Coronavirus - are you afraid?

[Missy]

I don't have any hope for a coronavirus relief package until the day McConnel gets snowed in under eighty feet.

If it hasn't been passed then there's no reason to conclude it's likely.

[Haibane]

I am a subscriber to Potholer54 who is a YouTuber who is extremely clear and careful and always checks and cites sources from peer-reviewed professional papers. He has tackled all manner of subjects from atheism/religion to climate change to pandemics. Recently he has debunked a number of false claims and misrepresentations regarding C-19. I recommend him without hesitation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v341VNPgL50

[Haibane]

While the UK's official figures as of 21st Dec. were ~66,000, actual excess mortality data shows 81,000 additional deaths over 2020. That's a 22.7% difference. You can probably add something like that to the global values as well.

BBC report

[Haibane]

A BBC investigative team is obstructed in attempting to reach Tongguan, where in 2012 six copper mine workers contracted a mystery disease that eventually killed three of them.

"But their tragedy, which would otherwise almost certainly have been largely forgotten, has been given new meaning by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those three deaths are now at the centre of a major scientific controversy about the origins of the virus and the question of whether it came from nature, or from a laboratory."

[Oniya]

We got word a couple of days ago that my parents weren't doing the traditional 'Christmas dinner with the whole family' - cue collective relief, since my parents are getting up there in years.  So, after we had our own dinner at home, we gave a call to wish them a Merry Christmas.  My older sister (child 3), who lives in PA is currently down there.  My brother (child 1) and his wife, who live in VA and their daughter and her husband, who live in Boston, are visiting tomorrow.  My niece's husband is then flying back that day so he can be back at work (she's going to drive back with the dog).

Cue collective facepalm.

[Beorning]

For the first time ever, our family had no Christmas meeting at all. My father (whom I live with) went away to his current female partner (who isn't spending time with her family either), my sister is with her boyfriend, I'm sitting alone. Kind of frustrating, but I think it's for the best.

On less personal note...

If things go right, the Covid vaccinations will start here in January. You'd think it'd be a relief for the whole country... but the recent poll revealed that more people in Poland are afraid of taking the vaccine than of contracting Covid. Seriously???

The paranoia levels regarding the vaccine are so high that the government's official FAQ regarding it (available through the government's website) actually features the question "Does the vaccine contain any microchips"... *facepalms*

[TheHangedOne]

Given the nature of paranoia, I imagine that question is only going to inflame the fear.

Of course, these people will never realize how they're actually being tracked already (smart phones).

[Missy]

[Beorning]

Given the nature of paranoia, I imagine that question is only going to inflame the fear.

Oh, true. I can't imagine that part of the FAQ dispelling any fears of anyone who actually believes such stuff. I mean, when *I* saw it, my first reaction was "Ha! That is exactly what a government that is part of the conspiracy would say!"

Seriously speaking: I can imagine that, having taken the stakes into consideration, people in charge of the FAQ decided that they needed to try dispelling the conspiracy nonsense somehow. That said, it's really a sad statement regarding our society - you'd have thought that people should be sensible enough so that official answers to such nonsense wouldn't be needed...

I mean, what next: "Is Earth flat?" in government FAQ concerning tourism?

Of course, these people will never realize how they're actually being tracked already (smart phones).

Exactly.

[Lilias]

An extremely interesting read on the ways sleep factors in the prevention, treatment and recovery from Covid: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/12/covid-19-sleep-pandemic-zzzz/617454/

[TheGrandAdmiral]

I am so pissed at a friend of mine. He spent the weekend with his girlfriend (though she is his ex as they are in an on and off relationship) as he got a booty call from her. That would have been fine if she had not been infected early in December and only felt better a week ago. I read that you can see people after 10 days after you feel better, but the problem is that she was not tested as she did not want to get in the system and be able to go out (she already infected 2 people), so I can't trust a subjective feeling of "feeling better" or "she looks and sounds better". And now he laugh reacted to my message that I want to wait 14 days until we are able to see each other.

