Covid thread - Week of 3/1

[Velar Fricative]

Covid testing is down dramatically these days. This might be a problem as variants take over.

www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/28/world/covid-19-coronavirus/why-has-coronavirus-testing-slumped-in-the-us-its-complicated

If you can’t read this, they’ve identified a combo of five likely reasons:

-Fewer exposures because of fewer confirmed cases
-Less travel compared to the holidays
-Bad weather across the country in recent weeks
-More staff needed for vaccine rollouts
-Pandemic fatigue

Meanwhile I’m sitting here still wondering wtf our case rates are still high in my area. I have my theories but it’s frustrating.

[rubytue]

I was thinking last night that it’s been almost a YEAR now! This was the last “normal” week last year. The first week of March.

Last year, I spent the second week of March (9-11) doing an online training course from home. Then went into the office on March 12. And that was it, they sent us home at the end of the day not to return.

Also, a year ago next week, my dog died and my husband moved out. He is back, but we are... not the same. But still haven’t gotten covid!

[formerlyak]

I got a DM from a childhood friend of mine yesterday. He was one of my brother’s besties growing up and our families reconnected last year when
@@@ our kids were on the same soccer team@@@

His wife is a teacher and he knows my DH is in the group eligible for vaccine today, so he thought we could commiserate being the spouses who haven’t been vaccinate. Except I’m also in education in a neighboring county so I’ve already received both doses. He has major vaccine envy and is really down. I tried to give him a pep talk, reminding him things are picking up and it’s safer for his family if his teacher wife gets the vaccine before retiring to a classroom.

Anyone have any advice about how to respond to friends bummed that they aren’t eligible yet?

[mrssandro]

I finally found an vaccine appointment for my mom who is 67. It's in small town next to hers. While she signed up for the the public health one they still didn't get a call yet but her friends with preexisting conditions did. I was trying to get her vaccinated before her foot surgery. Unfortunately her second shot will be a 10 days after her surgery but at least she will resting at home. It really is a pain so far with the all these different sites to get a shot and no wonder our elders are having issues getting appointments.

[hocus2]

Mar 1, 2021 8:11:15 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Covid testing is down dramatically these days. This might be a problem as variants take over.

www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/28/world/covid-19-coronavirus/why-has-coronavirus-testing-slumped-in-the-us-its-complicated

If you can’t read this, they’ve identified a combo of five likely reasons:

-Fewer exposures because of fewer confirmed cases
-Less travel compared to the holidays
-Bad weather across the country in recent weeks
-More staff needed for vaccine rollouts
-Pandemic fatigue

Meanwhile I’m sitting here still wondering wtf our case rates are still high in my area. I have my theories but it’s frustrating.

   
While NYC was hit so very hard in spring of last year I find the virus is moving to communities with low prior prevalence. Around here where huge number of folks can work from home the number if folks who had it was low for a long time but it is ticking up. That is probably because there isn't much natural or vaccine based immunity here and folks have some chains of exposure because being completely closed in isn't possible for a year for most folks.


In spring people really saw no one and went no where. Now people have small porous bubbles or lower but not zero risk actives (e.g. masked shopping, sledding or outdoor sports).

[lacey]

Last week the US received over 21 million vaccines, which is more than the previous 2 weeks combined. Over 75 million doses have been administered and with today’s data we should hit 50 million people having received their first dose and 25 million people having received both doses.

It will be really interesting to see if this past week was an anomaly or if manufacturing has picked up enough to sustain increased deliveries. J&J should only help!

[fernweh]

My work announced today that they have a number of vaccines available for employees 65 and over and will be doing a clinic next week for those eligible.

I work in manufacturing, have been back to work full time and am around 6000 people on a daily basis. I’m not in the eligible age group but it’s great news that we have gotten vaccines. Hopefully with the J&J approval they will be able to expand eligibility to more employees soon.

[pixy0stix]

Mar 1, 2021 8:11:15 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Covid testing is down dramatically these days. This might be a problem as variants take over.

