Coronavirus prep
Replies
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cwolfman13 wrote: »Covid finally hit us, husband has it. Got our boosters on the 15th so hopefully remains mild. I am negative thus far. Daughter tested positive last night but no symptoms.
I would say to disregard the "official" Covid numbers at this point, it's probably the tip of the iceberg. We only know they are positive because I bought some rapid tests last week (they are sold out now) and we can't get a PCR test until Jan 2 because of high demand. So our cases won't be included in the tally, and I imagine there are others in the same boat.
At this point I think reporting on new cases is a bit ridiculous. I would like the reporting to shift to hospitalizations and who are in those hospitals and what variant they have.
100% agree. I find the focus of the reporting to be unhelpful and not to answer the questions I actually have (and think are important).2 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »Hi folks. I've been out for months, busy having a baby.
I'm glad I got double vaccinated during pregnancy, because I just got a positive at-home antigen test today but symptoms are very, very mild. By 2019 standards I would have gone to the office normally and maybe skipped the gym or switched to a lighter workout, but that's it. The local healthcare officials are currently advising to just self-quarantine without an official PCR test despite current national guidelines (Finland), because they simply don't have the capacity to test enough as omicron is blowing up. My husband and the family members I met yesterday have all tested negative at home.
I was able to secure a no-contact grocery delivery for tomorrow, and we have 6 more antigen tests at home, so we should be set to quarantine until the end of the week. Thankfully my husband is on paternity leave so there's no hassle about his work, and we agreed he'll take 100% of baby care duties (including bottle feeding) to minimize the risk of infecting our 2-month-old. My symptoms are very mild and already subsiding, so I'm hoping to be clear soon. If this is the worst of it and there are no setbacks, my biggest concerns are about how long to self-quarantine and whether we can bring our daughter to her vaccination appointment next week (regular early childhood vax and not related to covid, still very important to us). Healthcare and all advisory hotlines are slammed and I don't want to burden them with something that doesn't need immediate care, and Dr. Google isn't helping me with this one.
Here they're saying 5 days if vaxxed.
I think the 5 day recommendation is if you are asymptomatic. Even with mild symptoms, 10 days I think is still advised.
Yeh, I was wondering about that. Do you have to retest after 5 days to make sure?
Nope. That's a big problem I have with the new CDC recommendation. No mention of getting a negative test before leaving isolation....just, if you're vaccinated and don't have symptoms, 5 days is cool, and wear a mask around others for another 5 days.
Here's their exact statement:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html
I have all the same concerns as you. It feels like bowing to business pressures. Well, if you think you have problems with people out sick now, give infected people the green light to get out and about and see how much that helps your employees-out-sick situation. Pretty short sighted. The negative antigen test as a check on the end of isolation is of course entirely logical (and urged by many public health professionals), but policy experts with government jobs are towing the line because there are not enough antigen tests, and requiring something that is not possible is also bad policy.
DD#3 tested positive 12/24 and that really threw all Xmas plans into the air, obviously. I was extremely sad not to be with the grandparents especially because one is in a particularly steep health decline and it's quite possible he won't be here for another one. I'm also sad because DD#2 who lives the farthest is not staying with us during her time home for the holidays because DD#3 is staying here. The rest of us (all boosted) tested negative 12/25 before gathering. We were together spread out outside. Made it as comfortable as possible but obviously indoors is more comfortable. No sitting around the tree opening presents or special holiday table. Similarly DH's birthday celebration consisted of short outdoor visits rather than the fun family event we had planned. I realize I shouldn't complain because we are all alive and able to see each other, such as it is.
DD#3 ("too busy" to get a booster before the holidays) tested the 2nd day of symptoms and continued having symptoms for 5 days before they abated (4 days after testing). She is planning with her whole heart to leave isolation on 5th day post-test and to celebrate NYE with her friends. The other daughters can't afford to miss work or to miss flights so they have cancelled their NYE plans. At least DD#3 has an antigen home test she can take before leaving isolation. The person who likely infected her went to the mall on day 2 after testing positive. Some people really, really just don't care at all about the consequences they have on others. That is why this virus is still spreading and mutating.9 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »Hi folks. I've been out for months, busy having a baby.
