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

If you can, research N99 masks. They are way better than N95 masks. And if you can, wear a thin mask (like a surgical or cloth mask) on top of the N99 or N95 mask. That will drastically reduce the spread and contraction of even omicron. This virus is airborne, so that means eating in a public restaurant or dining outside next to an infected person puts you at risk because you have to remove your mask to eat. To really do everything possible to avoid contracting the virus, you should eat outside and alone during your lunch breaks - perhaps in your vehicle if it's snowing or raining. You should avoid eating in restaurants and coffee shops altogether, or at least during a surge. You should use the best possible mask and/or double masks when going into shared air space in any arena, including with those whom you know who are vaccinated (they could still be asymptomatic spreaders). You should be cognizant of your neighbor's shared plumbing and hallway air spaces or outdoor air spaces (like shared back yards or shared mail rooms), such that you flush the toilet with the toilet seat down in your own apartment, you wear a mask when getting the mail or going out into the hallway space of an apartment or condo building, etc. You should also invest in good air purifiers spanning your workspace and home. You should also encourage those who meet with you to remain 6 feet away - inside or outside - while also wearing masks and, if they can, getting vaccinated and boosted. You can set boundaries with people, including your employers, based on your risk needs.

There are ways to completely avoid contracting the disease, too, which may require curbside deliveries and contactless door deliveries and mail deliveries, as even a stroll inside a supermarket with a 3-ply or cloth mask poses a huge risk when delta and omicron variants spread within seconds - as opposed to the other variants that spread within 5 to 15 minutes. Studies have shown this for delta, and because omicron is more virulent, it is likely also similar. This is why it is important to double mask and have the best mask on the bottom layer - either an N99, N95, or KN95 or the equivalent.

You can also select to use a respirator mask.

Those may seem "extreme," but if you truly want to avoid getting the illness, this is what it takes with an airborne pathogen that remains under debate as to whether it is airborne or not.

People will say that they don't know how they got it when they did everything, but you have to ask if they were wearing their masks properly, and the correct masks that filter out the new variants. You have to ask if they still go out for NON-essentials, like to travel, to concerts, to the movies, to restaurants, to coffeeshops, to stores, to crowded spaces, to unkept work spaces with poor ventilation, to hugging people without masks, to congregating with people who are largely unvaccinated and unmasked, to protest rallies that are crowded, to resorts, to hotels, to churches, and more - all of which could be conducted online or safely in person if there were mask and vaccine mandates that were enforced. Unfortunately, it takes more than just our individual efforts. So, when the world or our communities lack in public safety, we have to up the ante if we truly want to "do all we can to avoid contracting the virus."

Yes, but you also have to look at what can reasonbly be expected of people. Someone who works in a store is going to be at risk of catching it, nothing that can be done about that. People still need to make a living.

I'm pretty sure the air system in my building is wonky, considering the smells I sometimes get in my flat that definitely aren't coming from me. Should I only go into my bathroom in the dark so that the ventilation system doesn't switch on?

I will admit I'm not feeling the same urgency as at the beginning of the pandemic, either. Yes I want to protect myself, but I also want to live and not get paranoid. You have to find a balance between keeping yourself safe and keeping your mental health in check. Bad mental health can make you physically ill as well. Stress isn't great for your immune system, either. Never leaving your house isn't healthy.

If you order food for "contactless delivery" but the delivery guy shows up without a mask and so close to your door he's almost stepping inside your flat - what are you gonna do? You can wear a mask yourself, you can ask him to back up and decide not to order from that place anymore - but by then the damage could already be done.

Maybe I've been lucky not to catch it during my non-essential activities. It was before omnicron. Humans are still social beings. And this is coming from an introvert with AvPD. If I had any friends to meet up with, I'd be doing a test before but I'd still hug them and not wear a mask around them. (assuming it wasn't in a public place where masks are required)

I agree, there's a reasonable limit to the precautions. Where that line between reasonable and unreasonable is will vary from person to person. Life is full of risks. I take my chances when I get in my car or cross a street. I can minimize risks but I can't eliminate them. I have to balance them against living my life.


A lot of people don't have the option to stay home. A certain amount of socializing can be necessary for some. Breathing in a respirator or even a tight N95 sucks when you do it for an extended period of time i.e. more than twenty minutes imo - and some people have to do that all day, surrounded by people who have Covid.

Sending gentle hugs to you, Discombobulated.

It depends so much on our personal circumstances, clearly. It is also interesting that we all live in places where the pandemic is evolving differently.


At one point earlier this year, our region was a hotspot and vaccines were just starting to be rolled out to more groups. I was definitely very cautious then. Hospitals were full and I wasn't vaccinated. so getting sick then would have been a very bad idea.


