Coronavirus prep

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  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »
    @kshama2001
    @SModa61 I am not sure how accurate the quick tests are if you do not have any symptoms. fingers crossed that hubby is OK and you can visit the elders soon. I agree with 3 or 4 days.

    Good point on accuracy with lack of symptoms. But using that concept, I think I recall hearing that if the home quick test does not come up positive, then at that moment in time you are not contagious. Have no idea that is BS, but I heard that referenced a lot in December when we were all trying to see people for the holidays.

    As for who I am trying to be careful around, two are my parents, but I also have my grandson, who technically should fair well. But I would hate to be the one that "gives it to him". Daughter is being extremely cautious.

    They were saying that about the contagiousness in December but have since reversed course and now say it can be contagious for two days before testing positive on a rapid test. As far as when to test, the article I read said test at five days after exposure because before then it’s more likely to be a false negative. So, we’re back at basically guessing!
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,887 Member
    Personally, I do think it's reasonable to keep increasing the constraints around unvaccinated people, through any legal, moral, ethical approach. It could include legal or social approaches, but I don't have specific suggestions. Quebec's proposed tax is one approach to this sort of thing, but it doesn't apply well in the US because of our different health care structure. The countries in Europe that are limiting access to services (restaurants, gyms, whatever) for the unvaccinated is another example. That won't happen in the US

    That is exactly the rules in Washington State.

    Yeah, the rules in Chicago too. There were various places (some restaurants and bars, all theaters and music venues I am aware of, my gym, some workplaces) that were requiring either vaccines or (in some cases) either the vaccine or a negative test, but as of 1/3, proof of vaccine has been required for restaurants, bars, gyms, etc.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,887 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »
    @kshama2001
    @SModa61 I am not sure how accurate the quick tests are if you do not have any symptoms. fingers crossed that hubby is OK and you can visit the elders soon. I agree with 3 or 4 days.

    Good point on accuracy with lack of symptoms. But using that concept, I think I recall hearing that if the home quick test does not come up positive, then at that moment in time you are not contagious. Have no idea that is BS, but I heard that referenced a lot in December when we were all trying to see people for the holidays.

    As for who I am trying to be careful around, two are my parents, but I also have my grandson, who technically should fair well. But I would hate to be the one that "gives it to him". Daughter is being extremely cautious.

    They were saying that about the contagiousness in December but have since reversed course and now say it can be contagious for two days before testing positive on a rapid test. As far as when to test, the article I read said test at five days after exposure because before then it’s more likely to be a false negative. So, we’re back at basically guessing!

    Yeah, that's what I've read too. I would test when symptomatic (since apparently it tends to be more reliable when one has symptoms and the symptoms are so similar to a cold or the like) or if not, I'd wait as long as possible before the people you are trying to protect.

    I've also heard that planes aren't really that risky given something to do with how the air is circulated (beats me) vs some other venues. Good luck to him in not getting a positive!
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    Personally, I do think it's reasonable to keep increasing the constraints around unvaccinated people, through any legal, moral, ethical approach. It could include legal or social approaches, but I don't have specific suggestions. Quebec's proposed tax is one approach to this sort of thing, but it doesn't apply well in the US because of our different health care structure. The countries in Europe that are limiting access to services (restaurants, gyms, whatever) for the unvaccinated is another example. That won't happen in the US

    That is exactly the rules in Washington State.

    Yeah, the rules in Chicago too. There were various places (some restaurants and bars, all theaters and music venues I am aware of, my gym, some workplaces) that were requiring either vaccines or (in some cases) either the vaccine or a negative test, but as of 1/3, proof of vaccine has been required for restaurants, bars, gyms, etc.

    Also here in NYC but not in the neighboring towns and municipalities. In NYC, you cannot go into any indoor place without a vax card. Also, everyone who works in the private sector has to be vaccinated. Now there is a black market for vax cards. Crazy.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    allother94 wrote: »
    ReenieHJ wrote: »
    @allother94,
    It's mind boggling that people are still not choosing to get vaccinated. They must be seeing all of this play out?? But instead of turning unvaccinated people away at the hospitals, why don't they turn them away everywhere else? Maybe it'd force their hand a bit more. JMO

    They say the problem with the spread is overcrowding hospitals. If that really is the problem, then that is what they should address…

    When someone says "They say" or "They should", without further amplifying, I wonder who the heck "they" are.

    So, who is the "they" who should address the overcrowding of hospitals, and how should they do that, specifically - what are your ideas?