I don't want to risk my parents' lives (my mother has lung fibrosis and my father has diabetes, he is a stroke and cancer survivor) because my friend could not resist a booty call from his abusive ex.

[Missy]

I am so pissed at a friend of mine. He spent the weekend with his girlfriend (though she is his ex as they are in an on and off relationship) as he got a booty call from her. That would have been fine if she had not been infected early in December and only felt better a week ago. I read that you can see people after 10 days after you feel better, but the problem is that she was not tested as she did not want to get in the system and be able to go out (she already infected 2 people), so I can't trust a subjective feeling of "feeling better" or "she looks and sounds better". And now he laugh reacted to my message that I want to wait 14 days until we are able to see each other.

I don't want to risk my parents' lives (my mother has lung fibrosis and my father has diabetes, he is a stroke and cancer survivor) because my friend could not resist a booty call from his abusive ex.

He sounds like an idiot

[TheGrandAdmiral]

Normally he is pretty smart, but in regards to his ex he makes some stupid decisions.

[Missy]

Emotion does that to people

[Iniquitous]

I am so pissed at a friend of mine. He spent the weekend with his girlfriend (though she is his ex as they are in an on and off relationship) as he got a booty call from her. That would have been fine if she had not been infected early in December and only felt better a week ago. I read that you can see people after 10 days after you feel better, but the problem is that she was not tested as she did not want to get in the system and be able to go out (she already infected 2 people), so I can't trust a subjective feeling of "feeling better" or "she looks and sounds better". And now he laugh reacted to my message that I want to wait 14 days until we are able to see each other.

I don't want to risk my parents' lives (my mother has lung fibrosis and my father has diabetes, he is a stroke and cancer survivor) because my friend could not resist a booty call from his abusive ex.

If she was sick in the very early days if December then she'd be out of the 10 day quarantine period by now. I mean, as of today, the 28th ten days back was the 19th. So, this female should be out of quarantine.

Being cautious is good and all but you have to be reasonable. Otherwise you better shut yourself and your parents away from anyone and anything until you all get the vaccine.

[TheGrandAdmiral]

Well she only felt better last week. From what I understand she caught it sometime at the end of week one, though he was pretty vague about it. And she never tested (though had some of the major symptoms like fever, lost smell, taste, problems breathing and coughing) as to avoid being quarantined (she even managed to infect a couple of people), so I am going to wait a week or two before I see him, just in case.

The issue is that I can't base it on subjective factors like "feeling better" or "looking better". She was also known to be underestimating the pandemic thinking that it is nothing more than a simple flu and was against the measures. She may very well be okay and that I am jumping the gun, but without any clinical observation (though I know it is not 100%, but it is something) I don't want to risk it.

I told him that I will wait a couple of weeks.

[Beorning]

Being cautious is good and all but you have to be reasonable. Otherwise you better shut yourself and your parents away from anyone and anything until you all get the vaccine.

Well, that's my approach...

[CandyLips]

I am currently still suffering from coronavirus. I'm 99% certain that I had it back in March (but there were no tests available in my area for anyone who didn't have confirmed contact with a positive case, so I was unable to get tested for it). Had all the same symptoms this time as I did the first time, but this time it's lasted quite a bit longer and has hit quite a bit harder, to the point where I considered going to the hospital. Right now, as I'm sitting here relaxed and not breathing hard at all, I can still feel pain in my lungs. I've been on leave from work for 3 weeks now and am due to return in a few days. I am terrified.

I know my area is about to have another surge of cases, given that people here simply don't listen when they're told not to visit friends and family for the holidays or go to parties. I am terrified to go back to work and end up catching this yet again. I know that the next time I end up getting sick like this again, I'm gonna end up in the hospital. I don't want to die from this. I don't want to die because other people can't be bothered to think of anyone but themselves. I don't want to die because some asshole wants to walk around my job without a mask on to "stick it to the libs."

[Iniquitous]

I figured I would post this here for everyone. I took the first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday, the 30th.  The following is the side effects I have had so far.