Now, I have loosened up a bit. Active cases are low, so are hospital admissions and positivity rates. I have gotten my booster, as have a large percentage of people in this country. I'm middle aged but generally healthy. Omicron is not much of an issue, at least for now. We still have a nationwide mask mandate. When I walk around my neighborhood in the open air, I bring one but only use it if I have close contact with someone, like when I go to the security gate to pick up a package. I do wear one whenever we run errands with people around, though.


My husband is a bit more risk averse than me, which is basically his personality. He wears a mask even walking around here. The other day a neighbor came by to discuss some work he was doing close the property line. I didn't bother to grab my mask to go look because it was a quick thing and we were both outdoors. I did keep my distance, though. My husband bugged me a bit for doing that.


Even he has loosened up somewhat as far as getting take-out and we tried to do outdoor dining once, but everything was full so we left. We also go to more places of business in person that aren't essential, using masks in all those situations, of course.


I understand, Sprinkl3 that you are in a very antivax/antimask region of the US and have health concerns. In your case, I can can see the need for those extra precautions when you are surrounded by people that won't even make basic concessions for public health.

Where I live in Idaho, the medical professional in charge of some health thing in our region believes in ivermectin as a treatment and calls vaccines "needle rape." He said that publicly. About 40% or more here believe in doctors like him. And parts of Oregon want to convert to being part of Idaho because they can't stand their own state's restrictions, which will increase the people who think just like that.

When our own leaders are giving such advice to their patients, based on what I've heard from fellow veterans in this area, I just couldn't hear it anymore. There's no reasoning with them. I've had to be very cautious about who I make friends with (less than a handful of people, to be honest - but all vaccinated and mask-wearing, though they still travel and go to restaurants while playing it safe; I'm not there yet).

I do have OCD. This pandemic made me worse. I was never like this before. I never washed my hands frequently, even though fomite transmission is low. I've never been so hypervigilant about all things 'Rona either.

But I'm not sure how to balance anything when even the world's leaders are saying to mask this, wash that, distance this, blow air that, etc. It's all confusing. I don't know who to trust, and so my survival mode kicks in and says to do it all until there's some consensus.

Dr. Marr at Virginia Tech will assert to wear masks and ventilate as best you can, and to watch for test positivity rates in your area or the area you travel. And her colleagues go as far as saying to get CO2 monitors in rooms (certain levels may detect higher amounts of possible virus in the air, meaning to air out the room or to go outside at those times, etc.). There's also these home-made HVAC systems with just a fan and a few filters that they are making for classrooms, etc.

When the anti-this and anti-that told me directly to "stay the ___ home" and "do your research," I did just that - isolate, watch my 6, avoid them toxic people at all costs, avoid being a target of hate by isolating, and follow all the TRUE research from scientists like Dr. Marr on aerosols and how this virus spreads.

Wearing masks do help. Wearing N95 or N99 masks really help.

Washing hands minimizes risk, but wearing gloves ensures that fewer pathogens get under nails, where it's harder to wash.

Showering after every outing and immediately placing clothing in the hamper isolates any pathogens and ensures clean clothing for the remainder of the day.

Having multiple air purifiers helps when your delivery persons are unmasked, and when you also wear a mask to open the door and grab door deliveries. Cleaning the items before putting them away also reduces risk and adds movement - like exercise - to help burn calories (per the VA's MOVE program), so that becomes a double plus, even if it is part of my OCD. I learned that earlier on by a doctor from Michigan. I also make sure that I shower after a door delivery and hang out in my room for at least an hour so that the air purifiers could filter any aerosols from the unmasked delivery person. Dr. Marr and Dr. Fauci would agree to wear a mask in enclosed spaces such as apartment buildings and with door deliveries of unmasked delivery persons. So it isn't going overboard to truly prevent and protect one from getting Covid. It's following the science, doing the research, and erring on the side of caution when there remains a lack of compliance, enforcement, and mandates.

This lax pandemic fatigue that has everyone - including the vaccinated - go maskless for non-essentials is not doing everything to slow the spread or to prevent contraction when masks are not worn properly (slipping, having only a 3-ply mask on, having the mask fall below the nose, etc.), or when people think that going maskless around vaccinated people means no covid risk. On the contrary, vaccinated persons can still contract and spread it to both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons - regardless if they are healthy or not. That's not taking precautions, that's just a different level of risk tolerance than those who are immunocompromised and cannot afford such tolerances. They aren't used to being isolated; it's just part of their restricted lifestyle - with even more restrictions from this pandemic. It would be kind to at least allow them some outside air space and exercise by having the community mask in public spaces.

Just checking in guys, I did get confirmation I was covid positive yesterday by PCR but tbh I already knew it with 2 positive lateral flows and a horrible taste distortion that could only mean one thing.

