July Covid Thread

[Bad Dingo]

BA.5

This variant is the most contagious, immune evasive, and potentially deadly and debilitating we’ve seen to date. It is now the dominant variant. And the symptoms are those of viral meningitis. Not a cold, not the flu. 💀

t.co/e9gUv7ssOT

[NewOrleans]

Jul 4, 2022 11:02:16 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Ugh.

This isn’t that thread.

[rubytue]

I’ve found Eric Topol to be on the anxiety attack inducing side of things. Not completely wrong, but tending to lean toward chicken little.

A couple nights ago, one of his articles had me so worked up that I needed xanex to sleep. We are traveling in 2 weeks, and I am so nervous about it. But mentally, I just can’t cancel. I’ve been canceling vacations since 2019. And dammit. Masks up.

[NewOrleans]

We’ve been using the same vaccine formula throughout the pandemic—one created in early 2020 to fight against the original Wuhan variant. This may be okay for the future, or it may not. Coronaviruses thrive in winter, vaccine protection is waning, and the virus is changing very quickly. We don’t have a crystal ball, but all signs are pointing to a fall resurgence.

If we do need a fall booster, the FDA needs to decide ASAP to get the vaccine in arms by October, as it takes three months to manufacture and distribute. We basically have four options:

No boosters at all
Boosters with the original formula
Boosters with the BA.1/2 formula (with or without the original formula included)
Boosters with the BA.4/5 formula without testing among humans

yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/clarity-for-fall-were-getting-an?fbclid=IwAR3T4-FLarPAXpd0X2Q59s5d3eEkA41pcGjhMKlSRdENagFQZw_NUeDHP2I

[abs]

Jul 4, 2022 11:28:02 GMT -5 rubytue said:

I’ve found Eric Topol to be on the anxiety attack inducing side of things. Not completely wrong, but tending to lean toward chicken little.

A couple nights ago, one of his articles had me so worked up that I needed xanex to sleep. We are traveling in 2 weeks, and I am so nervous about it. But mentally, I just can’t cancel. I’ve been canceling vacations since 2019. And dammit. Masks up.

Yes. He means well and is a smart guy but I take what he says with a grain of salt. He has been very wrong in the past and is not a epidemiologist. Covid is raging right now. There is zero doubt. He would not be too choice for accurate info though.

[Velar Fricative]

NYT wrote a short piece about lower trust in public health providers and institutions these days as a result of the pandemic and the partisan divide, but I figured I'd just share the actual polling research from Pew.

www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/07/07/americans-reflect-on-nations-covid-19-response/

The next pandemic is going to be so much fun, guys!

[dreamcrisp1]

Wow. I just got Covid after avoiding it for 2.5 years. And most of my friends & colleagues all have it for the first time. This wave is brutal!

[wildrice]

I wish there was some way to know which variant you'd had. We just had COVID 2 weeks ago and I'm going to be so pissed if we don't have good immunity for the next few months as a result! My main symptoms were fever, fatigue, and headache so maybe? I had some congestion but it was minor overall. Neither of us ever felt like we were in any danger of needing actual medical attention, but we did feel pretty crummy.

I don't see masks much anywhere anymore, which was not the norm through most of the pandemic around here.

[Velar Fricative]

Jul 8, 2022 11:48:06 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I wish there was some way to know which variant you'd had. We just had COVID 2 weeks ago and I'm going to be so pissed if we don't have good immunity for the next few months as a result! My main symptoms were fever, fatigue, and headache so maybe? I had some congestion but it was minor overall. Neither of us ever felt like we were in any danger of needing actual medical attention, but we did feel pretty crummy.

I don't see masks much anywhere anymore, which was not the norm through most of the pandemic around here.

I assumed I had BA4 or 5 just because of how crummy I felt and because I live in NYC which basically sees variants first in the US (tested positive on 5/31). But I'm thinking maybe not since I never isolated within the house and no one else got it, including my DH who had OG Omicron in early January. I'm in that period where I feel pretty good about not getting reinfected yet but who the fuck knows now.