I'm glad I got double vaccinated during pregnancy, because I just got a positive at-home antigen test today but symptoms are very, very mild. By 2019 standards I would have gone to the office normally and maybe skipped the gym or switched to a lighter workout, but that's it. The local healthcare officials are currently advising to just self-quarantine without an official PCR test despite current national guidelines (Finland), because they simply don't have the capacity to test enough as omicron is blowing up. My husband and the family members I met yesterday have all tested negative at home.
I was able to secure a no-contact grocery delivery for tomorrow, and we have 6 more antigen tests at home, so we should be set to quarantine until the end of the week. Thankfully my husband is on paternity leave so there's no hassle about his work, and we agreed he'll take 100% of baby care duties (including bottle feeding) to minimize the risk of infecting our 2-month-old. My symptoms are very mild and already subsiding, so I'm hoping to be clear soon. If this is the worst of it and there are no setbacks, my biggest concerns are about how long to self-quarantine and whether we can bring our daughter to her vaccination appointment next week (regular early childhood vax and not related to covid, still very important to us). Healthcare and all advisory hotlines are slammed and I don't want to burden them with something that doesn't need immediate care, and Dr. Google isn't helping me with this one.
Here they're saying 5 days if vaxxed.
I think the 5 day recommendation is if you are asymptomatic. Even with mild symptoms, 10 days I think is still advised.
I'm in Italy. It's 5 days if you're vaccinated.
Which, in both countries, I believe is just government agencies bowing to big business. Gotta get those workers back...regardless of whether they might still be infectious. This stinks like fish to me.
Well, actually, almost everyone is on vacation until Jan 7th. The problem is that so many people are testing positive even after being totally vaxxed that they are afraid of the country coming to a standstill. Omicron is snowballing and all these people must self quarantine. It's like having over half of the country in prison all at the same time. Also, our government is much more powerful than big business--your post made me laugh. We live in a different world over here.6 -
snowflake954 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »Hi folks. I've been out for months, busy having a baby.
I'm glad I got double vaccinated during pregnancy, because I just got a positive at-home antigen test today but symptoms are very, very mild. By 2019 standards I would have gone to the office normally and maybe skipped the gym or switched to a lighter workout, but that's it. The local healthcare officials are currently advising to just self-quarantine without an official PCR test despite current national guidelines (Finland), because they simply don't have the capacity to test enough as omicron is blowing up. My husband and the family members I met yesterday have all tested negative at home.
I was able to secure a no-contact grocery delivery for tomorrow, and we have 6 more antigen tests at home, so we should be set to quarantine until the end of the week. Thankfully my husband is on paternity leave so there's no hassle about his work, and we agreed he'll take 100% of baby care duties (including bottle feeding) to minimize the risk of infecting our 2-month-old. My symptoms are very mild and already subsiding, so I'm hoping to be clear soon. If this is the worst of it and there are no setbacks, my biggest concerns are about how long to self-quarantine and whether we can bring our daughter to her vaccination appointment next week (regular early childhood vax and not related to covid, still very important to us). Healthcare and all advisory hotlines are slammed and I don't want to burden them with something that doesn't need immediate care, and Dr. Google isn't helping me with this one.
Here they're saying 5 days if vaxxed.
I think the 5 day recommendation is if you are asymptomatic. Even with mild symptoms, 10 days I think is still advised.
I'm in Italy. It's 5 days if you're vaccinated.
Which, in both countries, I believe is just government agencies bowing to big business. Gotta get those workers back...regardless of whether they might still be infectious. This stinks like fish to me.
