COVID-19 in Summer 2024

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122402909#Comment_122402909

It is in another level of risk to a cold. You dont know who is vulnerable just by looking at them. Its a roll of the dice, most cases come out like a cold or flu but then theres the small number of cases that end up severe.

If you pass it onto your friends and colleagues even if they dont end up in hospital, could floor them and there go their plans and work.

Grey123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122403366#Comment_122403366

if that your feeling or facts on the current variation? How does it compare to say the flu. If people get the flu they will stay home when sick but if feeling better after a few days don’t generally think about masks or isolation days

Just wondering if we are treating it differently because we can test for it or because of risk at this stage

While it’s everywhere I don’t hear I workplaces struggling because of isolation guidelines…

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122403423#Comment_122403423

There is an element of the test making it more obvious and harder to ignore - unless you ignore / dont testing.

Dont have info for very latest strain but in the recent vaccines thread the info showed Omicron strains as still significantly more severe than flu.

Also with covid mutating more rapidly than flu with multiple waves per year, it is less of a known quantity than a flu strain and so potentially each strain could throw up nasty surprises. You arent going to know that if you have picked up mild dose of it mid wave.

DylanQuestion

Obviously we should all be conscious of everyone (such as staying home if positive), but am I wrong for thinking that if you know you’re vulnerable, you’re responsible for keeping yourself safe? Wear a mask, sanitise, etc. I don’t see why you should have to go around assuming everyone is vulnerable. And even at that, people here have drawn the line at not going out when sick. Look at Y’all Masking on Twitter. Most people there there have drawn a line at wearing a mask. Some have drawn the line at a mask you’d see someone wearing in Chernobyl. Or even above, odyssey, you said what if you give it to a friend and they have to cancel plans. Okay, so what? Why am I responsible for ensuring that you are okay for your plans, that’s your responsibility. If you’re not masking and avoiding certain scenarios that one could deem unsafe.. well, tough luck if you have to miss a flight.

At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s wrong to be a bit selfish. We’re all trying our best and want to live our best lives. There is being reckless (such as getting Covid and going into a nursing home without a mask and coughing on everyone), and there is accepting a risk that everyone human faces (going outside with a cold and negative test). I have seen so many people saying they’ll never take their mask off. Where were you before 2019? The world didn’t collapse around us, nor will it right now. People say “it’s worse than a cold”, which means nothing. A cold is a cold. You feel rotten for a few days (potentially!), and move on. Some people seem to be obsessed with the idea that Covid is world ending. Where? We are apparently in a huge surge right now around the world. Where are the mass graves we saw in 2020, or soaring death rates, or overrun hospitals? I know some point to empirical evidence, and maybe I’m fortunate, but I am seeing no real world evidence of this. In my privileged bubble, people are sick and going about their day as normal prior to Covid, and things are fine, as they were before 2019

Biden was sick, looking like he was on death’s door, walking around greeting people and kissing them. Then he tested positive, and walked around his staff and press without a mask telling everyone he’s fine walking onto his plane. He could have isolated wherever he was, but instead he took a flight to his home to isolate there. This is the President of the United States. Do you think this would be allowed if it was so dangerous the world was going to end? I highly doubt it. In 2021, I tested positive for Covid. Within two days I tested negative on a PCR, and I had so much guilt forcing myself to stay inside even though I was negative. Eamon Ryan tested positive around the same time, so they did another test and it was negative, and he went about his business as normal.

ottolwinner

I’ve heard of people testing positive and being very I’ll with it as recent as yesterday

I wear a mask in medical settings and noticed a lot of medical professionals returning to mask wearing also.
I’ve never had covid but were I to get symptoms I’d isolate for myself as well as others. Not really social when I’m under the weather anyhow.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122403534#Comment_122403534

It is the responsible thing to do in society. Not doing so is a selfish thing to do.

Did you warn your friends you are meeting that you have covid, let them make their choices to avoid the risk?

It is a balance. There is a responsibility on both sides. People turning up to offices or events obviously sick, and I don't mean post viral stuff like fatigue or a lingering cough. Sneezing and coughing gunk over others.

Pre Covid it will still an irresponsible and short sighted thing to do imo - delaying both their own recovery, and crippling the productivity of the team who in sequence pick it up, chest infections, flus etc.

It is worse than a cold. Symptoms like a cold are in its range but it also runs the range to severe cases.
So you should not be approaching that because it was like a cold it will be like that for others.
That's the material difference between carrying on your business with a cold v covid.