[abs]

Your Local Epidemiologist did a nice review today on reinfections. There is a LOT of misinformation out there and blind panic about BA5 and as usual I found what she had to say reassuring.

yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/epidemiology-of-reinfections

[jeaniebueller]

Jul 4, 2022 11:39:06 GMT -5 abs said:

Jul 4, 2022 11:28:02 GMT -5 rubytue said:

I’ve found Eric Topol to be on the anxiety attack inducing side of things. Not completely wrong, but tending to lean toward chicken little.

A couple nights ago, one of his articles had me so worked up that I needed xanex to sleep. We are traveling in 2 weeks, and I am so nervous about it. But mentally, I just can’t cancel. I’ve been canceling vacations since 2019. And dammit. Masks up.

Yes. He means well and is a smart guy but I take what he says with a grain of salt. He has been very wrong in the past and is not a epidemiologist. Covid is raging right now. There is zero doubt. He would not be too choice for accurate info though.

Yeah, he's a cardiologist. 

[rubytue]

So, I’ve heard a lot of anecdotes along the lines of “everyone in our family who went to [event, eg wedding] got it except the person who had their second booster recently.” There seems to be little data on it, but… it was enough to motivate me to get my second booster. Keep in mind, my oncologist gave me evusheld, which is for severly immunocompromised people. So yeah, I would think I qualify. I went to a walk in clinic that ended up denying me because I didn’t have a letter from a doctor that specifically said “immunocompromised.” The letter I had, which only have things like “lymphoma” and “high risk.” Didn’t cut again. The CDC specifically says it’s self-attest and not documentation required.

The #1 way to motivate me is to tell me know. So I was kind of wishy washy, but leaning toward it being good. I am now bound and determined to get this before my vacation. 🤣 So, I have an appointment at Walgreens in 20 minutes.

Edit, Walgreens did not bat an eye. And I told the guy the whole story. They just had me sign something self-attesting. And it was done. I was babbling and apologizing for taking time out if his day, but I tried to go to a clinic where they weee just milling around. But noooooooo. 

[wanderingback]

Jul 8, 2022 11:58:23 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Jul 8, 2022 11:48:06 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I wish there was some way to know which variant you'd had. We just had COVID 2 weeks ago and I'm going to be so pissed if we don't have good immunity for the next few months as a result! My main symptoms were fever, fatigue, and headache so maybe? I had some congestion but it was minor overall. Neither of us ever felt like we were in any danger of needing actual medical attention, but we did feel pretty crummy.

I don't see masks much anywhere anymore, which was not the norm through most of the pandemic around here.

I assumed I had BA4 or 5 just because of how crummy I felt and because I live in NYC which basically sees variants first in the US (tested positive on 5/31). But I'm thinking maybe not since I never isolated within the house and no one else got it, including my DH who had OG Omicron in early January. I'm in that period where I feel pretty good about not getting reinfected yet but who the fuck knows now.

I think it's still such a crap shoot with who gets infected even though everyone right now is saying you WILL get BA5 and I'm like uhhh...
At least people here are still wearing masks, but in most places they're not and not EVERYONE has covid and/or covid symptoms.

I had a direct exposure 2 weeks ago. We spent all day Sat together and half of Sun together (they tested neg on Sat because of their job they tested everyday) and then positive on Sun after their partner said their neck was warm. We were mostly outside and then masked inside. But we were with a bunch of family members for that all day Saturday and no one turned any tests positive after a week and no one had any symptoms. And his partner never got it either and while they don't live together full time they sleep together every night and didn't immediately isolate. So yeah, you just never know!

[rubytue]

wanderingback, that is so true. My friend has had several direct exposures, flights, conferences (in the past month), including her partner. And no one in her household (partner is no in the household) had gotten it.

[dreamcrisp1]

We definitely had BA4 or 5. My H got it from work and infected 4 of us with him. We all fell like dominoes.

My mom did not get Covid when my dad had it and they shared a bed and all but he had delta last year. But she got Covid from my H from just being in the same house.

I say definitely as I’m on Day 5 of Covid still and that’s the dominant strain here.