Well, actually, almost everyone is on vacation until Jan 7th. The problem is that so many people are testing positive even after being totally vaxxed that they are afraid of the country coming to a standstill. Omicron is snowballing and all these people must self quarantine. It's like having over half of the country in prison all at the same time. Also, our government is much more powerful than big business--your post made me laugh. We live in a different world over here.
Glad I could amuse you.
No one's too powerful to be bought at the right price.5 -
Nice analysis of what covid tests detect vs. when people are contagious.
tl;dr:
How long should people who test positive isolate? 2 part answer:
1) vaccinated people should isolate 5 days following +antigen test, take another antigen test after 5 days; if that's positive, person is contagious & should isolate another 5 days and retest; if antigen test negative, person is no longer contagious
2) unvaccinated people should isolate (i.e. could be contagious) 10 days. If antigen test negative after 10 days, they are no longer contagious.
I saw that yesterday and agree that it was helpful.
I have no symptoms, but bc omnicron seems to be spreading like crazy everywhere, asked a friend to pick me up a couple of tests at Walgreens if there were some, so just took my first covid test. Negative. I'm going to save the other for a bit.
After posting just this morning, the CDC updated guidance today, without the vax/un-vax differentiation. Dynamic situation. Hope you were able to get tests.
Yes, apparently they were available no problem at Walgreens.
Sign over an empty box at our local Walgreens said limit of 2. Now they may have had 100 cases in the back room and just hadn't restocked.0 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Nice analysis of what covid tests detect vs. when people are contagious.
tl;dr:
How long should people who test positive isolate? 2 part answer:
1) vaccinated people should isolate 5 days following +antigen test, take another antigen test after 5 days; if that's positive, person is contagious & should isolate another 5 days and retest; if antigen test negative, person is no longer contagious
2) unvaccinated people should isolate (i.e. could be contagious) 10 days. If antigen test negative after 10 days, they are no longer contagious.
I saw that yesterday and agree that it was helpful.
I have no symptoms, but bc omnicron seems to be spreading like crazy everywhere, asked a friend to pick me up a couple of tests at Walgreens if there were some, so just took my first covid test. Negative. I'm going to save the other for a bit.
After posting just this morning, the CDC updated guidance today, without the vax/un-vax differentiation. Dynamic situation. Hope you were able to get tests.
Yes, apparently they were available no problem at Walgreens.
Sign over an empty box at our local Walgreens said limit of 2. Now they may have had 100 cases in the back room and just hadn't restocked.
I had to refill a prescription from Walgreens this morning and the hold music played a message that said don’t even bother trying to get a test, they are out for the foreseeable future at all local stores here.0 -
Apparently no sign at this one. I'm going to go back over to the same Walgreens today, so will report back. (It's one that consistently had toilet paper back when that was low, so I think it might be a location thing.)2
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First, a preface, and I really mean it: I haven't decided what I think about the change in US government guidance about how long to isolate/quarantine after testing positive for Covid. I'm still collecting information & listening to expert opinions/reactions. (All I have urgency about is my own personal choices. Thankfully, I don't need to make these decisions for anyone else.)
Nothing that follows should be taken as saying that I agree with that new recommendation, or that I don't. I'm literally not there yet, either way.
I do think that the government's responsibility is not to adopt the most restrictive measures to (nearly) 100% prevent the spread of the disease.
I think the government's responsibility is to find the right public health balance.
Some fraction of economic activity is essential for public health: Food systems (production, transport, wholesale, retail), medical care (including accessibility, staffing, safety, supplies and supply chains), power (electricity, gas, etc. for heating and other purposes), and more. That's without getting into issues of people's income, solvency, etc., which also bear on their and families' physical health. (Example, a young acquaintance of mine is financially desperate and emotionally pretty broken, on top of still not being back at full energy, after having to quarantine for 10 days and lose 10 days of income. I'm still not saying that 10 days quarantine was wrong, I'm saying it had health impact.)
When we're taking measures on the transmission side, there is a hit to those other important things, unavoidably. Finding the right balance, to achieve decent (health-supporting) outcomes for the largest number of people, is the government's conundrum. (I'm glad it's not mine.)