Locally, the city and county are seeing higher loads in wastewater than what is being reported via tests. 

[Bad Dingo]

Mar 1, 2021 9:37:28 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Anyone have any advice about how to respond to friends bummed that they aren’t eligible yet?

I think the only way to respond is that it all sucks.  It sucks that the vaccine rollout has been such a shitshow.  It sucks that a person can be eligible if they live in one zip code and not eligible if they live in another.  It sucks that there are people who are skipping the line because of the inherent difficulty in verifying comorbidities, employment, etc.  It sucks that some people are eligible and can't get an appointment. And it really really sucks that so many people are suffering or have died.  The only way to get out of this is to just go through it.  To re-iterate, it sucks. 

[gretchenindisguise]

FB memories for me showed our stores with bare shelves one year ago, and I thought everyone was overreacting about corona virus being in our city. We were so naive then.

[pugz]

J&J rollout is gonna be slow til end of March, womp womp.


How is it March already/again?

[raangoli]

NJ expanded their eligibility to include teachers, daycare workers, and transportation workers. I thought teachers were already eligible in NJ, but I was clearly confused.

www.nj.com/coronavirus/2021/03/nj-teachers-childcare-workers-to-become-eligible-for-covid-vaccine-murphy-says.html

[WOT?*]

Mar 1, 2021 9:33:51 GMT -5 rubytue said:

I was thinking last night that it’s been almost a YEAR now! This was the last “normal” week last year. The first week of March.

Last year, I spent the second week of March (9-11) doing an online training course from home. Then went into the office on March 12. And that was it, they sent us home at the end of the day not to return.

Also, a year ago next week, my dog died and my husband moved out. He is back, but we are... not the same. But still haven’t gotten covid!

My H and I were having the same conversation. In two weeks it is one year since his office closed (and he'd spent a month arguing with HQ about closing it earlier, since COVID was first diagnosed and spread here - and my son-in-law was stationed/quarantined in Italy - and he was reading the signs earlier than most because of it.)

[breezy8407]

Yep, my last day in the office was March 13th, 2020. I had to travel for work this week last year, and I was so nervous. So much we didn't know yet. Everything was all about handwashing at that time.

[somersault72]

I work in a healthcare system in our city and we get an email updating us each week about hospitalizations and positivity rates, not just in our system but throughout all systems in the city. Hospitalizations are dropping dramatically. The county's positivity rate is 8%. Oddly I didn't know anyone personally who died from COVID until January, when cases started dropping here. DH's uncle passed away from COVID on Friday (they live in rural Kentucky).

[discogranny]

It is insane to think that in five days it will be a year since I had COVID and in ten days, my entire office will have been remote for a year. I am still thankful that even though I went to the office after “feeling better” to help get the remote transition done basically overnight, no one caught COVID from me. We wouldn’t know for another two weeks after I was sick that it was actually COVID since I wasn’t able to get tested, but my husband was due to his recent travels from a hotspot (CA) at the time.

In the present day, I got my second vaccine today and am very happy to be fully vaccinated and super ready to see my grandparents. I had pretty bad side effects from dose one, so I am just kind of waiting for it to hit me again after this dose.

[tessalb]

Pandemic fatigue has definitely hit here, but mostly in pure frustration and anger at the neighbors who recently took vacations. The people who live across the street just got back from Jamaica. They are definitely not doing a 10-14 day quarantine. The husband has been in and out of the house, to the grocery store, at the dump, etc. WTF.

[cattledogkisses]

Mar 1, 2021 13:05:27 GMT -5 tessalb said:

Pandemic fatigue has definitely hit here, but mostly in pure frustration and anger at the neighbors who recently took vacations. The people who live across the street just got back from Jamaica. They are definitely not doing a 10-14 day quarantine. The husband has been in and out of the house, to the grocery store, at the dump, etc. WTF.

Traveling to other countries with limited medical facilities and no current access to the vaccines is just morally reprehensible right now.  Ugh. 

