June Covid Thread

[Bad Dingo]

"HHS secretary Becerra tests positive for COVID-19 again" - less than a month after his previous infection


"Biden Not Deemed Close Contact To Becerra, Trudeau Covid Cases"

[Bad Dingo]

With every re-infection, you still have a 1 in 5 chance of developing long Covid.  Being vaccinated does seem to slightly decrease the chances of long Covid though.


www.nytimes.com/2022/05/24/health/long-covid-infections.html


medicine.wustl.edu/news/long-covid-19-poses-risks-to-vaccinated-people-too/

[Velar Fricative]

I saw that Becerra news last night, on the first day in nearly two weeks that I began testing negative again and feel like I can breathe for a couple of months at least. WTF. I wonder if he took Paxlovid?

[Velar Fricative]

I'm also really shocked that Biden has managed to avoid getting covid still. I'm glad he's been protected as much as possible, but this shit is sneaky and he's been in so many situations recently where he could easily have been infected.

[Bad Dingo]

I agree that it's pretty lucky that Biden hasn't gotten it yet. Maybe it's a magical combination of ice cream and Pelotoning.

[Velar Fricative]

Jun 14, 2022 9:08:38 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

I agree that it's pretty lucky that Biden hasn't gotten it yet. Maybe it's a magical combination of ice cream and Pelotoning.

That combination clearly DID NOT help me lol. 

[winecat]

Jun 14, 2022 9:47:18 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Jun 14, 2022 9:08:38 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

I agree that it's pretty lucky that Biden hasn't gotten it yet. Maybe it's a magical combination of ice cream and Pelotoning.

That combination clearly DID NOT help me lol. 

Try just ice cream.  It's worked for me.   

[lea]

Trudeau tested positive again, also. And so did Hugh Jackman, the day after he performed at the Tony’s. 😕

[krystee]

Do NOT tell me I can get this again in less than a month. I refuse. I have a hot girl summer (by which I mean temperature, not attractiveness) all planned because of my approximately three-month immunity, starting with a 40th birthday trip next week and a summer bucket list that barely fits on a giant easel page because there is so much we want to do. No. :*(

[womet]

Dr. Fauci tested positive for covid... for the first time since this started.

[audette]

Today, my employer is hosting a "welcome back" event, where they are bringing in food trucks for a company-paid lunch, and fancy local creamery ice cream, and asking various employee groups to do presentations, take group photos, and such. And encouraging all 700+ of us to go on site for the event.

Initially, the plan was to have most of it outside, because that seemed like a good idea. But, we're in a heat wave at the moment, and outside is a bit too hot to have folks stay all day outside. So, they've moved it all inside the building, into our cafeteria, which _might_ have capacity to have all of us fit in it at one time when set up with rows of chairs.


The move to indoors feels like everyone is forgetting that Covid is still a thing. I worry it'll become a local super-spreader event. There are no mitigations at work, beyond "stay home if you are sick", and even that is starting to fade back to pre-Covid inclinations.

I am using a personal excuse to stay home and avoid it all. I figure I can probably avoid the office until next Wednesday, at which point, folks who catch covid today should hopefully know they are symptomatic and stay home... hopefully...

[rubytue]

Pfizer and moderna both have omicron tweak boosters for review at this weeks vaccine advisory committee meeting. Sounds like they are considering it for a fall booster campaign.
www.cnn.com/2022/06/25/health/pfizer-booster-results/index.html

In other news, I have a friend with Covid, and while I’m trying to be sympathetic, he is an MD and now fewer than 3 times has he mentioned that this may be the end of him. But not in a “I’m on my way to the hospital way”. In a Day 3 “I’m still congested, I’m afraid this may be the beginning of the end. Will you take my dog when I’m gone?” Or “I’m still testing positive after 6 days. I’m going to have this forever.”

6 months into it, I finally got some insurance provided tests. I wanted to have enough so that we both could test every day on our upcoming vacation. I thought it was 8 per month, so I was hoping to get them for June and again for July before we left, but it’s every 30 days. So, while I have enough to cover our trip, I don’t have enough to continue when we get back. But, that will be over 30 days. So I guess I can pick more up then.

