April Covid Thread

[estrellita]

I'm just gonna go ahead and assume I'm catching it on our vacation. We leave Sat, come back Wed. Bets on a + test by next weekend? Ugh. I just wanted to get out of here. Delta's statement about it really missed the mark. It was fine, until the end, where they said covid is now a typical seasonal virus and basically made it sound like the pandemic is over with. I'm glad the employees don't have to deal with idiot anti-maskers now, but that part was just ridiculous.

[livinitup]

I have a minor medical procedure on Thursday, so the medical
office scheduled me for a Covid test between 7:30 am - 8:30 am this morning. In the parking lot. A little messy but fine.

It was the “all the way up the nose, tickle the brain” one.

Good news, folks. As of 8 AM today, I don’t have Covid 19.

[fernweh]

Apr 18, 2022 20:14:40 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Apr 18, 2022 16:09:50 GMT -5 jennyparnassus said:

CDC Mask Mandate for Travelers Struck Down by Federal Judge


A federal judge in Florida struck down on Monday the Biden administration's mask mandate for airplanes and other public transport methods.

US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said the mandate was unlawful because it exceeded the statutory authority of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and because its implementation violated administrative law.

I’m so disappointed by this as I am getting on a flight on Thursday. Not only do I wish masks were in place for the germ factor, I also feel like it will bring out the worst in behavior from everyone.

Yes - I’m a bit worried. We are set to fly May 4 (I know it was only extended to the 3rd but was hoping for another extension) so this has me worried. Obviously I’ll wear one anyway but… I guess if we are looking at silver linings I don’t have to worry about flight delays because some jerk refuses to put in a mask?

[underwaterrhymes]

Apr 18, 2022 20:14:40 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Apr 18, 2022 16:09:50 GMT -5 jennyparnassus said:

CDC Mask Mandate for Travelers Struck Down by Federal Judge


A federal judge in Florida struck down on Monday the Biden administration's mask mandate for airplanes and other public transport methods.

US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said the mandate was unlawful because it exceeded the statutory authority of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and because its implementation violated administrative law.

I’m so disappointed by this as I am getting on a flight on Thursday. Not only do I wish masks were in place for the germ factor, I also feel like it will bring out the worst in behavior from everyone.

I’m so ANGRY over this. This fucking judge who was rated Unqualified by the ABA just threw so many people to the wolves. Evidently, several pilots last night made the declaration mid-flight and on many flights people cheered and whipped off their masks. That gave no one a chance to make a decision on whether flying was worth the risk.

And I guarantee you if things would have been reversed and the mask mandate had been reinstated, not one pilot would have chosen to announce it mid-flight because they know the crazy anti-maskers would have revolted.

Wastewater numbers continue to climb and I won’t be shocked when they have to ground flights due to staff being sick with COVID.

[gardengal]

Honestly I was just on a flight & id say at least 25-33% weren’t wearing a mask. Or if they were, their nose was out. Including a guy that kept coughing.

I’m upset that there was little warning on this but also kind of feel like flight attendants kinda have given up already on enforcing.

[erbear]

Apr 18, 2022 9:03:47 GMT -5 wawa said:

Apr 18, 2022 8:36:45 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

We used proctored home tests for work recently - some of the Binax Now ones. It was a terrible experience. Several testers were told their test was invalid because the proctors didn't see them open the box. For one, it was a wifi lag issue and for two others, their hand was in front of the sticker when they opened the box.

Just posting this because I would have freaked out if it was a necessary for travel test and I didn't have a back up option.

Every time I hear people talking about needing the proctored in-home tests or scrambling to find a test location I am reminded that my mom had no problem finding in person test access in two different locations in Mexico (one bigger city, one much smaller, both coast/tourist towns) and wonder why this is so hard for us.

Seriously. I was able to walk into a WINE SHOP in Portugal and get a test for my flight home in 15 minutes. We suck at this, still.