This could so easily have been mistaken for a cold, tickly cough, sneezing, but yesterday I felt worse - I can’t describe it, headache and just feeling unwell, I’ve been resting and drinking lots of fluids.

Good news is so far my adult son and clinically vulnerable husband (triple dosed thankfully) are testing negative (by PCR) they’re doing daily lateral flow tests. This is the best news. So far none of the elderly vulnerable people at the party have tested positive or any of the other volunteers, the charity is checking daily which I’m so pleased about.

@rechu how is your brother and his girlfriend doing? I too should’ve got my booster today, 6 months after my 2nd vaccination (AZ) I think my immunity possibly had faded but to be fair to the authorities they are learning all the time about this. Since they shortened the gap to 3 months for everyone the website keeps going down so many people were trying to book - I had a struggle to cancel my appointment for today but I did it, it means someone else will get their vaccine a bit sooner.

I did read the last few posts and I don’t want to upset or trigger anyone but I do feel that as a key worker I was at extra risk, we all were, but if we didn’t go to work imagine what would have happened to our society? You can’t stop everything.

The group I volunteer with were shut down 18 months - in that time many of our people went into care or died, they are vulnerable. Restarting was stressful, the charity handled the risk assessments which must have been a huge job. It’s not for me to say whether it was the right thing to do (right now I’m still worried I may have infected one of them) but I know the group and others like it are essential to these vulnerable people’s well-being. We do have to strike a balance IMO but it’s difficult.

I am certainly not anti lockdown or pro lockdown for that matter, I’m dreading possible new restrictions because of the mental health harm they do, but I’m pragmatic- this is a very, very difficult situation.

Safe hugs to everyone. Keep well - physically and mentally.

What a relief that it seems to be a mild case! Fingers crossed it stays that way and that your husband and son don’t catch it. It’s lucky your husband had his third shot already and I bet the elders you volunteered with did as well.

Is there any sense of relief to finally get it over with?

Thank you, yes I believe the elders were all triple vaccinated, something I hope will keep them all safe.

It’s funny you should ask whether I’m relieved about getting it over with but yes I kind of am, that’s very perceptive of you! I feel like I’ve been dodging this for 21 months now, and it finally caught me - which is what my colleagues said when they got it in October.

@Discombobulated - Thanks for asking. They are starting to feel better. It sounds like they have had mainly cold symptoms but with a lot of fatigue too.

I'm glad your case was mild and it sounds like no one else caught it. That's good that the people you volunteer with and your husband had the booster.

In all the mess of the pandemic, my ID card expired. The government extended their validity until the end of 2021 and now to 2022. However, I want to get it taken care of. When we are able to travel again, we really want to take a trip to Argentina. I can travel there just on my ID, but it can't be expired for travel. Unfortunately, the civil registry website did not let me reserve an appointment for the office in my municipality, but I was able to get a reservation for January 10th in the municipality just to the south of here. It's the first appointment on a Monday, which is good because there shouldn't be a backlog.

@Discombobulated - I hope you feel better soon and fully recover without any long-term effects.

Sorry to hear Hope those around you stay safe and you feel better soon!

The Netherlands seem to be heading to another "strict" lockdown. If it's anything like their previous ones.... Haven't heard anything about Germany yet but we'll see what happens. Hope I can still go to the office when I start my new job, at least to get started. When I went there for the interview it was veeeeery quiet so not too high risk. Public transport was a different matter, though So sad I can't say goodbye to any of my coworkers when I leave my current job

So sick of hearing another wave is coming

Definitely spending Christmas and NYE on my own, then.

The New Normal: How to Embrace Life after COVID-19 - Xtreme Care LLC

Embrace the NEW NORM; it's here to stay! There's nothing we can do about it except to accept it or meet the consequences of risk if we were to fight it.

Kudos to those who actually promote public safety, even if it means lockdowns, wave reports, public safety mandates, increased laws, increased enforcements and incentives, etc. Left to their own volition, the general public will do what social scientists have always observed when there lacks leadership - conformity to popular demand, instead of following rational science (not politics or guestimates). So our epidemiologists and those working with them in tandem and in adjacent fields will help us move forward with this new norm. It's not going away, and it will only increase with every opposition until enough people see that risk only means consequences if you deny what is already here.

Grieve if you must, but find professional mental help support if you have trouble accepting reality in this case and others concerning this pandemic and related issues.

I found this very interesting: T-cells in Pfizer Covid jab recipients stay robust against severe illness | Coronavirus | The Guardian

It’s very promising news about T-Cell response to Omicron infection following vaccination with Pfizer, although the article does point out it’s probably the same with other vaccines too.

Some images I thought were both informative and funny at the same time.

Happy Pandemic Year #2 (2020-2021) going on Pandemic Year #3 (2021-2022).

