How are you all dealing with coronavirus and the restrictions... #2

@Discombobulated I hear your concern about coworkers coming in with covid. It seems like employers are desperate to retain workers even with the risk of infecting others. Does not make sense in the long run but some businesses are trying to stay afloat.

I worry about the older people too. They are more vulnerable to Covid and other sicknesses.

I kind of have to laugh about this. Our president is now on day 3 of having to cancel his appointments because he had a bad reaction to his 4th vaccine dose. The one his government is twisting our arms to get!

Are any other countries freaking out over the "summer wave" already or is that just Germany? Because the omnicron BA.5 subvariant is (of course) even more contagious. Sigh. But so far I've only read this next doom scenario in German media - the Netherlands seems more concerned about the trouble at Amsterdam airport ruining people's holidays.

I don't know. So more people are testing positive, but there's no increase in severe cases. I've always been on the side of taking this seriously, but how long can we keep this up? Should we go back to masks everywhere, no events, no life? People also die from the flu. Yes, long covid is a concern, but ANY virus can cause post viral issues.

I guess I have been lucky, I've been to quite a few events which could have easily been spreaders (don't know if they were big enough to be super spreaders) and been fine. So either I've still managed to avoid any contagious people, or I've already had it without any symptoms. Or just didn't get it. My best friend continued testing negative even after all 5 of her kids were positive, and especially with the youngest she didn't keep any distance when she was sick.

And on the previous topic: I do think both staying home while sick should be encouraged more, and also staying home while positive, even if asymptomatic. But we also need to keep essential services running. Especially in health care it is tricky, because they are absolutely essential, but also work with the most vulnerable people that you want to keep safe.

ETA: Oh, I just spotted it in Dutch media as well! An article titled "German cities want new Corona restrictions and possibly mask mandates."

Yeah I agree with you Break, it isn’t possible or desirable to shut society down as things stand at the moment. But staying away from people when one is infected seems sensible- I don’t think everyone feels that way though and trouble in England is we have a government with poor leadership right now who no one is listening to anyway.

I had my hospital procedure this week, glad I didn’t get covid from my infected family members (and hopeful my 3 jabs plus natural infection gave me immunity) so I could go. Everyone was masked there and I felt so sorry for the medical staff working in a stuffy hot poorly ventilated area wearing masks all day, I felt like I may pass out just on my one visit. Those people work so hard and they are undervalued but that’s another topic.

Interesting your friend did not get covid, I did read not everyone with covid is infectious and children supposedly less so and for a shorter timeframe. There is so much to learn and of course this virus has changed.

We are definitely having a summer wave now in England but not many are testing and not registering results either so the only way we can gauge it is how many people we know of with it.

Here the fear mongering is constant, but it's a winter wave. The media obsesses over case numbers and criticizes the loosening of mask mandates. We have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, so most cases are mild or asymptomatic. They seem to downplay the low death/ICU rates and barely mention them. You have to work to find that information. At the peak in 2020, we has 4,000 people in the ICUs, now it's fewer than 200. But, what does the media say - ICU beds are at 87% capacity, let's freak out!! What happened is that when things were bad, they set up extra beds. Now they have decommissioned most of those because they are not needed.

My husband has always been somewhat of a hypochondriac. The climate of fear is starting to get to him. I have to tell him to stop reading/watching the news.

Me, I am over it. What was the point of getting the stupid vaccines if they still want to put us under restrictions?

Of course, when our idiot president was in the US and Canada, he hardly ever was shown wearing a mask.

I am over it. This is not killing or hospitalizing people at the same rate as it was. IIRC, over 95% of the people hospitalized here are unvaccinated. I am aware of several outbreaks in nursing/retirement homes which have not lead to deaths or hospitalizations. This seems as risky as the flu at this point, although I am still concerned with the after effects that could include diabetes or heart issues. We should all do what we are can when we are sick with anything to avoid spreading it to large groups, the elderly, and the at risk.