Wednesday - I was given the shot around 9:30 in the morning.  I was already prepared for the sore arm and that side effect started kicking in around 4 to 5 pm. Other than the sore arm, I felt fine.

Thursday - Woke up with my arm really sore and moving it hurt.  Was told not to massage it or use ice on it. Took some tylenol to help the pain and got my day started. The fatigue side effect had me on the couch and dozing by 9 am and I spent most of Thursday asleep. It was around 2 pm that the chills started.  I was in sweats, a sweatshirt, my thick sock slippers, buried under 4 blankets & still could not get warm. This is also around the same time the headache and body aches kicked in. I took my temperature around 7 pm and it was 101.6 - higher temp than I had been told could be a side effect.  Took some more tylenol and back into bed where I dozed on and off.

Friday - My fever broke around 3 or 4 in the morning and sleep has been restless since then. The arm is not as sore today though I have a large red splotch where the shot was given, it is hot and hard. Chills are gone, so are the body aches. Hoping that those side effects are gone for good and it is smooth sailing from here on out.

Now, I took the Moderna vaccine and I have to go back on Jan. 27th to get my second dose.  I am NOT looking forward to it since this dose kicked my butt. Like this time, I will be taking it on what is my Friday so that I have my two days off to cope with the side effects.  I had hoped that since I had covid back in October my antibodies would kick in and keep me from having side effects, however, this obviously did not happen.

I still advocate everyone getting the vaccine if they can, just be prepared for some yucky side effects if you are not a lucky one. (Coworker got the vaccine two days before me and all he had was the sore arm.  I am currently disliking him)

[Callie Del Noire]

I figured I would post this here for everyone. I took the first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday, the 30th.  The following is the side effects I have had so far.

Wednesday - I was given the shot around 9:30 in the morning.  I was already prepared for the sore arm and that side effect started kicking in around 4 to 5 pm. Other than the sore arm, I felt fine.

Thursday - Woke up with my arm really sore and moving it hurt.  Was told not to massage it or use ice on it. Took some tylenol to help the pain and got my day started. The fatigue side effect had me on the couch and dozing by 9 am and I spent most of Thursday asleep. It was around 2 pm that the chills started.  I was in sweats, a sweatshirt, my thick sock slippers, buried under 4 blankets & still could not get warm. This is also around the same time the headache and body aches kicked in. I took my temperature around 7 pm and it was 101.6 - higher temp than I had been told could be a side effect.  Took some more tylenol and back into bed where I dozed on and off.

Friday - My fever broke around 3 or 4 in the morning and sleep has been restless since then. The arm is not as sore today though I have a large red splotch where the shot was given, it is hot and hard. Chills are gone, so are the body aches. Hoping that those side effects are gone for good and it is smooth sailing from here on out.

Now, I took the Moderna vaccine and I have to go back on Jan. 27th to get my second dose.  I am NOT looking forward to it since this dose kicked my butt. Like this time, I will be taking it on what is my Friday so that I have my two days off to cope with the side effects.  I had hoped that since I had covid back in October my antibodies would kick in and keep me from having side effects, however, this obviously did not happen.

I still advocate everyone getting the vaccine if they can, just be prepared for some yucky side effects if you are not a lucky one. (Coworker got the vaccine two days before me and all he had was the sore arm.  I am currently disliking him)

Reminds me a little of the anthrax series I got on deployment. The first shot of the series was the worse, but I also got a tetanus shot, flu shot and two others that day. By the time my shift on the flight deck finished I was nigh delusional and more than a little sick between the flurry of shots and the onset of boat crud. Luckily it was a no fly day but almost the entire squadron was suffering at some level of nastiness. One guy also picked up food poisoning, our ships supply officer was a very cheap fucker, and wound up in medical on an IV

[laa]

News of a new variant that's actually spreading internationally, originating in Britain, is terrifying me. It's said to have infection rates 50-70% above covid-19 as we know it. Since actual infections are exponential of said rate, that's significantly more than 50-70% more who'll get infected.