[wanderingback]

I was finally going to order some of the free covid tests from the government. My partner is going on tour in Europe so he could use them when he gets back to test a few times, even though I think we still have a few tests. Anyway, I kept getting an error and realized it was saying my address was wrong. So it says you can verify your address via the usps website, so I do that….but my apartment is not ”verified." For example it says apartments 1-12 are verified, but I’m apartment 13. Luckily I can have tests sent to our house in another city that isn’t an apartment but so frustrating, I’m sure that’s happened to a lot of people.

[taratru]

Fucking hell at all these super-soon re-infections. I'm 7 weeks from it and today feel just like I did on my first day of symptoms last time. I can't again so soon, I just can't.

[mofongo]

Jun 26, 2022 10:46:15 GMT -5 taratru said:

Fucking hell at all these super-soon re-infections. I'm 7 weeks from it and today feel just like I did on my first day of symptoms last time. I can't again so soon, I just can't.

Did you test positive again?

[rubytue]

(((( taratru,))))

wanderingback, I remember when they first started offering the free tests, there were issues with apartment buildings. I thought they had fixed it. But I guess not. Friggin A. As a fed worker, I hate all the shit about the government screwing things up, but then, I see it and just ugh!

[Velar Fricative]

Considering I'm just under 4 weeks out from my positive test/start of symptoms and I'm still on antibiotics for sinusitis from covid, fuck these fucking re-infections.

My sister feels sick and is testing tomorrow. She said the symptoms she's feeling now feel familiar to her. This would be her third covid infection.

Also, she lives in MS and said she didn't have any tests at home. She's not necessarily someone whom I'm expect would have a stash of tests in her home because she's very blase about stuff in general, but I also wonder if it's also because there are barely any tests being distributed there since covid hasn't existed for basically two years in MS now. We can pick up so many free tests here - libraries, museums, the YMCA, @schools, etc., and I forget that that's not the case everywhere.

[taratru]

Jun 26, 2022 11:51:55 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Jun 26, 2022 10:46:15 GMT -5 taratru said:

Fucking hell at all these super-soon re-infections. I'm 7 weeks from it and today feel just like I did on my first day of symptoms last time. I can't again so soon, I just can't.

Did you test positive again?

No, I haven't tested. I feel better today.

[karinothing]

I am sick. I tested positive for covid June 4th and was negative by the 17th or so. I still have a cough from covid but I am 100% re sick. I tested neg this morning so maybe something else. But I have basically been sick since early may and I am over it.

[ssmjlm]

Jun 27, 2022 7:06:58 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I am sick. I tested positive for covid June 4th and was negative by the 17th or so. I still have a cough from covid but I am 100% re sick. I tested neg this morning so maybe something else. But I have basically been sick since early may and I am over it.

Spring cold and flu has been awful in my area.  So many covid tests for stuffy noses/coughs that haven't been positive yet.  DH is battling a 4 month long cough that originally was allergy related, then bronchitis, then we have no clue.  He's asked his PCP for a referral because even a chest xray was clear.

[rubytue]

Jun 26, 2022 20:13:33 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Considering I'm just under 4 weeks out from my positive test/start of symptoms and I'm still on antibiotics for sinusitis from covid, fuck these fucking re-infections.

my SIL got Covid the last week of May. She recently mentioned that she now has pneumonia. Given the time frame, I wonder if its “Covid pneumonia” or the bacterial pneumonia that can develop after any respiratory infection. Sounds like yours did one of those post-URI things. And ugh…