I feel like Covid has killed off so many good things in life. Festivals, music venues, theatres are permanently closed. I had plans to go to another country this year. They have some program to randomly screen international visitors for Covid that requires you to have phone and internet service while there, but I won't have either because I'd planned to go to a remote area with no connectivity. I can't even bring a negative test result to opt out. Visitors who test positive have to isolate for ten days while citizens just have to wear a mask. It just all seems over the top at this point.

What bothers me the most here is the lack of nuance. The media and health authorities do not discuss how the majority of cases are mild, due to vaccinations and less severe mutations. My friend and her husband both got it a few months ago. Her husband is someone who would have been at risk for severe illness and death in 2020 - diabetic, overweight and over 60. He had 3 vaccines and was sick for only 3 days, mostly fatigue and coughing. He did a telemedicine appointment to get a recommendation of what he could take for the cough, but that was it.

The attempts to instill fear are working to some extent. Whenever there is an article about a new wave or rising cases, there are always comments from people who want the government to do more and implement restrictions.

I find it annoying that two years ago saying 'it's just a flu' seemed wrong to me and now that's how I feel!

I know what you mean but Omicron is so different to the original virus and first variants, things have changed and it’s wise I think to adapt our own response.

Me too, but like Discombobulated said, the situation has changed with omnicron and vaccinations.

The conspiracy theorists are really doing my head in. We've got a €9 monthly public transport ticket here and obviously on weekends trains are absolutely packed.
Cue conspiracy theorists going "They're doing it on purpose to raise the covid numbers.

Wow that is mind boggling Break, I have really struggled with hearing conspiracy theories throughout the last few years. Since all our restrictions ended thankfully there’s been a lot less vocal conspiracy theorists.

I do not trust our politicians but I do trust the Drs and nurses who worked so hard throughout. They weren’t lying about the worst of the pandemic.

My dad has it now, he’s 83 so I’m a little worried about him, so far he’s shivery and achy but only day one. He caught it from someone he was car sharing with - this man knew he was unwell and still got into a car with 3 people, he tested positive next day, my dad 2 days after that.

It’s very high right now. If you look at it the figures the week my husband and son had it apparently there was only 9 people in the borough which is laughable. Hardly anyone is registering tests now and many of the retail ones can’t be registered.

Hospital cases are up 37% which is probably a more accurate measurement. Apparently this is our 5th wave - I had lost count!

@Discombobulated - I hope your father is on the mend soon.

@Discombobulated How is your father doing? I hope he is okay.

Thanks both for your kind concern, I’m checking in regularly with my parents and dad seems as okay as possible but he’s unwell and having hopefully the toughest few days now. We’re hoping my mum’s going to avoid getting this and she’s quite tired out looking after him - she’s 82 so doing very well considering.

I’m so done with covid!

Fingers crossed she escapes it! I agree, Covid sucks. I wish it hadn't happened in our lifetime (or anyone else's).

I'm starting to find myself being bored because we might go back to shut down again.

I don't think more lockdowns are likely. They are not even under consideration here and I live in a Covid dictatorship that still has mask mandates, capacity restrictions and vaccine passports.

I think (might be wrong) that the only place that’s locking down is China now? If you are in US I doubt you’ll face another lockdown at this stage.

Even Australia has given up on lockdowns.

Australia has decided to '''let Covid rip.''' Is that a good idea?

And now the Monkeypox 🙄

Now that I didn't get it when my husband had it, I feel invincible.

My mum tested positive a few days ago. Apparently my dad didn't get it. She had a fever one night and says she has a very sore throat but feels fine apart from that.

I'm still debating if I should get a booster. Or a second booster according to every other country besides Germany where I am already considered boostered. 3 weeks to go until my holidays and my plans have now gotten fairly insane with several concerts/festivals and a convention my biggest fear is getting positive right in the middle and having to cancel the rest.

At home I'm still dealing with the isolation. Although working at the office is now possible again, almost everyone from my team is still working from home so even if I went to the office, there'd be no one there.

Hope she recovers very soon.
How many shots have you received so far?

I've had 2. First one was J&J so only one shot for full vaccination, then i got a booster with Pfizer.