May Covid Thread

[Bad Dingo]

A fascinating article about possible fall vaccine variants (and quite short by Atlantic standards).

www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/05/covid-vaccine-recipe-omicron-protection/629846/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=true-anthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1EdmVszVS0eFLXCjDMRKuUa2kBcz9r0IMPJioGYU0zZu4-Ddgouwvske8

[neverfstop]

I feel like all of a sudden there is an uptick in those all around/online getting COVID. However, most are testing at home so there isn't going to be a big surge in reported numbers. Does anybody know if a good site that is doing surveillance testing? I know there was a lot of wastewater monitoring early on and through last year, but I don't know if it's in a single place or a way to monitor locally. This sucks..I felt like at least before, we had a pretty good grasp on what was happening and you could gauge your risk and act accordingly. Now, I feel like a surge is creeping up on us and we're not seeing it coming....

[jaylea]

May 18, 2022 4:40:44 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

I feel like all of a sudden there is an uptick in those all around/online getting COVID. However, most are testing at home so there isn't going to be a big surge in reported numbers. Does anybody know if a good site that is doing surveillance testing? I know there was a lot of wastewater monitoring early on and through last year, but I don't know if it's in a single place or a way to monitor locally. This sucks..I felt like at least before, we had a pretty good grasp on what was happening and you could gauge your risk and act accordingly. Now, I feel like a surge is creeping up on us and we're not seeing it coming....

I guess it depends on where you live, but in the Northeast we are in a surge that beats our first two waves already (not omicron though), and we are able to find wastewater and other data through our state CDC.

But, I’d imagine I’d the NE is already on fire, everywhere else will be or is too.

[wanderingback]

Ive gone back to wearing a n95 on the subway. Most people are masked on my most frequent routes but still I thought I’d bump up from the kn95 to the n95 to give a little bit more protection since they’re saying things are more easily spread. Plus of course people are gross in general When I get to work I’ve been switching back to kn95 since everyone is masked and people aren’t really coughing and being gross like on the subway. I wore a n95 all day everyday for 1.5 years so it is what it is! The new norm…

[Velar Fricative]

May 18, 2022 4:40:44 GMT -5 neverfstop said:

I feel like all of a sudden there is an uptick in those all around/online getting COVID. However, most are testing at home so there isn't going to be a big surge in reported numbers. Does anybody know if a good site that is doing surveillance testing? I know there was a lot of wastewater monitoring early on and through last year, but I don't know if it's in a single place or a way to monitor locally. This sucks..I felt like at least before, we had a pretty good grasp on what was happening and you could gauge your risk and act accordingly. Now, I feel like a surge is creeping up on us and we're not seeing it coming....

You can check wasterwater surveillance here, but not every part of the country does it:

covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#wastewater-surveillance

[pixy0stix]

How Accurate are Rapid Covid Tests - www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-accurate-are-rapid-covid-tests

Considering we keep having this convo about whether you should test serially with both tests in the kit:

Another is that serial testing – two tests taken 24 to 36 hours apart – is critical with rapid tests. This is because we observed that if a person had an infection that was detected by a PCR test for at least two days in a row, one or two of the over-the-counter tests taken over the same time also detected the infection more than 80% of the time. In comparison, a single rapid test detected far fewer infections.

[Poppy]

May 18, 2022 11:44:12 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

How Accurate are Rapid Covid Tests - www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-accurate-are-rapid-covid-tests

Considering we keep having this convo about whether you should test serially with both tests in the kit:

Another is that serial testing – two tests taken 24 to 36 hours apart – is critical with rapid tests. This is because we observed that if a person had an infection that was detected by a PCR test for at least two days in a row, one or two of the over-the-counter tests taken over the same time also detected the infection more than 80% of the time. In comparison, a single rapid test detected far fewer infections.

I am annoyed with this synopsis by SA. I read the study and

1) I think it's cherry picking to throw out the 80% number. Overall, serial antigen tests had a lower sensitivity than 80% if they include all participants with positive PCRs.