[mrsukyankee]

Apr 19, 2022 6:21:19 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Apr 18, 2022 20:14:40 GMT -5 af1212 said:

I’m so disappointed by this as I am getting on a flight on Thursday. Not only do I wish masks were in place for the germ factor, I also feel like it will bring out the worst in behavior from everyone.

I’m so ANGRY over this. This fucking judge who was rated Unqualified by the ABA just threw so many people to the wolves. Evidently, several pilots last night made the declaration mid-flight and on many flights people cheered and whipped off their masks. That gave no one a chance to make a decision on whether flying was worth the risk.

And I guarantee you if things would have been reversed and the mask mandate had been reinstated, not one pilot would have chosen to announce it mid-flight because they know the crazy anti-maskers would have revolted.

Wastewater numbers continue to climb and I won’t be shocked when they have to ground flights due to staff being sick with COVID.

Yup. This is why flights around Europe are being cancelled, left, right and centre. Too many staff out with Covid. And the people who are complaining the loudest are the ones who are anti-maskers (of course).

[dancingirl21]

We are flying to London today. Because of course. DH and I will be wearing our KN95 masks and hoping for the best. If I get stuck overseas because some asshat on the plane is coughing on me, I will be pissed.

[noodleoo]

Apr 19, 2022 7:20:53 GMT -5 gardengal said:

Honestly I was just on a flight & id say at least 25-33% weren’t wearing a mask. Or if they were, their nose was out. Including a guy that kept coughing.

I’m upset that there was little warning on this but also kind of feel like flight attendants kinda have given up already on enforcing.

This. We had the same experience on our flights 3 weeks ago. We only flew because we had Covid in Jan and figured it was safest to travel while we still had omicron antibodies.

[underwaterrhymes]

Apr 19, 2022 7:49:46 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Apr 19, 2022 6:21:19 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I’m so ANGRY over this. This fucking judge who was rated Unqualified by the ABA just threw so many people to the wolves. Evidently, several pilots last night made the declaration mid-flight and on many flights people cheered and whipped off their masks. That gave no one a chance to make a decision on whether flying was worth the risk.

And I guarantee you if things would have been reversed and the mask mandate had been reinstated, not one pilot would have chosen to announce it mid-flight because they know the crazy anti-maskers would have revolted.

Wastewater numbers continue to climb and I won’t be shocked when they have to ground flights due to staff being sick with COVID.

Yup. This is why flights around Europe are being cancelled, left, right and centre. Too many staff out with Covid. And the people who are complaining the loudest are the ones who are anti-maskers (of course).

It’s also made commuting to and from work a lot less safe for millions of people.

*throws everything*

[penguingrrl]

Some good news regarding the increase in cases. Despite case increases for a few weeks now in several places, there aren’t the associated increases in hospitalizations that normally follow.

www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/briefing/covid-cases-up-hospitalizations-omicron.html


This tracks with what my sister (a surgical resident in an inner city hospital) is seeing at work. People coming in sick because of covid are less sick than in previous waves and there are more incidental covid findings than there were in the past.

We aren’t past covid yet, not by a lot, but right now it’s seeming less dangerous than it was in the fall.

[ny96]

Apr 18, 2022 20:30:01 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

Apr 18, 2022 9:03:47 GMT -5 wawa said:

Every time I hear people talking about needing the proctored in-home tests or scrambling to find a test location I am reminded that my mom had no problem finding in person test access in two different locations in Mexico (one bigger city, one much smaller, both coast/tourist towns) and wonder why this is so hard for us.

In our case our last day in Rome we are taking a tour to Pompeii and then Positano. It leaves at 7:10am and returns at 8:30pm. I don’t want to worry about finding a place to test before or after that. If our proctored Binax don’t work we will just have to make sure we arrive at the airport even earlier for our return flight.

We flew back from Costa Rica yesterday and took the Binax tests on Sunday. I was a bit of a hassle coordinating 4 tests, but overall a pretty easy experience. Just follow directions to the letter including not opening tests until you are asked to. Also, we packed them in the original box, but if you don’t do that, make sure that make sure they are in something sturdy. I threw the remaining 2 tests in a soft sided suitcase and they got a bit crushed which broke the seal on one.