    I suspect that public health authorities and governmental officials - here in the US, dunno where you are - believe that they are trying to address the overcrowding of hospitals by forming support teams of military members and sending them out to help staff hospitals, helping to build/equip auxiliary facilities where staffing is less the constraint, trying to limit exposures in less economically vital sectors or in less economically destructive ways (mask mandates, vaccination requirements, limiting crowding in social situations, etc.) . . . and telling people who aren't vaccinated to get vaccinated so they stop being the overwhelmingly largest group now overcrowding the hospitals.

    If it's hospital administrators who are "they", I suspect they believe they're trying to address the overcrowding by converting wards that aren't usually infectious disease wards to wards for Covid patients, hiring traveling staff at exorbitant pay rates, eliminating elective surgeries (which aren't all trivial things!) to free up staff and space, requiring staff to be vaccinated to avoid further short-staffing from more-rampant sickness and the resulting absenteeism among staff, rededicating administrative staff to things like cleaning duties (yes, that's happening, in some places near me), and much more.

    What are your ideas for what more "they" should do, to address hospital overcrowding, that's actionable and realistic?

    Shouldn't "we" do our part, by getting vaccinated, avoiding truly unnecessary ER visits, and that sort of thing?

    My suggestion is that hospital administrators make a policy that no unvaccinated Covid patients are accepted once the ICU or the hospital as a whole are at 90% capacity. That's generous, tbh... Probably should just be no unvaccinated patients at all (even non-Covid patients).

    Edit: Is that specific enough?!
    Here's something that I do not understand... An employee where I work was sick and took a home test on Fri., Came up positive. He was very sick on Mon. and went to the Dr. where he tested positive and was given a note saying he can go back to work in 3 days. When did the standard become 3 days?! It is 5 days for positive when asymptomatic, but this person is NOT asymptomatic at all. WTF?!

    I can do you one better. California, due to nursing shortages, has just said that nurses who test positive can still work if they wear masks. Not nurses who are EXPOSED, nurses who actually have covid. Caring for patients, who might or might not have covid.

    I agree with this.

    And it is true. Doctors are also working with Covid because otherwise there won’t be any left to work. What alternative is there?

    Yes, my sister is an RN and has had symptoms for the last week. She thought she maybe something else, but was going to go in to work again last night despite still feeling sick (but not bad enough to stay home, I guess). Anyway, she got a rapid test and came up positive... So now they tell her she can go back to work on Sun. How did we go from 2 weeks to 10 days to 3 days even if symptomatic?

    Would it be better to empty the hospital of most nurses? That's the stage we're at, in many parts of the US, unfortunately. No good decision available, all of the actually achievable ones utterly stink.

    Yes, and empty them of unvaccinated patients too.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,447 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »
    @kshama2001
    @SModa61 I am not sure how accurate the quick tests are if you do not have any symptoms. fingers crossed that hubby is OK and you can visit the elders soon. I agree with 3 or 4 days.

    Good point on accuracy with lack of symptoms. But using that concept, I think I recall hearing that if the home quick test does not come up positive, then at that moment in time you are not contagious. Have no idea that is BS, but I heard that referenced a lot in December when we were all trying to see people for the holidays.

    As for who I am trying to be careful around, two are my parents, but I also have my grandson, who technically should fair well. But I would hate to be the one that "gives it to him". Daughter is being extremely cautious.

    I am not sure that is true. It may be part of the reason why this variant has spread so quickly is people who were nonsymptomatic and tested negative felt like they could go to get together’s safely.

    I remember people in this group discussing doing so (we even did it for our holiday). I just did a quick internet search and "holiday" advice was to test yourself just before a get together. In that search, the first 10 hits included ones from Harvard Medical; Bloomerberg new; ABC, CBS & Fox news; NY Times, a local city newspaper and a major radio station. On another search, the CDC even mentioned it.

    https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20211222/cdc-director-covid-test-holidays

    So roughly two weeks ago, we were being told that was the safe way to get together. Was it bad advice? I have no idea. I'm doing the best that I can.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,447 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Re air circulation on planes: I am very sensitive to air quality. While it is true that there is great air circulation while the plane is *moving,* when last I flew regularly, 11 years ago, while the plane was on the ground there was a distinct decrease in air quality. Looks like that was still true in 2020:

    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-clean-is-the-air-on-your-airplane-coronavirus-cvd

    ...That’s why, in addition to good filters, airline cabins also need good passengers. This means everyone onboard should wear a mask.

    That’s both because of masks’ proven protective qualities and the fact that HEPA filters and rapid-air circulation don’t work at max effectiveness until the plane is airborne. This means that the sometimes-interminable period between grabbing your seat and takeoff (or between landing and disembarking) is when you’re most likely to inhale a cloud of air from a person infected with COVID-19.