2) The study was designed to test whether the antigen tests worked for Omicron (compared to Delta) so it was not real world testing. They had everyone take both types of tests every 48 hrs, which is not real life usage. The data does show the antigen tests were frequently negative when the PCR first went positive. But they did not break out data on antigen test sensitivity at each test interval, they just showed cumulative sensitivity. They also did not present data on symptom onset timing. So I don't feel that it's fair to say that a reasonable conclusion for THIS STUDY is that serial testing is necessary in real life usage. Their stated conclusion was that antigen tests do detect Omicron on par with performance for Delta. I think it would be fair to say that this study also shows that PCR tests are more sensitive overall and particularly at onset.

[jackie011]

Per our work protocols, I’m “clear” to go back to work tomorrow, as long as I wear a kn95 in common spaces and around other people. I’m going to take a test in a bit here, just to see what’s going on. I definitely feel better, but I still have a pretty significant cough and get tired easily. I have a Zoom class in the morning, so it would be a short day, in person, anyway. Just trying to figure out how this all works.

[lo]

I currently am positive after testing positive in January. Super. At least I had extremely mild symptoms, thankfully. I’m a teacher and heading back to work tomorrow which will be day 7. I haven’t taken
another rapid, but that isn’t part of our protocol. I will be wearing a mask, though.

[sparty04]

Has anyone had luck getting tests through Insurance? I have blue cross blue shield and they are so unhelpful. They said I have to go through my rx provider (Caremark) who says I don't have this coverage. We currently have covid in the house so my stash is running super low.

[Bad Dingo]

May 20, 2022 15:34:54 GMT -5 sparty04 said:

Has anyone had luck getting tests through Insurance? I have blue cross blue shield and they are so unhelpful. They said I have to go through my rx provider (Caremark) who says I don't have this coverage. We currently have covid in the house so my stash is running super low.

I have Anthem Blue Cross and can order them through their app or website.

[jaylea]

May 20, 2022 15:34:54 GMT -5 sparty04 said:

Has anyone had luck getting tests through Insurance? I have blue cross blue shield and they are so unhelpful. They said I have to go through my rx provider (Caremark) who says I don't have this coverage. We currently have covid in the house so my stash is running super low.

I managed to have Caremark reimburse me, but I had to buy myself. Walmart did one day shipping. Good luck!

[abs]

May 20, 2022 15:34:54 GMT -5 sparty04 said:

Has anyone had luck getting tests through Insurance? I have blue cross blue shield and they are so unhelpful. They said I have to go through my rx provider (Caremark) who says I don't have this coverage. We currently have covid in the house so my stash is running super low.

We also have BCBS and just got them from CVS. They took our insurance information, handed us 4 boxes of tests, and off we went. You can also get them through the government right now so that might be easier for you right now

[sparty04]

May 20, 2022 16:17:53 GMT -5 abs said:

May 20, 2022 15:34:54 GMT -5 sparty04 said:

Has anyone had luck getting tests through Insurance? I have blue cross blue shield and they are so unhelpful. They said I have to go through my rx provider (Caremark) who says I don't have this coverage. We currently have covid in the house so my stash is running super low.

We also have BCBS and just got them from CVS. They took our insurance information, handed us 4 boxes of tests, and off we went. You can also get them through the government right now so that might be easier for you right now

I did get those but I have 6 people to test so they don't go far. I have to run to cvs anyway so I'll ask there. Thanks!

[Poppy]

sparty04 You can also try the USPS tests?

ETA they recently opened a third round and it's 8 tests this time. special.usps.com/testkits

I'm sorry the insurance is such a hassle. United Healthcare has made it easy to submit for reimbursement.

[sillygoosegirl]

May 20, 2022 15:34:54 GMT -5 sparty04 said:

Has anyone had luck getting tests through Insurance? I have blue cross blue shield and they are so unhelpful. They said I have to go through my rx provider (Caremark) who says I don't have this coverage. We currently have covid in the house so my stash is running super low.