[formerlyak]

turbo, I am kind of sensing that with this friend as well. He was really thinking I was going to know how he felt. He must have forgotten that I have been working in education my entire career. I am a "fixer" so I really wanted to help him feel better. But I also didn't want to lie and pretend I knew what he was feeling, because I don't. In fact, I have had a lot of guilt about being eligible for the vaccine first in my family (the olds got it a few days later as it turned out). I think whatever side you are on, there is some guilt or envy. It's really just hard all around.

[waverly]

I've had a few I was bitter about because they were 25 and didn't see patients or 30 and didn't leave the house, didn't work, nothing.

I've gotten mine now, but I am still trying to get my friend 1b+ an appointment, and it is very hard because the state is 1b+, but the county is 1B. The pharmacies are all booked up and their websites are soo glitchy.

[tessalb]

Mar 1, 2021 13:07:38 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Mar 1, 2021 13:05:27 GMT -5 tessalb said:

Pandemic fatigue has definitely hit here, but mostly in pure frustration and anger at the neighbors who recently took vacations. The people who live across the street just got back from Jamaica. They are definitely not doing a 10-14 day quarantine. The husband has been in and out of the house, to the grocery store, at the dump, etc. WTF.

Traveling to other countries with limited medical facilities and no current access to the vaccines is just morally reprehensible right now.  Ugh. 

Agreed. I saw the wife about two weeks ago when she told me “We just need to get away.”
I told her, “Me, too, but they’re advising people not to travel for a reason. I can’t believe you’re traveling when you guys have already done so well staying at home and staying safe.”
Her: “We just need a change of scenery.”

It’s so infuriating. It’s like a slap in the face to the sacrifices we and so many people have made.

[Pibs]

Mar 1, 2021 10:22:52 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Mar 1, 2021 9:37:28 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Anyone have any advice about how to respond to friends bummed that they aren’t eligible yet?

I think the only way to respond is that it all sucks.  It sucks that the vaccine rollout has been such a shitshow.  It sucks that a person can be eligible if they live in one zip code and not eligible if they live in another.  It sucks that there are people who are skipping the line because of the inherent difficulty in verifying comorbidities, employment, etc.  It sucks that some people are eligible and can't get an appointment. And it really really sucks that so many people are suffering or have died.  The only way to get out of this is to just go through it.  To re-iterate, it sucks. 

Agreed. I just try to commiserate and agree with them about what a clusterfuck it's all been. I was one of the first vaccinated since I work in healthcare, and I have an in-law that was frantic trying to get their grandparents vaccinated so I did everything I could think of to help get them appointments before good information was available. Nobody but myself (and now y'all) know that husband got his first vaccination just over a week ago by sheer luck and being in the right place at the right time because I don't want to upset anyone because he wouldn't be eligible otherwise. Also, I think the fact that the weather is finally showing signs of spring (there's a daffodil blooming in my yard today, y'all!!!) is really helpful because we can talk about hikes we want to do together this spring and summer, which places we want to go SUP, and what restaurants we can't wait to eat outdoors at.

[Deleted]

It is so exciting to to finally see so many people we know getting their first doses! While we are super happy for them, DH and I feel like the period of time from now until we get vaccinated (last on every list, as it should be) might be the most dangerous yet for us. Already we are seeing those who have gotten their first doses relaxing their mask-wearing, social distancing and other precautions. And these are people who have been very careful and aren't usually the "I got mine, screw you" type. Between the more contagious variants circulating and the relaxing of precautionary measures by those who've been vaccinated, we are feeling more at-risk than ever.

On another note, one year ago today, I attended a celebration for the 10th anniversary of my temple opening to the public. Every Thai Buddhist gathering includes a huge lunch spread and, for the first time ever, I ate nothing. I touched nothing and no one. I was so nervous. Everyone though I was being crazy and dramatic. I am the temple accountant and, shortly afterwards, I had a talk with the Abbot (head monk) about conserving our resources and possibly having to cancel fundraising activities and other gatherings for a few months. It would be funny to look back on how unprepared and unaware we all were, if only it weren't so fucking tragic.