    That stale, warm air you occasionally notice when a plane is on the ground sitting at the gate or idling might mean there’s little circulation through those filters.

    Your discussion is causing me to remember something from early on in the pandemic. Back in the beginning, weren't they "idling" the plane to keep those filters going? If so, I am not noticing that now.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Re air circulation on planes: I am very sensitive to air quality. While it is true that there is great air circulation while the plane is *moving,* when last I flew regularly, 11 years ago, while the plane was on the ground there was a distinct decrease in air quality. Looks like that was still true in 2020:

    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-clean-is-the-air-on-your-airplane-coronavirus-cvd

    ...That’s why, in addition to good filters, airline cabins also need good passengers. This means everyone onboard should wear a mask.

    That’s both because of masks’ proven protective qualities and the fact that HEPA filters and rapid-air circulation don’t work at max effectiveness until the plane is airborne. This means that the sometimes-interminable period between grabbing your seat and takeoff (or between landing and disembarking) is when you’re most likely to inhale a cloud of air from a person infected with COVID-19.

    That stale, warm air you occasionally notice when a plane is on the ground sitting at the gate or idling might mean there’s little circulation through those filters.

    Your discussion is causing me to remember something from early on in the pandemic. Back in the beginning, weren't they "idling" the plane to keep those filters going? If so, I am not noticing that now.

    I haven't been on a plane since I left FL for good to move back to MA :smiley:
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,447 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    SModa61 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Re air circulation on planes: I am very sensitive to air quality. While it is true that there is great air circulation while the plane is *moving,* when last I flew regularly, 11 years ago, while the plane was on the ground there was a distinct decrease in air quality. Looks like that was still true in 2020:

    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-clean-is-the-air-on-your-airplane-coronavirus-cvd

    ...That’s why, in addition to good filters, airline cabins also need good passengers. This means everyone onboard should wear a mask.

    That’s both because of masks’ proven protective qualities and the fact that HEPA filters and rapid-air circulation don’t work at max effectiveness until the plane is airborne. This means that the sometimes-interminable period between grabbing your seat and takeoff (or between landing and disembarking) is when you’re most likely to inhale a cloud of air from a person infected with COVID-19.

    That stale, warm air you occasionally notice when a plane is on the ground sitting at the gate or idling might mean there’s little circulation through those filters.

    Your discussion is causing me to remember something from early on in the pandemic. Back in the beginning, weren't they "idling" the plane to keep those filters going? If so, I am not noticing that now.

    I haven't been on a plane since I left FL for good to move back to MA :smiley:

    We're at that age that we are thinking estate planning and Florida is friendlier in that regard. Plus, hubby would fish 365 days a year if he could. :)
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,516 Member
    I think our Australian rule of 7 days isolation is about right - recently reduced from 10.

    If you are asymptomatic on day 6.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,447 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    SModa61 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    SModa61 wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Re air circulation on planes: I am very sensitive to air quality. While it is true that there is great air circulation while the plane is *moving,* when last I flew regularly, 11 years ago, while the plane was on the ground there was a distinct decrease in air quality. Looks like that was still true in 2020:

    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-clean-is-the-air-on-your-airplane-coronavirus-cvd

    ...That’s why, in addition to good filters, airline cabins also need good passengers. This means everyone onboard should wear a mask.

    That’s both because of masks’ proven protective qualities and the fact that HEPA filters and rapid-air circulation don’t work at max effectiveness until the plane is airborne. This means that the sometimes-interminable period between grabbing your seat and takeoff (or between landing and disembarking) is when you’re most likely to inhale a cloud of air from a person infected with COVID-19.

    That stale, warm air you occasionally notice when a plane is on the ground sitting at the gate or idling might mean there’s little circulation through those filters.

    Your discussion is causing me to remember something from early on in the pandemic. Back in the beginning, weren't they "idling" the plane to keep those filters going? If so, I am not noticing that now.

    I haven't been on a plane since I left FL for good to move back to MA :smiley:

    We're at that age that we are thinking estate planning and Florida is friendlier in that regard. Plus, hubby would fish 365 days a year if he could. :)

    My partner would go to the golf driving range 365 days a year if he could :)

    During lockdown, he bought a net to hit balls in the backyard, and is trying to figure out how heat the barn enough to be able to hit balls into the net out there when it is too cold for the range.