Also it is summer now, impact of a covid surge now on hospitals etc is less than it would be in winter.

And doesn't have to be mass graves or world ending to be something of concern, people should be responsible also if they have certain diseases to avoid pregnant women. And yes, pregnant woman take a responsibility on themselves to be careful but you can only take so many precautions.

To go up a notch, AIDS isn't world ending either, but there is a responsibility to take precautions.

Senature

For years now friends of mine would warn each other when meeting up if anyone in their house had a vomiting bug as they are nasty and can spread like wildfire. Everyone can then choose whether to meet up or not, or the person would cancel. Bit of common courtesy and common sense goes a long way.

Personally I would not be keen to meet up with someone with very recent covid or a household member with covid. It won't end the world but I don't need the hassle of being sick / wrecked for a week. Self employed and not eligible for sick pay and still have all the work to catch up on when I get back to it.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122403534#Comment_122403534

Joe Biden is an ass. Goes home to isolate but not before passing it around to everyone.

iamwhoiam

Two elderly relatives have it this week ( 82 and 81) one in hospital and one at home .Both very sick with confusion and vomiting also

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122403423#Comment_122403423

One obvious reasons for workplaces not struggling with isolation is the fact that so many people are remote working these days and while workers may be sick for a few days they may be able to manage to put in more time at home than they would if traditional work practices were continued

Secondly there are many people getting quite sick because of vulnerability . It is not the same as severe illness in the past thankfully because of vaccinations and immunity but this variant currently going around has mutated to evade our immune protection a little bit more so hence the recent increased number of cases.

In my family I am the only one to catch this and nearly 2 weeks later am still sick .Apparently not infectious anymore but still coughing and pretty wiped out .

It is recommended to be avoiding anybody vulnerable for 10 days , others 5 days post positive test or 2 days post symptoms resolving .

I tested positive 10 days after first symptoms and have just tested negative today at 13 days after first symptoms .

I am testing for various reasons , family occasion with other vulnerable relatives coming up next week for example

Otherwise no need to test just stay clear of others for the required length of time because this can still be particularly nasty for some people , even if you are fine.

Like any other infectious disease now it should be common courtesy not to be blasé about passing it on .

Goldengirl

@fun loving criminal

In fairness you could say that about anyone .

Joe must have been feeling a bit off before he tested positive but many people don't realise they have it or that others do until they are flattened

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122404659#Comment_122404659

He knew he had it. He tested positive and went around meeting people and got on a plane. He was on TV with the reporter saying he tested positive and he was boarding a plane. Probably his own plane but he wasn't flying the plane himself and he was greeting people leading up to the plane. He could have stayed where he was, that's the whole point of isolation. The poor man can be slightly inconvenienced and stay where he was, he has the money, that's the whole point of isolation, not to pass it on. Not travel home and then start isolation. It's only giving the wrong type of information out, well if it's ok for the president, it's ok for me.

DylanQuestion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122405057#Comment_122405057

Without a doubt. Fair enough if for national security he had to isolate at home, but wear a mask at least. He didn't even do that

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122406253#Comment_122406253

The guidelines in the US dont require isolation or the wearing of masks, if your symptoms are mild.

DylanQuestion

Rules seem to be all over the place for the Tour de France. Some are dropping out for testing positive or having symptoms, while at least one rider (Greaint Thomas) has tested positive but is still racing. It sounds like from what I’ve read online that they’re allowing him to continue racing as his symptoms are mild, which suggests in order to leave because of having symptoms, they have to be bad (one rider was sent home to recover, which I doubt would be the case for a head cold)

The Olympics said this about an Australian water polo team member with Covid:

“I need to emphasise that we are treating COVID no differently to other bugs like the flu. This is not Tokyo. The athlete is not particularly unwell and they are still in training but sleeping in a single room”

Soc_Alt

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22417817/

Here is in Interesting update where they believe there aare as many positive cases now then Dec 2021 with full lock down.

DoctorEdgeWild

Exactly the same as during the pandemic, I go to work every day because if I don't, I can't pay my rent.

DylanQuestion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122417734#Comment_122417734

For anyone who doesn't have time to listen

—

Some case figures in Ireland are as high as the Winter 2021 surge, yet we aren't seeing mass deaths and hospitalisations like then? My work desk neighbour has a family member with Covid now, as well as someone a few desks away. No one even batted an eye today, and those people are in as usual with no extra precautions.