[lea]

Under 50s with no qualifying preexisting conditions still aren’t eligible for a second booster, correct?

I just want to make sure I haven’t missed an announcement. 😂

[rubytue]

Jul 8, 2022 17:58:08 GMT -5 lea said:

Under 50s with no qualifying preexisting conditions still aren’t eligible for a second booster, correct?

I just want to make sure I haven’t missed an announcement. 😂

Correct. Saw that first hand today. The CDC requirement is you have to self attest to being immunocompromised.

I’ve seen a lot of calls saying we have vaccines expiring and people aren’t taking them, so they should open it up. But it hasn’t yet. 

[aprilsails]

Ugh I’m struggling with the increased risk right now. I have a wedding to attend in two weeks (I’m MOH). The following two weeks after the wedding are my summer vacation from work which I desperately need to be enjoyable and fun. If I get sick from this wedding I will actually lose my mind. I’m already fantasizing about quitting my job on the daily.

Considering my friend’s horrific luck and that all of her planning related to this wedding to date has been a shitshow, I can almost guarantee it will be some superspreader event.

I had my third shot in January which was a lifetime ago. I really want Ontario to open up more boosters, as the public health officials are recommending. Come on.

[macmars45]

Jul 8, 2022 17:58:08 GMT -5 lea said:

Under 50s with no qualifying preexisting conditions still aren’t eligible for a second booster, correct?

I just want to make sure I haven’t missed an announcement. 😂

Under 50 with preexisting conditions get turned away at Walgreens in my city. I had to attest I had one or more of 10 very specific conditions (which I don't) before they'd give me the vaccine. Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy weren't on the list. I tried back in early June fwiw.

I had my 3 shot back in late November so I'd really like another but alas.

[rubytue]

Jul 8, 2022 20:49:57 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

Jul 8, 2022 17:58:08 GMT -5 lea said:

Under 50s with no qualifying preexisting conditions still aren’t eligible for a second booster, correct?

I just want to make sure I haven’t missed an announcement. 😂

Under 50 with preexisting conditions get turned away at Walgreens in my city. I had to attest I had one or more of 10 very specific conditions (which I don't) before they'd give me the vaccine. Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy weren't on the list. I tried back in early June fwiw.

I had my 3 shot back in late November so I'd really like another but alas.

Yes. The CDC requirements specifically are regarding immunocompromised status. But, if your preexisting conditions make you immunocompromised, they have to give it to you. I went down a huge rabbit hole on this issue today. 😂 I even found people saying that the CDC has a number to repot pharmacies that are denying immunocompromised people. 

Meanwhile, vaccine uptake being what it is, there are places throwing expiring vaccines away. Have we learned nothing?!

no… of course we haven’t 🙄

Attachments:

[lo]

Add me to the list of people who would love to know what strain they had… Covid has hit my household several separate times and no one else has become infected. Then in May, 5/7 people in my household tested positive yet we all had very mild or no symptoms. I also had it back in Jan and it felt like a moderate sinus infection.

[AJL]

I got back from Europe yesterday. There were three adults traveling on our trip, including myself, and we each tested positive with symptoms. It was the first time any of us have knowingly had it since the pandemic began. I would love to know what variant we got, but my assumption is that it is the BA.5. I was in two countries over 10 days (they had been in three countries previous to meeting me).

In Prague, no one masked nor were there any requirements to mask anywhere. In Vienna, masking is required on public transportation and if you go to the chemist. Most people carried masks with them, so they were more apt to masking in general.

[rubytue]

Shot #4 kicked my ass last night. Fever and aches. The first three shots had nothing or next to nothing. I was rejoicing my my misery because it the fist spark of life I’ve seen from my immune system in over 3 years. 🤣

[fortnightlily]

Jul 9, 2022 21:48:06 GMT -5 AJL said:

I got back from Europe yesterday. There were three adults traveling on our trip, including myself, and we each tested positive with symptoms. It was the first time any of us have knowingly had it since the pandemic began. I would love to know what variant we got, but my assumption is that it is the BA.5. I was in two countries over 10 days (they had been in three countries previous to meeting me).