I'm not one of the best intellectual virus-followers here, and like I said, I'm still trying to figure out what I think about this latest change. My current - partial, flawed - understanding is:
(1) we can possibly have a significant viral load (so transmit disease) for some amount of time before we have symptoms - most of that spread will happen no matter how good the guidance and how conscientious individuals' behavior;
(2) viral load (so transmissibility) is high during the first days of having symptoms, then begins to decline (potentially while symptoms are still present but certainly post-symptoms . . . decline, not disappear like an on/off switch);
(3) there are some preliminary indications that that transmissibility decline process may happen sooner with Omicron, though it's unclear (in part because so many Omicron cases globally are breakthroughs or reinfections, so the role of partial immunity is in there somewhere, muddying the preliminary research data).
So, looking at the statistically-common lifecycle of the disease, and the limited amount we know about Omicron, plus the implications for public health of severe economic disruption, is this the right decision? I don't know. Is the decision over-politicized by economic factors that have no bearing on public health or other things equally important? I don't know.
I'm glad I don't have to know, and extra glad I don't need to know quickly.
I do think dark conspiracy theories about it are at best premature, though. YMMV.8 -
snowflake954 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »Hi folks. I've been out for months, busy having a baby.
I'm glad I got double vaccinated during pregnancy, because I just got a positive at-home antigen test today but symptoms are very, very mild. By 2019 standards I would have gone to the office normally and maybe skipped the gym or switched to a lighter workout, but that's it. The local healthcare officials are currently advising to just self-quarantine without an official PCR test despite current national guidelines (Finland), because they simply don't have the capacity to test enough as omicron is blowing up. My husband and the family members I met yesterday have all tested negative at home.
I was able to secure a no-contact grocery delivery for tomorrow, and we have 6 more antigen tests at home, so we should be set to quarantine until the end of the week. Thankfully my husband is on paternity leave so there's no hassle about his work, and we agreed he'll take 100% of baby care duties (including bottle feeding) to minimize the risk of infecting our 2-month-old. My symptoms are very mild and already subsiding, so I'm hoping to be clear soon. If this is the worst of it and there are no setbacks, my biggest concerns are about how long to self-quarantine and whether we can bring our daughter to her vaccination appointment next week (regular early childhood vax and not related to covid, still very important to us). Healthcare and all advisory hotlines are slammed and I don't want to burden them with something that doesn't need immediate care, and Dr. Google isn't helping me with this one.
Here they're saying 5 days if vaxxed.
I think the 5 day recommendation is if you are asymptomatic. Even with mild symptoms, 10 days I think is still advised.
I'm in Italy. It's 5 days if you're vaccinated.
Which, in both countries, I believe is just government agencies bowing to big business. Gotta get those workers back...regardless of whether they might still be infectious. This stinks like fish to me.
Well, actually, almost everyone is on vacation until Jan 7th. The problem is that so many people are testing positive even after being totally vaxxed that they are afraid of the country coming to a standstill. Omicron is snowballing and all these people must self quarantine. It's like having over half of the country in prison all at the same time. Also, our government is much more powerful than big business--your post made me laugh. We live in a different world over here.
I'm on maternity leave until September so luckily nobody is needing me to go back to business anytime soon, and husband works from home. There was a Q&A news article today with the local officials saying that it's still 10 days, even though the US and some other countries have shortened it to 5. If my symptoms clear (at this rate, they will), I'll make it to the baby vaccination appointment next week, so that's good. I already pre-ordered grocery deliveries for Friday and next Tuesday to secure our deliveries in case omicron blows up and sends everyone to quarantine so they run out of delivery capacity again like they did in 2020.
