
“COVID in unvaccinated patients is relentless, it is fast, it is dramatic,” Dr. Biersack says. “Patients go from requiring just a few liters of oxygen to requiring intubation and being placed on a ventilator in a very short time frame. And it’s scary.”
Source: https://www.michiganradio.org/news/2021-12-11/inside-a-grand-rapids-hospital-as-covid-rages-on-i-dont-know-how-much-our-team-has-left
His hospital (per a separate report) has administrative workers (clerks, accountants, etc.) cleaning hospital rooms, and whole wards (I think they mentioned the neuro ward) converted from their normal missions, turned into Covid wards.
Here in Michigan, according to news today, one of every 500-something-teen (513? 519?) people in Michigan is currently in the hospital, and a quarter of the hospitalized have Covid (or are believed to have, pending test results). Yes, the majority of the hospitalized are unvaccinated. Recent Michigan stats were that 76% of hospitalized Covid patients are unvaccinated, 87% of those in ICU unvaccinated, 88% of deaths.
Case rates appear to be dropping a little bit statewide, but they're still very high (near their long-term peaks), and the hospitals are full. Several hospital systems have federal teams in to assist with staffing, and last I heard, no more such teams were available to us.
Right now, I have head congestion (since yesterday), which is stress-y, even though I'm pretty sure it's a common cold (just mildly stuffed up and scratchy throat, sense of smell fine, no fever, no fatigue, etc.). I've been fairly cautious (masking routinely, vaccinated/boosted) but do go out in public some (such as to get some car repairs) and I know that the common cold is easier to catch than Covid (hangs around longer on surfaces, for example). I do have some home Covid tests, but haven't done one: Will if symptoms worsen.
By the way, in case it's helpful for anyone, Mayo Clinic has up a page comparing symptoms amongst cold, flu, Covid, allergies.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/covid-19-cold-flu-and-allergies-differences/art-2050398110 -
I have a scratchy throat ATM but no other signs of illness except tiredness, which can be anything or nothing. Normally I wouldn't even think twice about it, but we're headed to a funeral out of town on Wednesday and I'm wondering if I should get tested or stay home. So far I've avoided needing a test, so I don't even know where I can get a rapid one in our area.6
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spiriteagle99 wrote: »I have a scratchy throat ATM but no other signs of illness except tiredness, which can be anything or nothing. Normally I wouldn't even think twice about it, but we're headed to a funeral out of town on Wednesday and I'm wondering if I should get tested or stay home. So far I've avoided needing a test, so I don't even know where I can get a rapid one in our area.
Not sure where you are, but every pharmacy and grocery store near me is selling the rapid tests.
I imagine supplies may get lower when we get closer to the holidays, but right now they seem plentiful.
I have some that I'm going to use the morning of family gatherings and/or if I feel any cold-like symptoms.2 -
spiriteagle99 wrote: »I have a scratchy throat ATM but no other signs of illness except tiredness, which can be anything or nothing. Normally I wouldn't even think twice about it, but we're headed to a funeral out of town on Wednesday and I'm wondering if I should get tested or stay home. So far I've avoided needing a test, so I don't even know where I can get a rapid one in our area.
Go to curative.com and see if they do testing where you are. They have 15,000 testing sites nation wide. I've had to get tested a few times for work due to my work requires a negative test for any ailment right now that causes one to call in sick in order to return. I use curative and all of our unvaxed employees use curative for their weekly testing requirement.0 -
I strongly suggest testing if you're experiencing any symptoms at all. I thought I was having allergies at the end of October and a few days later lost my sense of smell and taste. Covid test came back positive and I was pretty much knocked flat for about 5 weeks. Last week was the first week since Halloween-ish that I worked a full week and didn't need at least one nap during the day. I've had both shots (boosters had just been made available and I had to cancel my appointment after I tested positive) and mask everywhere I go (and I don't go many places anyway). I'm reasonably convinced that if I weren't vaccinated, I'd have ended up in the hospital. What I really WISH I'd done was call my primary care doc right after the test came back to see if the monoclonal antibodies might have been an option.
In my state, there are several drive through state testing sites where I've always been able to get an appointment (which is basically just pre-filling out the paperwork) within an hour of trying to schedule one. Urgent care facilities are also offering them. Rapid home tests are about $30 at most pharmacies.
TL;DR: Covid is no joke, even with the vaccine. Get tested so you have as many care options as possible.8 -
I strongly suggest testing if you're experiencing any symptoms at all. I thought I was having allergies at the end of October and a few days later lost my sense of smell and taste. Covid test came back positive and I was pretty much knocked flat for about 5 weeks. Last week was the first week since Halloween-ish that I worked a full week and didn't need at least one nap during the day. I've had both shots (boosters had just been made available and I had to cancel my appointment after I tested positive) and mask everywhere I go (and I don't go many places anyway). I'm reasonably convinced that if I weren't vaccinated, I'd have ended up in the hospital. What I really WISH I'd done was call my primary care doc right after the test came back to see if the monoclonal antibodies might have been an option.