On another note, I’ve been researching and dreaming of cruises. And it’s fascinating reading the feelings on the way cruise lines are handling things now. If you test positive, you are put in a quarantine cabin (at least this seems to be generally a balcony). That is enforced, meals brought to you, etc. If your 5 days extends past the ships return, you get moved to a quarantine hotel where quarantine is on your best behavior. Like the stories are they drop you off in the lobby and you are on your own for check-in, etc.  Oh, and you still have to test 2 days before boarding. There are, unsurprisingly, some people who feel this is too much. I find myself torn between recognizing that most of this seems to be for show (like 2 days before hand with a rapid test is useless even a day later 🙄) and it all feels so inevitable at this point.  But, of course, most of the people against everything they are doing aren’t coming at it from the uselessness of it. More the “OMG, what if I test positive and can’t board the ship” or “how dare they downgrade me from a suite to a balcony cabin just because I have a sniffle.”   And then, I also feel like if I feel the uselessness of it, have I become one of those who is against Covid mitigations because they are only 5% better than nothing?! And I know getting on a cruise ship seems pretty dumb right now, but I’m still very tempted. I did it back in November… *sigh*

[karinothing]

Jun 27, 2022 7:23:05 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Jun 27, 2022 7:06:58 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I am sick. I tested positive for covid June 4th and was negative by the 17th or so. I still have a cough from covid but I am 100% re sick. I tested neg this morning so maybe something else. But I have basically been sick since early may and I am over it.

Spring cold and flu has been awful in my area.  So many covid tests for stuffy noses/coughs that haven't been positive yet.  DH is battling a 4 month long cough that originally was allergy related, then bronchitis, then we have no clue.  He's asked his PCP for a referral because even a chest xray was clear.

It is exhausting. I hope your DH feels better soon. 

[abs]

Jun 27, 2022 7:33:29 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Jun 26, 2022 20:13:33 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Considering I'm just under 4 weeks out from my positive test/start of symptoms and I'm still on antibiotics for sinusitis from covid, fuck these fucking re-infections.

my SIL got Covid the last week of May. She recently mentioned that she now has pneumonia. Given the time frame, I wonder if its “Covid pneumonia” or the bacterial pneumonia that can develop after any respiratory infection. Sounds like yours did one of those post-URI things. And ugh…

On another note, I’ve been researching and dreaming of cruises. And it’s fascinating reading the feelings on the way cruise lines are handling things now. If you test positive, you are put in a quarantine cabin (at least this seems to be generally a balcony). That is enforced, meals brought to you, etc. If your 5 days extends past the ships return, you get moved to a quarantine hotel where quarantine is on your best behavior. Like the stories are they drop you off in the lobby and you are on your own for check-in, etc.  Oh, and you still have to test 2 days before boarding. There are, unsurprisingly, some people who feel this is too much. I find myself torn between recognizing that most of this seems to be for show (like 2 days before hand with a rapid test is useless even a day later 🙄) and it all feels so inevitable at this point.  But, of course, most of the people against everything they are doing aren’t coming at it from the uselessness of it. More the “OMG, what if I test positive and can’t board the ship” or “how dare they downgrade me from a suite to a balcony cabin just because I have a sniffle.”   And then, I also feel like if I feel the uselessness of it, have I become one of those who is against Covid mitigations because they are only 5% better than nothing?! And I know getting on a cruise ship seems pretty dumb right now, but I’m still very tempted. I did it back in November… *sigh*

I would really not recommend a cruise right now.

We did an Alaskan cruise two weeks ago with extended family.  It was on my MIL's bucket list and I am so glad we got those memories with her but woof.  Covid is taking the crew down hard.  We never saw our waiter after the first night.  By night three our head waiter was gone, too.  Food wasn't good because the kitchens were short staffed.  I honestly felt so guilty even being there because it was obvious how short staffed they were.  The remaining crew was working so hard but it just felt wrong to be there.  My MIL and SIL both came back home with Covid souvenirs (very mild thankfully) and I would say probably at least one half of the people on the cruise group I followed had the same experience.  I think we only escaped it because we had a recent infection. Frankly what they are doing is safety theatre.  If cruises have any chance of not being Covid breeding grounds they need to bring back indoor mask mandates.  My MIL is nearing 80 and is really slowing down.  I think that is our last vacation with her so I don't regret going but I would really just not recommend cruising either.  At all.  It's too hard to time with Covid surges and there just isn't much you can do to avoid risk once there.