    During the nutty year, we downsized into a townhouse on a golf course. We are on the ninth hole, next to the putting green and driving range. Neither of us golf.......

    good luck with the barn :)
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,817 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »

    During the nutty year, we downsized into a townhouse on a golf course. We are on the ninth hole, next to the putting green and driving range. Neither of us golf.......

    good luck with the barn :)

    My brother lives in Arizona in a beautiful house overlooking a golf course. He and his wife both play golf, but they can't afford to play on the course where they live. Still, it's fun to watch others play.
  • RetiredAndLovingIt
    RetiredAndLovingIt Posts: 1,395 Member
    When our kids were young we lived along the golf course, along one of the longest driving holes. Of course, we had broken windows & got lots of unclaimed golf balls. They had a golf ball stand instead of lemonade, lol.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,447 Member
    @spiriteagle99 @retiredandlovingit Our unit is an interior unit and behind our cluster is a berm topped with white pines that separates us from the putting green. As for the ninth hole, there is another long group of pines which are trimmed at the bottom to see under, but full at top for rogue balls. Since august when we bought, our unit has not been hit by one ball, but the end unit next to us has as it is not fully behind the pines and exposed to the tee off. As for the driving range, since the driving is not used off season, the cats are loving being harness walked up that hill . There is brush along the sides with lots of exciting critters.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 37,029 Member
    edited January 2022
    I posted this link on another thread, but I'm going to repost it here in case it may be helpful to some.

    It's a paper written by medical doctors (with cardiology and sports med credentials), with this aim:
    The primary purpose of this topic is to provide guidance about individual return to play or strenuous activity following infection with COVID-19, with a focus on older adolescent (eg, high school) athletes, recreational and elite adult athletes, tactical personnel, and heavy occupational laborers.

    I was interested primarily because some of my past coaching education still makes me curious about things like that, but I think active people who've recently had Covid (or have active family members who have) might get some usefulness from it.

    https://www.uptodate.com/contents/covid-19-return-to-play-or-strenuous-activity-following-infection#H135764167

    It's written in a dry research study kind of way, not like a lively journalistic report, but it's not super-technical IMO beyond that, so should be accessible.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,054 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    oocdc2 wrote: »
    After almost three years of being *so* gods-damn careful, I've got Omnicron. I'm vaxxed and boosted; I have mild symptoms and just tired all the time. My workplace mandates isolation for five days, complete masking for five when reporting to work; no negative test required. I hope my kids (also vaxxed, one boosted) can manage to avoid this.

    Nobody is going to avoid Omicron unless they literally do absolutely nothing and have no contact with anyone. My whole family had it earlier this month and I'm still in quarantine for work due to their very strict protocols. We're all vaxed and my wife and I are boosted. We have indoor mask mandates here and always comply and we all still got it.

    Sorry if you already answered this, but having been so conscientious, can you narrow down your/your kids' possible exposures?
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,990 Member
    For those in the U.S., have you ordered your free test kits from the government yet?
    We'll see how long they take to arrive...it is through the U.S. Postal Service, after all...
  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    edited January 2022

    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    oocdc2 wrote: »
    After almost three years of being *so* gods-damn careful, I've got Omnicron. I'm vaxxed and boosted; I have mild symptoms and just tired all the time. My workplace mandates isolation for five days, complete masking for five when reporting to work; no negative test required. I hope my kids (also vaxxed, one boosted) can manage to avoid this.

    Nobody is going to avoid Omicron unless they literally do absolutely nothing and have no contact with anyone. My whole family had it earlier this month and I'm still in quarantine for work due to their very strict protocols. We're all vaxed and my wife and I are boosted. We have indoor mask mandates here and always comply and we all still got it.

    I thought that too but somehow managed to avoid getting it when my family had it. I wish I did test positive, at this point I just want to get it over with. Given my extensive exposures I am assuming that I am immune due to either previous exposure or vaccine response. I just wish I had that confirmation of being post infection so I can get on with normal life and go on a freaking vacation without worrying about getting stuck there with a positive test.
  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    I'm going to a wake tomorrow, and find myself pretty anxious about it. I'm going to double-mask and not stay very long, but funerals/wakes tend to be super-spreader events.

    My husband and I are vaxxed/boosted, but we still do not want even a mild case.

    If I test positive, I'm out of work for a minimum of 5 days. This is an extremely busy time at my job, and what I can do from home is limited. It would be a burden on my co-workers if I were not there.

    My husband is a freelancer/contractor. If he tests positive, he is also out of work, but he would not get paid for his lost time, so it's a financial burden for us if he doesn't work.

    Honestly at this point given how obiquitous it is I would just not test and keep on doing what I needed to do.