[cattledogkisses]

Mar 1, 2021 14:02:22 GMT -5 melmaria said:

Why are we all feeling so miserable and anxious lately? Because we're living in the third quarter of the pandemic. Interesting comparison to people who are isolated for missions to Antarctica/space simulations: time.com/5942577/third-quarter-covid-19-pandemic-advice/

"Researchers have a term for what Salom is describing: the “third quarter phenomenon.” First named in 1991 by researchers studying people living in cold regions, the phenomenon (still theoretical) is characterized by mood shifts among people nearly finished with a long period of isolation. Those affected often feel anxious, withdrawn, and increasingly vulnerable. Researchers haven’t been able to definitively prove the phenomenon exists, in part because its effects can vary from person to person. But anecdotal evidence and research suggest it often strikes people beginning 75% of the way through an isolating event. While researchers looking into the phenomenon have focused on explorers like Salom, what they’ve learned about it could now be applicable to a much larger group of people: those self-isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, at least in some parts of the world, is potentially about three-quarters through—assuming vaccine rollouts proceed apace, and the shots perform as expected.

...

In other words, the fact that we may nearly be out of the pandemic woods—thanks largely to mass vaccination efforts underway—may present new psychological hurdles. If you’re feeling particularly irritable, unhappy or otherwise off lately, it may help to understand these potential psychological forces at work. “If you know [isolation] is going to end, it sort of makes sense to conserve some of your resources and save them for when you might be going back into a slightly more dynamic and changeable environment,” says Smith, the University of Manchester researcher. But it’s essential that we all stay vigilant, because we’re a long way from herd immunity, and until we reach that point, the virus could easily reassert itself. Indeed, social distancing may become psychologically harder before it gets easier, since vaccinated people are likely to begin to enjoy a more normal life before those of us who remain unvaccinated."

Interesting, I've never heard of this before.  I wonder if this is why even in non-covid times March often feels like the hardest part of the winter for me.

[aurora]

Mar 1, 2021 10:36:54 GMT -5 pugz said:

J&J rollout is gonna be slow til end of March, womp womp.


How is it March already/again?

20 million doses this month - I mean, I would have hoped for more, but that's 80% of the current number of those who are fully vaccinated (about 25 million) after 2 months of Pfizer and Moderna. I don't think that's something to scoff at.

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/03/01/johnson-and-johnson-vaccine-distribution-disparities/

[tiramisu]

Mar 1, 2021 12:24:08 GMT -5 discogranny said:

It is insane to think that in five days it will be a year since I had COVID and in ten days, my entire office will have been remote for a year. I am still thankful that even though I went to the office after “feeling better” to help get the remote transition done basically overnight, no one caught COVID from me. We wouldn’t know for another two weeks after I was sick that it was actually COVID since I wasn’t able to get tested, but my husband was due to his recent travels from a hotspot (CA) at the time.

In the present day, I got my second vaccine today and am very happy to be fully vaccinated and super ready to see my grandparents. I had pretty bad side effects from dose one, so I am just kind of waiting for it to hit me again after this dose.

I had COVID less than 2 months before my first dose of the vaccine and my immune response was *really* strong to that first dose. My response to the second dose wasn't as bad (36 vs 48 hours, not as many symptoms). Just wanted to give a little hope. Fingers crossed for your reaction to be milder this time as well.

[TR]

Mar 1, 2021 13:29:25 GMT -5 turbo said:

Mar 1, 2021 9:37:28 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

I got a DM from a childhood friend of mine yesterday. He was one of my brother’s besties growing up and our families reconnected last year when
@@@ our kids were on the same soccer team@@@

His wife is a teacher and he knows my DH is in the group eligible for vaccine today, so he thought we could commiserate being the spouses who haven’t been vaccinate. Except I’m also in education in a neighboring county so I’ve already received both doses. He has major vaccine envy and is really down. I tried to give him a pep talk, reminding him things are picking up and it’s safer for his family if his teacher wife gets the vaccine before retiring to a classroom.

