Can we talk COVID and how it affected you financially, emotionally, physically, etc?

[rennigade]

Has anyone here not tested positive. There is a term for that, COVID "super-dodgers." I fall into that category. Anyone esle? I hope I don't jinx it for you or for me, lol.

Have you tested yourself everyday for the past 2 years? Lot of people had covid and didnt even know they had it. Its really not a big deal. At first when you heard of someone you knew getting covid there was a lot of shame and shock. Now getting covid is as shocking as a headache.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Have you tested yourself everyday for the past 2 years? Lot of people had covid and didnt even know they had it. Its really not a big deal. At first when you heard of someone you knew getting covid there was a lot of shame and shock. Now getting covid is as shocking as a headache.

Ha-ha. Only tested myself due to test kit expiring, not due to symptoms (never had symptoms), i still have a kit that expired bur I'm saving it for if I get symptoms.

[disneysteve]

Has anyone here not tested positive.

I haven't, but that really doesn't mean anything.

Many people had symptomatic infections but only did rapid tests which are only useful if they're positive. A negative rapid doesn't mean you don't have COVID. You need a PCR to prove it. Either that or you at least need to do a rapid every day for several days during your illness to be more likely to capture the positive result. And likely millions didn't test at all when they were sick.

There are also asymptomatic cases found only in the course of routine testing. People are infected and contagious and don't realize it.

The "official" stats on how many cases there have been are drastically under-counting the true burden of COVID, especially now that people aren't paying nearly as much attention to getting tested when they're sick.

[james.hendrickson]

Here is my question for the board: other than taking basic precautions, (getting the vaccine, not exposing yourself to persons showing illness symptoms and wearing a mask in high traffic public places), is worrying about covid something that really make sense at this point?

It would seem far better to me to go back to normal life: raising your kids, saving money and participating in your community.

[rennigade]

Here is my question for the board: other than taking basic precautions, (getting the vaccine, not exposing yourself to persons showing illness symptoms and wearing a mask in high traffic public places), is worrying about covid something that really make sense at this point?

It would seem far better to me to go back to normal life: raising your kids, saving money and participating in your community.

Of course it would be better to get back to a normal life. But thats not going to happen for years. People have been told for the past two years to not get back to normal. And as you all know, people are easily manipulated. That ship is going to take years to correct, if it ever does. Not to mention the mental health issues that more and more people are facing due to lockdowns. We're all going through a science experiment without even knowing it.

[james.hendrickson]

Of course it would be better to get back to a normal life. But thats not going to happen for years. People have been told for the past two years to not get back to normal. And as you all know, people are easily manipulated. That ship is going to take years to correct, if it ever does. Not to mention the mental health issues that more and more people are facing due to lockdowns. We're all going through a science experiment without even knowing it.

Rennigade, human societies are messy - nobody is happy with the covid situation - I'm saying, why invest the mental energy into it. Its far better to get back to focusing on business.

[disneysteve]

Here is my question for the board: other than taking basic precautions, (getting the vaccine, not exposing yourself to persons showing illness symptoms and wearing a mask in high traffic public places), is worrying about covid something that really make sense at this point?

It would seem far better to me to go back to normal life: raising your kids, saving money and participating in your community.

I think for the most part, everything is pretty much back to normal. Mask requirements are gone here except in healthcare facilities. Everything is fully open and running normally. People are eating indoors, going to gyms and theaters, traveling, having parties, etc. I can't think of anything offhand that hasn't returned to pre-COVID conditions.

[james.hendrickson]

I think for the most part, everything is pretty much back to normal. Mask requirements are gone here except in healthcare facilities. Everything is fully open and running normally. People are eating indoors, going to gyms and theaters, traveling, having parties, etc. I can't think of anything offhand that hasn't returned to pre-COVID conditions.

Um well, maybe increased use of Covid testing kits? Also, more masks on airplanes and at the grocery store?

[disneysteve]

Um well, maybe increased use of Covid testing kits? Also, more masks on airplanes and at the grocery store?

Sure, there are those sorts of things, but I mean "normal" as far as activities back to normal. Everything that was closed or cancelled or shifted to Zoom is back to normal schedule and in-person.

[disneysteve]

more masks on airplanes and at the grocery store?

Previously, masks were required on airplanes and they enforced it best they could. Now it's optional and most people don't wear one, and it's no big deal if you do. We're flying next week and we will definitely wear our masks.

As for the grocery store, during the peak, we had to line up outside and wait to be let in as the number of customers was limited. Masks were required. And you could only shop alone or with one other person - no bringing the whole family (I don't know why anyone does that anyway). The deli was closed. The self-serve counters were gone. Now it's completely normal, although most of the self-serve stuff hasn't come back. I suspect that was a money-loser for the store and this gave them the opportunity to eliminate it permanently. You can come and go freely. No limit. No masks required.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I work from home so that helps a lot to avoid people. And I quit gym and lift at home and jog free around my neighborhood, no theaters (movies at home), no malls (order online), etc. Once a week grocery shopping. I spend a lot of time at the beach outdoors. Although I did fly 3 times in 2022 and inside casino in Las Vegas and Indian casinos in San Diego which are riskier activities albeit maskless.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Has anyone here not tested positive. There is a term for that, COVID "super-dodgers." I fall into that category. Anyone esle? I hope I don't jinx it for you or for me, lol.

Neither my husband nor I have had it. Neither have had reason even to test.

[QuarterMillionMan]

CNBC today, "Biden declared today COVID is over." Sarah Isen just said it, not my words. Time to burn all my masks, hooray.

[myrdale]

CNBC today, "Biden declared today COVID is over." Sarah Isen just said it, not my words. Time to burn all my masks, hooray.

According to the link below, the 28 day case count is still above 2 Million.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

South Alabama has actually had a bit of a go of it over the past month. Six weeks ago my sister tested positive. Then three weeks ago my Mother tested positive. I've heard of a couple of people getting it for a second time.

I am not convinced it is over, I think most of the population has just caught up to where I stood two years ago, live life and stop worrying about it.

[disneysteve]

CNBC today, "Biden declared today COVID is over."

He did NOT say that COVID is over. He said that the pandemic is over. Two very different things (and experts don't necessarily agree with him).

COVID is here to stay. We need to accept that and behave accordingly.