[cherry1111]

Apr 19, 2022 8:57:05 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Apr 18, 2022 20:30:01 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

In our case our last day in Rome we are taking a tour to Pompeii and then Positano. It leaves at 7:10am and returns at 8:30pm. I don’t want to worry about finding a place to test before or after that. If our proctored Binax don’t work we will just have to make sure we arrive at the airport even earlier for our return flight.

We flew back from Costa Rica yesterday and took the Binax tests on Sunday. I was a bit of a hassle coordinating 4 tests, but overall a pretty easy experience. Just follow directions to the letter including not opening tests until you are asked to. Also, we packed them in the original box, but if you don’t do that, make sure that make sure they are in something sturdy. I threw the remaining 2 tests in a soft sided suitcase and they got a bit crushed which broke the seal on one.

Thanks for that tip!!

[Bad Dingo]

Apr 19, 2022 6:21:19 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Apr 18, 2022 20:14:40 GMT -5 af1212 said:

I’m so disappointed by this as I am getting on a flight on Thursday. Not only do I wish masks were in place for the germ factor, I also feel like it will bring out the worst in behavior from everyone.

I’m so ANGRY over this. This fucking judge who was rated Unqualified by the ABA just threw so many people to the wolves. Evidently, several pilots last night made the declaration mid-flight and on many flights people cheered and whipped off their masks. That gave no one a chance to make a decision on whether flying was worth the risk.

And I guarantee you if things would have been reversed and the mask mandate had been reinstated, not one pilot would have chosen to announce it mid-flight because they know the crazy anti-maskers would have revolted.

Wastewater numbers continue to climb and I won’t be shocked when they have to ground flights due to staff being sick with COVID.

It's seriously bonkers that someone so distinctly unqualified has a life-time position and can make decisions that will impact so many lives.

www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kathryn-kimball-mizelle-trump-judge-voids-mask-mandate-1339427/

" “Wearing a mask cleans nothing,” U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle wrote in her decision on Monday. “At most, it traps virus droplets. But it neither ‘sanitizes’ the person wearing the mask nor ‘sanitizes’ the conveyance.”"

[breezy8407]

I have to fly next week for work and am not thrilled. I will continue to wear my KN95. I just hope I don't get accosted by some asshat about my choice to wear it.

I've had a pretty good experience with FA's giving mask wearing reminders. Of course there have been exceptions. I have only flown Delta, so maybe that's why.

[ssmjlm]

No one at work has issued anything regarding the court upholding the COVID Vax requirements for feds. We have 2 un-vaxxed in our office, one is medical and completely understandable. The other one is just a jerk and I was really hoping he would go find another job at some point.

[mrsukyankee]

Apr 19, 2022 8:01:43 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Apr 19, 2022 7:49:46 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Yup. This is why flights around Europe are being cancelled, left, right and centre. Too many staff out with Covid. And the people who are complaining the loudest are the ones who are anti-maskers (of course).

It’s also made commuting to and from work a lot less safe for millions of people.

*throws everything*

Yup. I think we're around 15% or so still wearing masks on public transport in London (I am one of them). 

[wildrice]

I sure hope they drop the testing requirement to re-enter the US if they can't even mask on the plane anymore. So I am going to get COVID flying to my destination, and then be banned from returning home and have to pay a ton of money to stay in another country and quarantine?

I think we will still wear masks for any upcoming travel. Maybe forever. Planes were germ factories even prior to COVID.

[mrsukyankee]

penguingrrl, unfortunately, our hospitalisation rates are up right now. Hoping that it doesn't keep climbing.

[Saudade]

I'm in Europe right now where they've completely removed all covid requirements. No one wears a mask....literally maybe less than 5% of people at any given time. I've been wearing my KN95 the entire time because of having to test to return. I'm so paranoid my test will be positive (granted, I have no symptoms, but still)

I'll still continue wearing my mask on the plans and anywhere else I go. I want to go as long as possible without having covid.