Anyone have any advice about how to respond to friends bummed that they aren’t eligible yet?

Not great advice, but I’ll just say I can empathize. I got a vaccine randomly in the middle of the night a month ago. I told a very close girlfriend about it (we talked like every day, saw each other for outdoor walks every weekend, etc.). She has since stopped talking to me. I have heard from her twice for functional things (like asking for a doctor’s name) and haven’t seen her in over a month. It’s really hard, but I personally have found there’s nothing I can do to make them feel better.

This is B-A-N-A-N-A-S. And, if true, she should think about therapy or something.

[noodleoo]

Mar 1, 2021 14:02:22 GMT -5 melmaria said:

Why are we all feeling so miserable and anxious lately? Because we're living in the third quarter of the pandemic. Interesting comparison to people who are isolated for missions to Antarctica/space simulations: time.com/5942577/third-quarter-covid-19-pandemic-advice/

"Researchers have a term for what Salom is describing: the “third quarter phenomenon.” First named in 1991 by researchers studying people living in cold regions, the phenomenon (still theoretical) is characterized by mood shifts among people nearly finished with a long period of isolation. Those affected often feel anxious, withdrawn, and increasingly vulnerable. Researchers haven’t been able to definitively prove the phenomenon exists, in part because its effects can vary from person to person. But anecdotal evidence and research suggest it often strikes people beginning 75% of the way through an isolating event. While researchers looking into the phenomenon have focused on explorers like Salom, what they’ve learned about it could now be applicable to a much larger group of people: those self-isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, at least in some parts of the world, is potentially about three-quarters through—assuming vaccine rollouts proceed apace, and the shots perform as expected.

...

In other words, the fact that we may nearly be out of the pandemic woods—thanks largely to mass vaccination efforts underway—may present new psychological hurdles. If you’re feeling particularly irritable, unhappy or otherwise off lately, it may help to understand these potential psychological forces at work. “If you know [isolation] is going to end, it sort of makes sense to conserve some of your resources and save them for when you might be going back into a slightly more dynamic and changeable environment,” says Smith, the University of Manchester researcher. But it’s essential that we all stay vigilant, because we’re a long way from herd immunity, and until we reach that point, the virus could easily reassert itself. Indeed, social distancing may become psychologically harder before it gets easier, since vaccinated people are likely to begin to enjoy a more normal life before those of us who remain unvaccinated."

Interesting. I agree, it has almost seemed worse since the vaccines were approved because it feels so close to the end, but it is taking so long. It was almost easier before because it was just living day to day. Now I am so anxious for when things will finally get better. It doesn’t help that I will be last. 

The other part that sucks right now is definitely vaccine envy. Almost everyone I know has or will get the vaccine before me for one reason or another. People around me are already relaxing their behavior and it will be even worse when they are all vaccinated. I feel left behind and I’m so impatient.  I know it’s petty and immature but I really hate being last. I also know a bunch of people who have jumped the line because they aren’t actually verifying eligibility here who tell me to “just make an appt anyway”, but I’m too ethical to do that. And then I get annoyed that I’m always the ethical one when clearly other people don’t care. It’s frustrating. (Sorry for the vent)

[Jalapeñomel]

I’ve noticed that traffic has really increased in the last week.

Does that mean more people are going back to work?





@@@@@@






More students in school and parents are driving?

[Velar Fricative]

Mar 1, 2021 20:13:43 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I’ve noticed that traffic has really increased in the last week.

Does that mean more people are going back to work?





@@@@@@






More students in school and parents are driving?

I feel like as we hit the year mark people are trying to get back to some level of normalcy and this probably is a sign of that.

Also, it’s now March and I feel like something changed in my brain. I’ve gone from not socializing with anyone since October to thinking because spring is around the corner, it’s time to make plans to hang out with people in parks or zoos or stuff. I’m wondering if others are feeling the same way, especially with vaccinations increasing regardless of case numbers (which are still really high!).