Forget the new years bump, Europe is going to look absolutely insane in just a few weeks. Oh how I hope I'm wrong.

[Mechelle]

News of a new variant that's actually spreading internationally, originating in Britain, is terrifying me. It's said to have infection rates 50-70% above covid-19 as we know it. Since actual infections are exponential of said rate, that's significantly more than 50-70% more who'll get infected.

Forget the new years bump, Europe is going to look absolutely insane in just a few weeks. Oh how I hope I'm wrong.

It may not have originated in Britain, but was first spotted here, and was blamed by Boris Johnson for a large increase in the infection rate in London and the south east of England., It is supposed to be responsible for 25% of new cases in my area (north west England) and has been reported in other countries, as you say.

It isn't any more dangerous in itself than the original covid-19, but spreads more quickly to more people and so vulnerable people are more likely to get it.

[Oniya]

I figured I would post this here for everyone. I took the first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday, the 30th.  The following is the side effects I have had so far.

Wednesday - I was given the shot around 9:30 in the morning.  I was already prepared for the sore arm and that side effect started kicking in around 4 to 5 pm. Other than the sore arm, I felt fine.

Thursday - Woke up with my arm really sore and moving it hurt.  Was told not to massage it or use ice on it. Took some tylenol to help the pain and got my day started. The fatigue side effect had me on the couch and dozing by 9 am and I spent most of Thursday asleep. It was around 2 pm that the chills started.  I was in sweats, a sweatshirt, my thick sock slippers, buried under 4 blankets & still could not get warm. This is also around the same time the headache and body aches kicked in. I took my temperature around 7 pm and it was 101.6 - higher temp than I had been told could be a side effect.  Took some more tylenol and back into bed where I dozed on and off.

Friday - My fever broke around 3 or 4 in the morning and sleep has been restless since then. The arm is not as sore today though I have a large red splotch where the shot was given, it is hot and hard. Chills are gone, so are the body aches. Hoping that those side effects are gone for good and it is smooth sailing from here on out.

Now, I took the Moderna vaccine and I have to go back on Jan. 27th to get my second dose.  I am NOT looking forward to it since this dose kicked my butt. Like this time, I will be taking it on what is my Friday so that I have my two days off to cope with the side effects.  I had hoped that since I had covid back in October my antibodies would kick in and keep me from having side effects, however, this obviously did not happen.

I still advocate everyone getting the vaccine if they can, just be prepared for some yucky side effects if you are not a lucky one. (Coworker got the vaccine two days before me and all he had was the sore arm.  I am currently disliking him)

According to what I've read, the side effects are basically an immune response from the body.  Since you had the virus, your immune system has already been primed.  Your co-worker will probably be hating life after his second dose.

[laa]

It may not have originated in Britain, but was first spotted here, and was blamed by Boris Johnson for a large increase in the infection rate in London and the south east of England., It is supposed to be responsible for 25% of new cases in my area (north west England) and has been reported in other countries, as you say.

It isn't any more dangerous in itself than the original covid-19, but spreads more quickly to more people and so vulnerable people are more likely to get it.

I'm more concerned about hospital space. The death counts are kept under control thanks to hospital care, so if a nation runs out of hospital beds, it's not going to be good. It's going to be really bad. So far, the nation I'm in has managed to keep our infection rates low enough so that our hospitals could manage. We'll need significantly more draconian measures to counteract an increased infection rate. And I suspect it's the same for most of the world.

[Mechelle]

I'm more concerned about hospital space. The death counts are kept under control thanks to hospital care, so if a nation runs out of hospital beds, it's not going to be good. It's going to be really bad. So far, the nation I'm in has managed to keep our infection rates low enough so that our hospitals could manage. We'll need significantly more draconian measures to counteract an increased infection rate. And I suspect it's the same for most of the world.

Yes, that's very fair comment.  Some of the hospitals in London have been struggling (although that didn't stop people protesting outside one, saying that covid-19 was a hoax); hopefully, the stricter measures which have already been taken will stop the rates from getting so high elsewhere, although they have been going up, albeit more slowly.