Pandemic: Life on the ground

[Jersey Girl]

Writing just to relieve a bit of tension. One of our family members tested positive. We (the Boy and I) were with someone from the household yesterday, definite close contact. Actually two of them thought they had the flu 1.5 -2 weeks (one at a time) ago so I'm hoping that maybe that was actually the start of Covid in the house, the most recent being the one today, and we're good over here. One thing I noticed when I got the news. I thought of myself and my own well being first. I must be more self centered than I imagined. Anyway...a bit of a white knuckle ride over here. Happy holiday. We hope.

Nervous energy.

They're dropping like flies over there. We have ALL been in close or second hand contact with each other.

Help. Help.

[Gunnar]

Writing just to relieve a bit of tension. One of our family members tested positive. We (the Boy and I) were with someone from the household yesterday, definite close contact. Actually two of them thought they had the flu 1.5 -2 weeks (one at a time) ago so I'm hoping that maybe that was actually the start of Covid in the house, the most recent being the one today, and we're good over here. One thing I noticed when I got the news. I thought of myself and my own well being first. I must be more self centered than I imagined. Anyway...a bit of a white knuckle ride over here. Happy holiday. We hope.

Nervous energy.

They're dropping like flies over there. We have ALL been in close or second hand contact with each other.

Help. Help.

Dropping like flies? I hope that is nothing more than hyperbole, and that you and yours are all or soon will be restored to full health!

As for me and mine, we had a good thanksgiving with no health issues to speak of, unless one wants to count the fact that something like mild flu or cold symptoms briefly affected my son's entire family briefly in the last few days. They all tested negative for COVID, though, and they assure us it is pretty much over already. As for me specifically, except for my brief and mild bout with COVID earlier this year and short-lived but now resolved problem with edema, I have had no real health issues all this year. I have not even had my usual winter bout with the common cold, so far, at least (knock on wood!).

[Jersey Girl]

Writing just to relieve a bit of tension. One of our family members tested positive. We (the Boy and I) were with someone from the household yesterday, definite close contact. Actually two of them thought they had the flu 1.5 -2 weeks (one at a time) ago so I'm hoping that maybe that was actually the start of Covid in the house, the most recent being the one today, and we're good over here. One thing I noticed when I got the news. I thought of myself and my own well being first. I must be more self centered than I imagined. Anyway...a bit of a white knuckle ride over here. Happy holiday. We hope.

Nervous energy.

They're dropping like flies over there. We have ALL been in close or second hand contact with each other.

Help. Help.

All three in the household are now tested positive. Me and the Boy could be next.

HELP. Praying the boosters cover this. HELP.

[Res Ipsa]

Nervous energy.

They're dropping like flies over there. We have ALL been in close or second hand contact with each other.

Help. Help.

All three in the household are now tested positive. Me and the Boy could be next.

HELP. Praying the boosters cover this. HELP.

The bivalent boosters don’t provide a ton of protection against transmission. But they do provide good protection against serious disease, My 87 year old Dad has COVID a couple of weeks ago, and he described his symptoms as that of a bad cold.

What your family has is almost certainly Omicron BA.5 or one of its subvariants. They have evolved to escape immunity, but severity is low, especially for those who are fully boosted.

The best precautions you can take now have to do with airflow. Wear your N-95 at home as much as practicable. If you have HEPA filters or have made Corsi-Rosenthal boxes, run them full time. Otherwise, use windows for ventilation. If either of you become symptomatic, isolate from each other as best you can.

Keep in mind that RAT tests can show a negative result for several days after a person becomes infectious. If PCR tests are still available in your area, they will pick up an infection before an RAT. If you become symptomatic, get ahold of a Doc right away, as Paxlovid treatment needs to start in the first five days to be effective.

Check with your local health department about when to go to the ER. Many ER’s are buried with COVID, RSV and flu cases.

And remember to breathe.

[Jersey Girl]

All three in the household are now tested positive. Me and the Boy could be next.

HELP. Praying the boosters cover this. HELP.

The bivalent boosters don’t provide a ton of protection against transmission. But they do provide good protection against serious disease, My 87 year old Dad has COVID a couple of weeks ago, and he described his symptoms as that of a bad cold.

What your family has is almost certainly Omicron BA.5 or one of its subvariants. They have evolved to escape immunity, but severity is low, especially for those who are fully boosted.

The best precautions you can take now have to do with airflow. Wear your N-95 at home as much as practicable. If you have HEPA filters or have made Corsi-Rosenthal boxes, run them full time. Otherwise, use windows for ventilation. If either of you become symptomatic, isolate from each other as best you can.

Keep in mind that RAT tests can show a negative result for several days after a person becomes infectious. If PCR tests are still available in your area, they will pick up an infection before an RAT. If you become symptomatic, get ahold of a Doc right away, as Paxlovid treatment needs to start in the first five days to be effective.

Check with your local health department about when to go to the ER. Many ER’s are buried with COVID, RSV and flu cases.

And remember to breathe.

Thank you for the reminders, RI. Even after keeping up with my thread and new developments here all this time, I assure you I needed some coaching.

The Boy tested positive.

I suspect that I'm next in line.

We are staying apart from each other for the time being. I got past my initial panic last night and put my brain in gear. When you can't run away, of course you have to dig in your heels. Put my mask on in the house. Yanked out the wipes and wiped everything down that was touchable. I slept with the windows wide open last night and the ceiling fan on. Fortunately it's not wintry cold here right now. Pulled out stuff for making a soup this afternoon.

So far, he is coughing a bit and feels like he has a cold. I sent him to his room , to put a mask on and open the windows.

I already put a call to my GP so that is done.
I put in a small grocery order last night for some immune boosting foods. Since it's contactless pick up, I'm going to go get it this afternoon.

I feel fine. I don't expect to continue to feel fine.

In terms of this thread, this is a little mind blowing. Here, I've been posting updates as you and others have, encouraging and checking in with others, and now...I'm telling OUR story.

So incredibly strange...

The Score so far: 4 positive, 3 unaffected.

[Jersey Girl]

ETA: Modified my post above to indicate that I called our Primary. They told me to come in if symptoms become intolerable or words to that effect and mentioned a universal antiviral. They do run an urgent care side of the house so they're available to use any day except Sundays. I guess we're as covered as we can be over here.

[Res Ipsa]

Yeah, it must seem weird. I’m glad it’s not too cold to keep windows open.

Sorry to hear that JB tested positive. Sending thoughts your way for a mild case and quick recovery.

[Jersey Girl]

Yeah, it must seem weird. I’m glad it’s not too cold to keep windows open.

Sorry to hear that JB tested positive. Sending thoughts your way for a mild case and quick recovery.

Thanks! I can hear that he snuck out of his room. I haven't been in mom mode for quite some time. I think I remember the drill...

[Jersey Girl]

Evening check in. The Boy's symptoms: sinus congestion and minor cough due to the congestion. No fever. No fatigue. No headache. But who knows where this'll go?

Me: I got nothing over here. Sometimes I think I feel like...then I don't know what I feel like... so I forget it and carry on. I guess I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. So far it hasn't.

[Res Ipsa]

Hi, Jersey Girl. How are you and the Jersey Boy today?