In my state, there are several drive through state testing sites where I've always been able to get an appointment (which is basically just pre-filling out the paperwork) within an hour of trying to schedule one. Urgent care facilities are also offering them. Rapid home tests are about $30 at most pharmacies.
TL;DR: Covid is no joke, even with the vaccine. Get tested so you have as many care options as possible.
Definitely a good idea. My boss contracted COVID in early November and he called his Dr. on the off chance he could get the antibodies...he figured no, but they were like "yeah...we have lots." He wasn't too sick, but was having very bad headaches that nothing fixed and got the antibodies and was pretty much right as rain a couple days later.5 -
SMH My sister's friend contracted Covid several weeks ago. She's been on oxygen and is very weak. But she ended back at the ER this past weekend with blood clots. She's 80 yo. And yet she's still against putting the vaccines into her body. I cannot imagine anyone would rather go through what she's going through than getting vaccinated. Just boggles my mind. 10
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I strongly suggest testing if you're experiencing any symptoms at all. I thought I was having allergies at the end of October and a few days later lost my sense of smell and taste. Covid test came back positive and I was pretty much knocked flat for about 5 weeks. Last week was the first week since Halloween-ish that I worked a full week and didn't need at least one nap during the day. I've had both shots (boosters had just been made available and I had to cancel my appointment after I tested positive) and mask everywhere I go (and I don't go many places anyway). I'm reasonably convinced that if I weren't vaccinated, I'd have ended up in the hospital. What I really WISH I'd done was call my primary care doc right after the test came back to see if the monoclonal antibodies might have been an option.
In my state, there are several drive through state testing sites where I've always been able to get an appointment (which is basically just pre-filling out the paperwork) within an hour of trying to schedule one. Urgent care facilities are also offering them. Rapid home tests are about $30 at most pharmacies.
TL;DR: Covid is no joke, even with the vaccine. Get tested so you have as many care options as possible.
Um, I don't like endorsing commercial sources much, and . . . well, there are two retailers here in the US at least, that people love to hate, one starts with "A", the other one with "W" (and that one has lots of brick'n'mortar stores across the country). The latter has had the Abbott Labs BinaxNow home test for $14 per 2-pack on their web site, pretty fast shipping if needed, or at least it was fast a week or so ago when I ordered.
I'm not affiliated with A, W, or Abbott Labs, just a bargain hunter.
I got tested (at a drive through test lab) earlier in the year, post 2x Pfizer vax, when I had unusual symptoms (seasonal allergy symptoms, but with a persistent mild headache, not usual). I isolated, cancelled all appointments and saw no one, until I was tested and got the negative result.
If this "I think it's a cold" does anything even remotely unusual, I'll home test; if it progresses, I'll do the "isolate and PCR test" thing again. Nothing mandatory on my calendar for the next few days, in any case (I'm retired, live alone).
The couple I mentioned in my PP, who rammed around the state after getting vaxxed, then got Covid, did manage to get monoclonal antibody infusions, which seemed to make an improvement for them. (They were miserable while ill, but I think not remotely life-threatening illness, for sure not hospitalized, despite having some risk conditions like age, weight, etc. - not sure about other health conditions.)2 -
They are mandated indoors (if public) in IL.
I don't know anyone who has tested positive/gotten covid recently, however. I'm sure it's my particular social circle.
Central IL, (and I've been to several of the larger communities around here) maybe 40-50% wear masks indoors in public.
Our fully vaccinated niece is just getting over a case (doing an internship in a healthcare setting).3 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Central IL, (and I've been to several of the larger communities around here) maybe 40-50% wear masks indoors in public.
That does not surprise me one bit, despite the mandate. Where I am in Chicago I'd say it's 90%+ compliance indoors, and that's what I've seen in the Loop also (since I work there most days), and when I'm on the Brown line/a local bus, but I'm sure that's not true in all neighborhoods and I've heard the L lines vary.0 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Central IL, (and I've been to several of the larger communities around here) maybe 40-50% wear masks indoors in public.
That does not surprise me one bit, despite the mandate. Where I am in Chicago I'd say it's 90%+ compliance indoors, and that's what I've seen in the Loop also (since I work there most days), and when I'm on the Brown line/a local bus, but I'm sure that's not true in all neighborhoods and I've heard the L lines vary.
Big text group with college friends in Chicago burbs. They say maybe 50% out there.0 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Central IL, (and I've been to several of the larger communities around here) maybe 40-50% wear masks indoors in public.