[mrshandy]

We went to Portugal a few weeks ago and everyone was still wearing masks indoors, on public transportation, etc. It really wasn't a big deal. It was just part of life.

Everyone stayed masked up during both of our flights.

I agree that they should drop the testing requirement if they are not going to require masks on the planes.

[penguingrrl]

Apr 19, 2022 12:20:28 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

penguingrrl, unfortunately, our hospitalisation rates are up right now. Hoping that it doesn't keep climbing.

Ugh, that’s no good!

[Bad Dingo]

I'm not sure if the court ruling impacts international flights but not having a mask mandate makes it even more important to require testing before travel.

[TR]

Apr 19, 2022 13:54:56 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

I'm not sure if the court ruling impacts international flights but not having a mask mandate makes it even more important to require testing before travel.

Right. The risk of getting stuck going up is just one more thing to factor into whether or not you can travel.

[wanderingback]

Apr 19, 2022 12:17:25 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I sure hope they drop the testing requirement to re-enter the US if they can't even mask on the plane anymore..

Huh?
The exact opposite is true from a public health standpoint.
Obviously it’s not 100% guarantee but knowing that people have tested negative within the past day while not wearing masks on flights is a good thing.

[Jalapeñomel]

Back from spring break, and four teachers are out from COVID (all of which traveled over the break).

[Jalapeñomel]

Back from spring break, and four teachers are out from COVID (all of which traveled over the break).

[wildrice]

Apr 19, 2022 14:30:08 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Apr 19, 2022 12:17:25 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I sure hope they drop the testing requirement to re-enter the US if they can't even mask on the plane anymore..

Huh?
The exact opposite is true from a public health standpoint.
Obviously it’s not 100% guarantee but knowing that people have tested negative within the past day while not wearing masks on flights is a good thing.

Except you don't have to test prior to traveling many places, only to return. So you can get COVID on your way there from sitting next to an unmasked person, and then not be allowed to return. The lack of consistency is frustrating. If we are taking no precautions of any of kind other than return testing for international, why continue only that?

I'd be more in favor of dropping the mask mandate if we could implement testing prior to EVERY flight, fwiw. But really, I am not supportive of dropping it at all when you are packed onto airplanes like sardines to begin with.

[wanderingback]

Apr 19, 2022 15:47:31 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Apr 19, 2022 14:30:08 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Huh?
The exact opposite is true from a public health standpoint.
Obviously it’s not 100% guarantee but knowing that people have tested negative within the past day while not wearing masks on flights is a good thing.

Except you don't have to test prior to traveling many places, only to return. So you can get COVID on your way there from sitting next to an unmasked person, and then not be allowed to return. The lack of consistency is frustrating. If we are taking no precautions of any of kind other than return testing for international, why continue only that?

I'd be more in favor of dropping the mask mandate if we could implement testing prior to EVERY flight, fwiw. But really, I am not supportive of dropping it at all when you are packed onto airplanes like sardines to begin with.

Well 2 people had filed a lawsuit against the federal transportation mandate last year and it just now made its way through the courts and 1 judge decided legally it couldn’t hold, so that is why the federal transportation mask mandate was dropped. Not because legit public health officials think it’s a good time to drop it.

The Swiss cheese model shows that if you layer mitigation measures on top of each other it helps. So just because 1 precaution goes away doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to get rid of all precautions.

Ever since the test to return was implemented there was always a risk you could get stuck where you went. I think that’s just part of the new norm of international travel these days for now, so not sure why just because the mask mandate was dropped it makes sense to drop the testing mandate.

[fortnightlily]

Also, this happened today: www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2022/04/18/cdc-travel-advisory-level-4-list/7358429001/

"After months of warning all travelers to avoid a long list of countries because of "very high" COVID-19 levels, the CDC has removed all countries from its "Do Not Travel" list.

The federal agency on Monday removed 89 countries from its "Do Not Travel" list. The highest Level 4 designation will now be reserved for "special circumstances" reflecting a dangerous spike in COVID-19 cases, a new variant or health care infrastructure collapse."