Luke O'Neill above saying again that it's "like a cold, the symptoms are mild in the vast majority". He suggests maybe 1/3 colds are Covid. The host asked is our previous exposure behind the symptoms being mild, and Luke O'Neill said yes. He does acknowledge that some people get debiliatingly sick from it, but said we aren't seeing a rise in hospitalisations to match, and no one is in ICU.

When asked about public guidance, he said "you've got to get on with your life, your immune system is protecting you. If you're vulnerable… you will be slightly more cautious [and ring your doctor if you're very sick or breathing affected]". However, then he says if you have symptoms to stay at home, which is a bit contradictory (especially when it can spread without symptoms), so.. He said huge research has been going on for Long Covid. He said there is no longer a need for non-vulnerable people to get the vaccine as the vast majority of us have had Covid and/or been vaccinated already, and our immune system will do their thing.

Audience questions:

Q. Do tests still work?

A. They do work, but it depends on the test (most will pick it up at the peak)

Q. Why do people experience different symptoms?

A. For most it's mild, some will get very severe disease. It's a mystery as to why, although the immune system might be too active. More rapid symptom onset.

Q. How many people say they haven't had Covid but did actually have it?

A. They more than likely have had it, but very mild

SpoonyMcSpoon

No masks or restrictions anywhere from what I can see and it has been rampant for weeks now so it is close to impossible to see how any restrictions would even be considered. If anything, old people should just be told to mind themselves if they are worried about getting it.

DylanQuestion

Mask mandates would make no sense. Anyone who wants to wear a mask will be wearing one now already. I can’t imagine there are many people who would only wear one because of a mandate at this stage. Same goes for restrictions. Someone who isn’t isolating for Covid isn’t going to start because they’re told to

Soc_Alt

So tested negative today and now it feels like a general cold.

They say this variant is mild but not for me.

In 2022 when I caught covid it was mild.

With this variant I contemplated calling for medial assistance.

I was actually concerned this time.

callaway92

Where are we these days in terms of flights and Covid? Just tough **** if you have it (similar to just getting the flu the day of your flight etc) and it's either suck up the price of the flight or come on the flight? (No Travel Insurance)

DylanQuestion

Assuming someone even tests, I’d imagine if they were sick or had it, they’d just wear a mask. If it was me, I’d swallow the price if positive, but where a mask if sick and negative

I guess it also depends on the country you’re going to, and do they have any rules. For example, Ireland has no rules, just guidance to isolate for 5 days. The UK has even weaker guidance, seemingly only encouraging self isolation under certain conditions. Maybe it depends on the airline, but the tick box when booking where you agree not to go on the plane with symptoms is now gone. I remember seeing European advice in 2021 to wear a mask if sneezing or coughing

riddles

felt crap Friday night did a test yesterday negative. Test today came back positive - nose streaming and wheezy chest - had an old blue inhaler took a few puffs clear the wheeziness. Was due to visit elderly parents today obviously that’s off. Will wear a mask if I need to get to a shop hand sanitizer etc. At least the olympics are on.

Lewis_Benson

Feeling crap all last week, tested positive on Thursday.

3rd time to catch it since 2022, aches and pains and generally feeling shyte. Taste and smell of smoke is new this time.

joseywhales

Tired, second time I've caught it, bit longer lasting this time, going on about a week now. Still working though, remotely.

racso1975

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122490813#Comment_122490813

I'm now on my third dose of COVID the smell taste thing has got me every time. This time is like detergent. And Everytime it lingers for months afterwards. I'm suffering with horrible diarrhea in my 5th day of it. Nasally for a day or so but this diarrhea is literally causing me to self isolate 🤣. Did the smell part clear up for you yet?

Lewis_Benson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122580738#Comment_122580738

The smell part has mostly gone, I still feel like I have a ball of phlegm at the back of my throat.

vienne86

I tested positive on Monday…..along with others who were at a funeral last week. It's like a bad cold…..runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and a few aches and pains. Improving a bit today. No taste or smelling problems. Only my second time getting it and reckon I've been just lucky.

DylanQuestion

Just got my sixth Covid (and second Flu) vaccine today. Usual arm stiffness, with the addition of heaviness/stiffness in my eyes this time. The pharmacist said they started giving them out on Friday and there has been big up take already