Husband started showing symptoms this morning but is already feeling better too. My mom just texted that her throat is getting sore, so we're waiting on her results from tomorrow as well. Hoping her symptoms are as mild as ours.12 -
Still tests at the Walgreens near my office, and still no limit posted on how many one can buy, so I picked up a few more. Preparing, I suppose.2
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We now have an obligation to wear ppf2 masks on public transportation and any other closed crowded space--movies, theaters, etc. This law went into effect overnight with no warning. There is now a big scramble for ppf2 masks. I hate this stuff.8
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I was so grateful to pick up 2 tests kits yesterday at our local state police barracks. JIC cause well, ya never know if you'll need one or not. For now though, I plan on hunkering down for the duration of winter and not go to too many public places unless I have to.
Note that the tests I picked up yesterday do have a shelf life until 4/22.2 -
snowflake954 wrote: »We now have an obligation to wear ppf2 masks on public transportation and any other closed crowded space--movies, theaters, etc. This law went into effect overnight with no warning. There is now a big scramble for ppf2 masks. I hate this stuff.
Won't be any issues with counterfeits in that scenario, SMH. Good luck.2 -
snowflake954 wrote: »Can't remember what I have share (and not) or when. Anyhow, today, the 27th is the first morning with zero sore throat since Dec 11th. Have had 3 negative COVID tests and of the 8 family members that got this cold, everyone who has tested has tested negative (4 out of 8, three of which were the sickest including me). This cold was the cold from H*ll and finished off with an ear infection (husband - eye infection, daughter - pneumonia). With that in mind, my parents almost 85 and 87 were on the fence about the family meal on xmas day. Then, my sister found out 11 year old daughter may have been exposed in school on Monday. Parents backed out. The rest of us went forward with us home testing on Xmas morning before all meeting up.
Flash forward. My children and families were coming early to open presents in the morning. Get 9 am call. Daughter, et all, were in a 10 car crash due to freezing rain on an untreated winding steep hill. Thankfully, all the humans were fine, unlike the car that did its job by being destroyed while protecting the contents. My DH takes off in the car to help. The family was traveling in their pajamas for the fun morning with my <2 grandson and it is 30 degrees and freezing rain. Some lovely family took them in while the police dealt with the crash. They were given a warm home and hot tea. I am so thankful to this family for opening their home on xmas morning to provide aid to strangers, especially in these crazy times. With my husband's help, 3 hours later they were able to join us, 10 of us in total all tested for COVID.
Back to the topic of COVID celebrations. Our neighbor in our townhouse cluster celebrated xmas eve, but all in the garage (remember it is +/- 30 degrees out). Nice and fiancee in California are COVID positive. Nephew in the anti-vaxer part of the family has an enlarged heart, potentially from the J&J vaccine. Hubby is trying to fly back to Florida next weekend to see his mom. I hope their is still a flight and he does not get sick....... I have lots of home test kits. I am making sure I have easy access.
Oh, I should share that I went shopping for spare kits (had already used the kit I already had in home and was negative) during the stretch were I had zero voice from the cold from h*ll. Picture the face of the Walgreens cashier as I pointed to my throat, unable to make a sound, and held up a note to her asking for "BinaxNow COVID test kit". I was sold two kits very quickly.
Stay healthy all. I need a better 2022. I am ready for 2021 to be over!
I'm in Italy and also got this cold at the beginning of Dec. It lasted 2 weeks and I have never coughed so much (day and night) in my life. I was cold for several days and walked around in a blanket--when I wasn't in bed. So tired. The phelgm just kept coming and it was a pudding texture. A bad headache with my head all stuffed up. I thought it would never end. I went through a whole roll of Scottex with my runny nose. I don't wish this on anyone. My doctor kept saying "It's not COVID, just a cold". It was HELL.
Were you tested for COVID? Unless you are tested I don't know how your dr. could say it is "just a cold."3 -
snowflake954 wrote: »Can't remember what I have share (and not) or when. Anyhow, today, the 27th is the first morning with zero sore throat since Dec 11th. Have had 3 negative COVID tests and of the 8 family members that got this cold, everyone who has tested has tested negative (4 out of 8, three of which were the sickest including me). This cold was the cold from H*ll and finished off with an ear infection (husband - eye infection, daughter - pneumonia). With that in mind, my parents almost 85 and 87 were on the fence about the family meal on xmas day. Then, my sister found out 11 year old daughter may have been exposed in school on Monday. Parents backed out. The rest of us went forward with us home testing on Xmas morning before all meeting up.