I had to purchase on my own and submit for reimbursement, which took forever, although some reimbursements for my household have come through eventually. I think one of mine is still pending from 2 months ago. I filled out the online form (Cigna) and it came back as rejected but forwarded on to their associated prescription coverage. If that's how it is supposed to be covered, why didn't the online form--which was literally ONLY for home COVID tests--not send it there in the first place?

I actually found $1 tests last month so didn't bother to submit them, but now that cases are full on surging again, I don't think we're going to see such cheap tests again for a while...

[cherry1111]

Has anyone else gotten this 3rd round of government tests already? Mine already arrived today but it was only 2 boxes of 2 for a total of 4 tests.

ETA: Oops…research fail on my part. I went back to the link and it says it will arrive in 2 packages of 4 tests each.

[hermione]

May 20, 2022 15:34:54 GMT -5 sparty04 said:

Has anyone had luck getting tests through Insurance? I have blue cross blue shield and they are so unhelpful. They said I have to go through my rx provider (Caremark) who says I don't have this coverage. We currently have covid in the house so my stash is running super low.

We just got a reimbursement check that I submitted for at the beginning of March. Now they have it set up so we go through a local pharmacy that delivers to your front door. So every month, I call the pharmacy and they deliver 24 tests to us (8 tests x 3 people). I’m thankful they’ve made it this easy. Our insurance is HAP (I’m not sure they exist outside of Michigan).

[SusanBAnthony]

May 20, 2022 19:27:38 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

Has anyone else gotten this 3rd round of government tests already? Mine already arrived today but it was only 2 boxes of 2 for a total of 4 tests.

ETA: Oops…research fail on my part. I went back to the link and it says it will arrive in 2 packages of 4 tests each.

We also got half of them. I guess another box will show up at some point?

[mandymay]

May 21, 2022 7:36:00 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

May 20, 2022 19:27:38 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

Has anyone else gotten this 3rd round of government tests already? Mine already arrived today but it was only 2 boxes of 2 for a total of 4 tests.

ETA: Oops…research fail on my part. I went back to the link and it says it will arrive in 2 packages of 4 tests each.

We also got half of them. I guess another box will show up at some point?

Did you set up package tracking when you signed up? My tracking let me know my first package is being delivered today and the second is scheduled for Monday. I don’t know why they’re being delivered different days.

[sonrisa]

Have we talked about Long Covid affecting 1 in 5 adults who get COVID?

www.nytimes.com/2022/05/24/health/long-covid-infections.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-coronavirus&variant=show®ion=BELOW_MAIN_CONTENT&block=storyline_flex_guide_recirc

And that it mostly affects people in their 30s and 40s?

www.nytimes.com/2022/05/14/business/dealbook/working-with-long-covid.html

[RoxMonster]

Our county is now considered high transmission. Our local HD just reported on this. We are mainly doing things outdoors anyway because the weather is finally nice (like going to a winery this weekend and sitting lawn chairs on their lawn listening to music). But I do have to go in-office one day a week and now that’s making me a bit nervous. No one is masked. I can mask of course to lessen my chances but it’s probably not zero with no one else masked. We also all typically eat lunch together. It’s a new job for me. I know everyone would be supportive and understanding if I said I wanted to not participate due to Covid numbers. But ugh this all just sucks.

[savan]

May 26, 2022 9:54:54 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Have we talked about Long Covid affecting 1 in 5 adults who get COVID?

www.nytimes.com/2022/05/24/health/long-covid-infections.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-coronavirus&variant=show®ion=BELOW_MAIN_CONTENT&block=storyline_flex_guide_recirc

And that it mostly affects people in their 30s and 40s?

www.nytimes.com/2022/05/14/business/dealbook/working-with-long-covid.html

I can’t access those articles but I was also reading yesterday that vaccines are less effective at preventing long Covid than we had hoped, only reducing your chances of getting it by an additional 15%.  That’s disappointing.

news.yahoo.com/long-covid-affects-more-older-170830215.html