In Prague, no one masked nor were there any requirements to mask anywhere. In Vienna, masking is required on public transportation and if you go to the chemist. Most people carried masks with them, so they were more apt to masking in general.

We were just in France and I'd say maybe 10% of people were in masks anywhere, and if so, it was a subset of the tourists. In some of the stores, like a chain grocery, the employees were masked, but virtually none of the customers.

We were masked most of the time but let our guard down at some points (masked fully on the planes though). And yep, DH and I tested positive after coming home. Mild cases.  DH was boosted right before the trip and only tested positive for a couple of days. I'm on Day 6 and feeling 95% back to normal except a little lingering congestion but still testing positive on a rapid, which is annoying me

[mrsukyankee]

My brother got Covid after flying without a mask (he also coaches teenagers, so it's possible that brought it on). Unfortunately, we hung out with him on Thursday night so we're hoping that we don't get it. We did mask on the flights, including the long one overnight home, and saw more people with masks coming back than going, but still less than 10% (I think we were one of 4 on the way in).

While with my family, we only ate/drank outside when going out, but we did go into a few shops and didn't have masks (which was oversight not desire). I'll be annoyed if I get it now again! We've come back to a London which has almost the highest level of infection rate as ever before. Yay.

[erbear]

Jul 9, 2022 21:48:06 GMT -5 AJL said:

I got back from Europe yesterday. There were three adults traveling on our trip, including myself, and we each tested positive with symptoms. It was the first time any of us have knowingly had it since the pandemic began. I would love to know what variant we got, but my assumption is that it is the BA.5. I was in two countries over 10 days (they had been in three countries previous to meeting me).

In Prague, no one masked nor were there any requirements to mask anywhere. In Vienna, masking is required on public transportation and if you go to the chemist. Most people carried masks with them, so they were more apt to masking in general.

We also just returned from Europe (UK and France). 3/4 of us tested positive upon return (no symptoms — we tested to be safe). We’re 6 days post positive tests and I’m still testing negative.

I’m not surprised. I even said we were getting Covid when we were on a crowded tube in London and we were the only ones with masks.

[bears]

Today is day 9 of covid and I finally feel like I'm myself. No one else in my household tested +, no idea how I caught it, but I'm wondering if I caught it from an outdoor event.

[starlily]

I'm on day 2 of Covid. We went to a July 4th pool party with 4 families and let our guard down re: masking since we were almost entirely outdoors. The host's niece and her husband started experiencing symptoms Wed, the hosts tested positive on Thursday, I tested negative Friday morning and retested as positive yesterday after my nose started running. Fortunately my case seems to be mild so far, but I'm still concerned about long term effects. I've had so many close contacts over the last 2.5 years without catching it, but the contagiousness of this variant (I'm assuming BA 5 based on symptoms) finally got me.

[rubytue]

Ugh. I’m seeing so many anecdotes where it seems to be outdoor exposure. And just 😭 outdoor events have been my sanity.

[RoxMonster]

I know a lot of people with Covid right now. It's making me worried about attending this quarterly planning we have for work this week. So we have been one day in office since early May. This week, we don't have to go in-office but we have our two-day in-person quarterly planning meetings on Wed/Thurs. It will be a conference type room with about 50 people sitting close together. Even if I masked, no one else will be. Which, fine, whatever, but I can't really get around lunch. I am not someone who can go 9 hours without eating anything; I'll feel sick. Lunch is not long - only about 45 min and this is a remote facility so I can't leave to go eat lunch. It's provided in a dining room on site. I guess I could bring a sack lunch and sit in the hallway and eat but 

They did remote quarterly planning all through the pandemic and just went back to in-person ones this spring. I really wish with rising numbers (our county is in high transmission), they would make the one-day in office optional for the time being and go back to remote planning but they won't. I'm very new to this job and also don't want to make waves by saying I won't go. We have out of state people flying in for the meetings and I live locally and feel it would look not great to be like "Yeah I don't want to attend in-person." But...I really don't want to attend in-person. It just takes one person in that room to not know they have it and it's a super spreader.