Flash forward. My children and families were coming early to open presents in the morning. Get 9 am call. Daughter, et all, were in a 10 car crash due to freezing rain on an untreated winding steep hill. Thankfully, all the humans were fine, unlike the car that did its job by being destroyed while protecting the contents. My DH takes off in the car to help. The family was traveling in their pajamas for the fun morning with my <2 grandson and it is 30 degrees and freezing rain. Some lovely family took them in while the police dealt with the crash. They were given a warm home and hot tea. I am so thankful to this family for opening their home on xmas morning to provide aid to strangers, especially in these crazy times. With my husband's help, 3 hours later they were able to join us, 10 of us in total all tested for COVID.
Back to the topic of COVID celebrations. Our neighbor in our townhouse cluster celebrated xmas eve, but all in the garage (remember it is +/- 30 degrees out). Nice and fiancee in California are COVID positive. Nephew in the anti-vaxer part of the family has an enlarged heart, potentially from the J&J vaccine. Hubby is trying to fly back to Florida next weekend to see his mom. I hope their is still a flight and he does not get sick....... I have lots of home test kits. I am making sure I have easy access.
Oh, I should share that I went shopping for spare kits (had already used the kit I already had in home and was negative) during the stretch were I had zero voice from the cold from h*ll. Picture the face of the Walgreens cashier as I pointed to my throat, unable to make a sound, and held up a note to her asking for "BinaxNow COVID test kit". I was sold two kits very quickly.
Stay healthy all. I need a better 2022. I am ready for 2021 to be over!
I'm in Italy and also got this cold at the beginning of Dec. It lasted 2 weeks and I have never coughed so much (day and night) in my life. I was cold for several days and walked around in a blanket--when I wasn't in bed. So tired. The phelgm just kept coming and it was a pudding texture. A bad headache with my head all stuffed up. I thought it would never end. I went through a whole roll of Scottex with my runny nose. I don't wish this on anyone. My doctor kept saying "It's not COVID, just a cold". It was HELL.
Were you tested for COVID? Unless you are tested I don't know how your dr. could say it is "just a cold."
Did you read @SModa61's post 2 pages ago? She said everyone with this "cold" got tested many times and the COVID test was always negative. My doctor is my BIL. He's worked to exhaustion during the epidemic and diagnosed hundreds of cases of COVID. He has also had to sign numerous death certificates. I trusted him to know if I had COVID or not.3 -
Anyone do the math on the half billion test kits the US government is going to send out "free" It's less than 2 per person.
Publicity stunt, sort of like using a piece of used bubble gun to fix a leak in the Hoover Dam IMO.2 -
I had a cold like that before covid also. No fever. My sinus headaches and congestion in my head was awful. I had to sleep sitting up. But I have heard that the quick tests may not be as effective in catching the O strain. More likely false negatives than the other way around.
Our workplace is going to do onsite testing starting in January. It looks like this is to comply with the OSHA mandate for unvaccinated folks to be tested weekly. Not sure what test they are going to have or how it all plays out with HIPPA either. I was really happy to hear that most of our employees (90%) at one point are vaccinated altho I think requiring the booster is just around the corner?
At this point if it's been over 8 months since you were vaccinated seems like you might also need to be tested weekly.3 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Anyone do the math on the half billion test kits the US government is going to send out "free" It's less than 2 per person.
Publicity stunt, sort of like using a piece of used bubble gun to fix a leak in the Hoover Dam IMO.
I suspect the impact is more in the promise of a massive order, as opposed to the tests distributed through that mechanism.