That does not surprise me one bit, despite the mandate. Where I am in Chicago I'd say it's 90%+ compliance indoors, and that's what I've seen in the Loop also (since I work there most days), and when I'm on the Brown line/a local bus, but I'm sure that's not true in all neighborhoods and I've heard the L lines vary.
Big text group with college friends in Chicago burbs. They say maybe 50% out there.
I guess it depends on exactly where and what indoor settings we are talking about.
I'm in the close Chicago burbs, and it is very rare to see anyone without a mask in a store, bank, government building, etc.
Restaurants and bars are a free-for-all though, if that's what your friends are talking about.2 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Central IL, (and I've been to several of the larger communities around here) maybe 40-50% wear masks indoors in public.
That does not surprise me one bit, despite the mandate. Where I am in Chicago I'd say it's 90%+ compliance indoors, and that's what I've seen in the Loop also (since I work there most days), and when I'm on the Brown line/a local bus, but I'm sure that's not true in all neighborhoods and I've heard the L lines vary.
Big text group with college friends in Chicago burbs. They say maybe 50% out there.
It's going to depend on the 'burb, obviously. I have friends in certain burbs that are quite consistent with what SuzySunshine reports. I am sure there are other burbs that are very different. Personally, I am in the city, north side.1 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Central IL, (and I've been to several of the larger communities around here) maybe 40-50% wear masks indoors in public.
That does not surprise me one bit, despite the mandate. Where I am in Chicago I'd say it's 90%+ compliance indoors, and that's what I've seen in the Loop also (since I work there most days), and when I'm on the Brown line/a local bus, but I'm sure that's not true in all neighborhoods and I've heard the L lines vary.
Big text group with college friends in Chicago burbs. They say maybe 50% out there.
I guess it depends on exactly where and what indoor settings we are talking about.
I'm in the close Chicago burbs, and it is very rare to see anyone without a mask in a store, bank, government building, etc.
Restaurants and bars are a free-for-all though, if that's what your friends are talking about.
Yeah, and the restaurant thing is just weird anyway. I was at a restaurant with a bar on Friday (in the Loop, office holiday party), and we had a room so no masks were required. In theory to use the bathroom (which was nearby) you were supposed to put a mask on, but that was clearly not being followed/enforced. Down in the bar area so long as we stayed in our section no masks were required even when we were going table to table, but presumably in the main area it was, although I didn't look to see what others were doing.
The opera and symphony and so on are requiring negative tests or proof of vax plus mask.3 -
Restaurants here are mask not required when at your table.
You need to put it on if you leave your table for any reason - eg when entering/ exiting, to order from the bar, to go to the toilet etc
This is indoors
Outdoor cafes and the like do not require masks at all.1 -
paperpudding wrote: »Restaurants here are mask not required when at your table.
You need to put it on if you leave your table for any reason - eg when entering/ exiting, to order from the bar, to go to the toilet etc
This is indoors
Outdoor cafes and the like do not require masks at all.
It's technically the same rule here in Illinois....it's just not being followed or enforced in most cases.1 -
paperpudding wrote: »Restaurants here are mask not required when at your table.
You need to put it on if you leave your table for any reason - eg when entering/ exiting, to order from the bar, to go to the toilet etc
This is indoors
Outdoor cafes and the like do not require masks at all.
We have the same rules here (Chicago). If you have a private room for a group, however, you can mingle without masks. I generally do see people following it in restaurants, but it probably gets less followed as the evening wears on and the restaurant becomes more bar like (for restaurants with a bar element). That's what I was talking about with the place I went for our holiday party.
I find the masks to walk into and out and off at the table thing to be a little silly, personally, but I do follow it (I follow all the covid rules). IMO, indoor restaurants just are going to involve some degree of risk (which I find acceptable in that I am vaxxed).2 -
Every one of you that refuse to get vaccinated are putting others at risk, and the overwhelming majority that are being hospitalized now for covid, are unvaccinated, putting a strain on hospitals and health care professionals.
Just get vaccinated. That's the way the pandemic is going to become manageable. The surge in the US now is from the Thanksgiving celebrations. In mid-January, it will be even worse if people don't use common sense. We've been social distancing, masking up, especially in doors, and using good hand washing techniques for almost 2 years now. Take the step to help yourselves, loved ones, and others and get vaccinated.7 -
Pretty sure all the regular commenters in this thread are vaxxed.9
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Sorry for being redundant. Last night on our local news (Minnesota, TC's metro) health care workers from all over our state were appealing to the unvaccinated to get vaccinated. One female doctor was crying and pleading. They are worn out. Just doing what I can on the off chance someone that is unvaccinated may see this and do the right thing. May be worth a try.
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