[Velar Fricative]

I am grateful far fewer people are being hospitalized and dying from covid but constant reinfections are not sustainable either. And they don't necessarily get milder as you get reinfected. This is both a public health crisis AND an economic crisis. If vaccines and previous infections don't offer a significantly lower chance of reinfections anymore, the key is treatments to at least bring relief to people. Yes, we have Paxlovid, but I now personally know two people who had awful rebounds (one needed to go to the hospital during the rebound infection and the other was dangerously close per her doctor husband). Anecdotally, it seems like the under 50s do better with Paxlovid than the over 50s. We have a lot of room for improvement to at least provide significant relief and shorter illnesses for people.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Jun 27, 2022 6:32:30 GMT -5 taratru said:

Jun 26, 2022 11:51:55 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Did you test positive again?

No, I haven't tested. I feel better today.

For what it's worth, in a span of about 6 weeks, one person in my house had covid and 2 separate colds.

CC: karinothing

[rubytue]

Jun 27, 2022 8:19:43 GMT -5 abs said:

Jun 27, 2022 7:33:29 GMT -5 rubytue said:

I would really not recommend a cruise right now.

We did an Alaskan cruise two weeks ago with extended family.  It was on my MIL's bucket list and I am so glad we got those memories with her but woof.  Covid is taking the crew down hard.  We never saw our waiter after the first night.  By night three our head waiter was gone, too.  Food wasn't good because the kitchens were short staffed.  I honestly felt so guilty even being there because it was obvious how short staffed they were.  The remaining crew was working so hard but it just felt wrong to be there.  My MIL and SIL both came back home with Covid souvenirs (very mild thankfully) and I would say probably at least one half of the people on the cruise group I followed had the same experience.  I think we only escaped it because we had a recent infection. Frankly what they are doing is safety theatre.  If cruises have any chance of not being Covid breeding grounds they need to bring back indoor mask mandates.  My MIL is nearing 80 and is really slowing down.  I think that is our last vacation with her so I don't regret going but I would really just not recommend cruising either.  At all.  It's too hard to time with Covid surges and there just isn't much you can do to avoid risk once there.

Logically, I know it’s a really stupid idea. 😫 

[rubytue]

The WP had a good interview with Fauci. My fascinating tidbit - he thinks this is the second to last surge and we will have one more in the fall, mitagted by variant specific vaccine.

www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2022/06/27/anthony-fauci-post-pandemic-interview/

[jaylea]

My groups of friends who have not had covid yet was very very small, yet nearly all of us have been hit within the last couple of weeks. I’m on day 9 currently and I was laid out for a few days with the worst headache of my life. I declined paxlovid because I didn’t want to risk the side effects/rebound and would rather suffer for a few days and get tired over with.

So, ditto to whoever said we are going to need better treatments (and hopefully better vaccines).

[Bad Dingo]

Jun 30, 2022 9:25:41 GMT -5 jaylea said:

I declined paxlovid because I didn’t want to risk the side effects/rebound and would rather suffer for a few days and get tired over with.

For people who are considering Paxlovid in the future - only something like 2% of people experience the rebound and it sounds like if they do it's milder than the initial infection.  My family member took it and she was quite sick beforehand.  After 24 hours it started working and she was a lot better after 48 hours.  The only side effect she experienced was a bad taste in her mouth.

[jaylea]

Jun 30, 2022 9:32:53 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

Jun 30, 2022 9:25:41 GMT -5 jaylea said:

I declined paxlovid because I didn’t want to risk the side effects/rebound and would rather suffer for a few days and get tired over with.

For people who are considering Paxlovid in the future - only something like 2% of people experience the rebound and it sounds like if they do it's milder than the initial infection.  My family member took it and she was quite sick beforehand.  After 24 hours it started working and she was a lot better after 48 hours.  The only side effect she experienced was a bad taste in her mouth.

My doctor’s office advised against it unless I really felt it was necessary because they didn’t want to pile more side effects on top of my misery (Nausea etc) though I do know others at high risk who had good results.