Reports I've heard are that the test manufacturers were hesitant to go pedal to the metal a couple of months ago, because of slack demand (pre-Omicron, mostly, I'd bet). Their fiduciary responsibility is to make profits, mostly, after all.
Now there's this massive federal order looming, plus of course individual demand now, that should have the manufacturers more willing to lay on extra shifts (if they have enough non-isolating workers). With the parallel order that health insurance companies must reimburse 150 million of us for at-home tests, that's a lot of potential demand pull to fill the pipeline.
In that sense, I'm thinking of the federal order as in effect as much as stockpile thing as any kind of practical aid to individuals. If those of us with health insurance (or discretionary income) go buy tests on the open market (potentially more convenient for us), the feds' stockpile can be more useful to those who are uninsured/poor.4 -
As I said in an earlier post, I'm still considering what I think about the US government's shortening of quarantine/isolation times.
As I've listened to non-US-government experts speak about it, I'm wondering if there's an unspoken element here.
(Trigger warning, to some, maybe . . . cynicism ahead: )
We've seen people on this thread express the sentiment that anyone in the US who wants a vaccination can get one, for free, so that those who don't want one need to stop holding up the vaccinated people from getting on with things just to protect the unvaccinated-by-choice. (I'm not saying I agree with that: I'm saying I've heard it expressed.)
If the transmission risk is truly substantially lower after the 5 days post symptom onset, I wonder if that kind of "the unvaccinated are on their own now" thought might be somewhere in the fog at the back of this shorter isolation recommendation.
Yes, I know: There's risk even post-vaccination to the immune compromised, those with co-morbidities, very young children not able to be vaccinated; even mild cases can produce terrible consequences for some subgroups; long Covid remains a risk; etc. I'm still not saying I think the change is the right decision.
I'm just wondering whether, perhaps without anyone in or outside government thinking/saying it explicitly, this frustration with precautions that are now significantly protecting the unvaccinated is part of the picture.
I'm not saying we're there yet, but we're certainly approaching the future point where the risks of Covid infection/consequences are much more similar to the flu than they were at first . . . but only to the vaccinated. As we approach that point (someday), things like hospital/health care capacity and overall economic robustness will begin to be larger fractions of the "greatest good for greatest number" picture, concern for the unvaccinated for their own sake maybe a smaller fraction.
Yes, that's cold and hard. Keep in mind, this post is mostly wondering/speculating about implicit biases, thought processes, motivations . . . I'm not expressing personal opinions about what ought to happen, or saying that anyone is necessarily explicitly thinking in these cynical terms. We're all frustrated, impatient . . . including government decision-makers, who are (believe it or not) humans, disciplined though they may be about striving to keep that out of their official decision-making.5 -
SummerSkier wrote: »I had a cold like that before covid also. No fever. My sinus headaches and congestion in my head was awful. I had to sleep sitting up. But I have heard that the quick tests may not be as effective in catching the O strain. More likely false negatives than the other way around.
Our workplace is going to do onsite testing starting in January. It looks like this is to comply with the OSHA mandate for unvaccinated folks to be tested weekly. Not sure what test they are going to have or how it all plays out with HIPPA either. I was really happy to hear that most of our employees (90%) at one point are vaccinated altho I think requiring the booster is just around the corner?
At this point if it's been over 8 months since you were vaccinated seems like you might also need to be tested weekly.
Generally, employers are not HIPPA covered entities. Only HIPPA covered entities are legally required to comply with the HIPPA privacy rules. Covered entities are:
". . . (1) health plans, (2) health care clearinghouses, and (3) health care providers who electronically transmit any health information in connection with transactions for which HHS has adopted standards."
from: https://privacyruleandresearch.nih.gov/pr_06.asp
Employers don't have to follow HIPPA privacy rules, though other federal regulations may apply.
Beyond that, even for covered entities, there's a tendency in the broader population to interpret "privacy" in rather broad ways, when the regulations are more specific, just because the word "privacy" is in there.4
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