If anyone has any Christmas miracles lying around, I'll take 'em! Sorry, is that selfish? I know I'm really not THAT bad off. I'll be on my own but at least I'm (somewhat) healthy. And we'll get it over with quickly with Christmas being on the weekend this year - no extra long weekend with no distraction from the misery. Grocery shopping on Friday is going to be an absolute nightmare, though

Edit: so the news of the potential strict lockdown in NL has leaked before the next press conference tonight. Just saw some videos of crowded cities as people try to get all their Christmas shopping in before all non-essential stores may close. Nice going!

The news is alarming but mum and I are still planing on attending the musical tonight. We’re both triple dosed and the venue is supposed to be masked. It’s been years since mum has been out and she really wants to see this.

I can't tell if I'm so anxious I'm just numb, or I'm handling things fine. I havent watched the news in a couple days. I don't have much money but I want to go to Sams Club to buy some things in bulk for my pantry. I dont think things will get that bad again though. Yesterday and the other day I stocked up my freezer.

I plan on using however long this one lasts to better my physical and mental health.

I expect at any moment to receive news my therapy office has gone back to remote.

My mom has agreed that I should not go back to work like I had planned. I found a job I was going to apply to right after the New Years. Legit stuff keeps pushing me back from going back to work.

Hope your brother gets better soon. I guess in 10 days he will be available to receive his third shot.

Yes, dear, I also wish you all happy holidays. You who are in this thread know better than anyone how to deal with taking cautions and be on guard against this virus while trying to get the best advantages of these celebrations.
So, I wish you all the best.

A friend of mine who has been reticent to get vaccinated got positive in Corona. Tomorrow, I’m gonna check how she is doing. She’s young and healthy but I would bet in ten days, she’s gonna want to be vaccinated.

I was chatting some days ago with a friend of mine and he warned me about suffering a heart stroke in five years after being shot with Pfizer. Obviously I didn’t agree with him. How he’s supposed to know what it’s gonna happen in five years? It makes no sense.
I know the vaccines were approved very quick but what else can we do? It’s a sanitary emergency. Many people have died.

There's so much disinformation out there - the "reverse fear-mongering," meaning that instead of fear against the virus, they spread fear against the vaccines. The vaccines seem way safer than the virus on many levels!

I heard that the symptoms of Covid get worse on the latter days after first contraction. I also heard the older variants people getting better then getting worse then getting better then getting worse. It seemed like their symptoms lasted for longer than the average 2 weeks though; it seemed like some were in-between long-Covid, meaning that it lasted months, not weeks, but it eventually went away for most. Then again, I heard some people saying that their loss of taste or smell appears to be permanent in some people, who never quite taste or smell the same. Others get permanent tinnitus, and I think two people offed themselves because of the ringing in their ears that wouldn't stop. Now the scientists are finding that vertigo and subsequent hearing loss are symptoms of severe Covid as well. Can you imagine losing your ability to walk, hear, taste, and smell, even if you survive this? That's what the unvaccinated are dealing with, should they survive it and have the severe form of it. Hopefully it doesn't get severe for them though.

What I don't like are those who had Covid once or twice and have no qualms about getting it or spreading it, as they keep thinking they are immune and don't need vaccines. But we don't know how the variants will evolve, and how many times reinfection will decrease their immune system, too. But then again, there are different findings among the scientists. That just seems like playing Russian roulette, when those people would be safest getting the vaccines and boosters, especially if they previously had Covid and survived it. That way, they would be even more protected. But sadly, most of the unvaccinated don't think this way. Who wants to gamble with their lives by getting a disease?! To me, that's like someone saying that they want to get Hepatitis and TB just to be "immune." It doesn't work that way with those diseases. I doubt that it will work that way for long with the way the SARS-CoV-2 virus is mutating.

Hi guys well I’m doing okay a week after my positive test, I’m sure it’s because I was double vaccinated. For me the symptoms were very mild apart from one day where I had a horrible headache and slept. My taste and smell still aren’t back but I am now able to smell some strong things (coffee!) if I put my nose close which I couldn’t before. I can just about taste some stronger foods like oranges which is very reassuring. My niece had covid in September and said hers took a few weeks.

I did read a study in Oregon whereby they said vaccinated people who do get infected get a very high level of immunity however they were careful to say the baseline of vaccination had to be there first, natural infection alone does fade quickly. This is interesting to me, I agreed to submit my blood to an antibody study, I had to do a lancet finger prick at home into a tube. I think in a while they’ll send another one to check what’s happening with my antibodies.

I have to wait 28 days for my booster from my positive test which is for my own health, as it might be too much for my immune system to deal with. But I have it booked ready, I’m not sure it’s necessary now but I’ll go anyway.

Best news of all is none of my contacts have tested positive after 8 days all are well that’s probably in the clear. I spent a lot of time worrying about this, especially the elders, but it looks like nothing to worry about.

I think the emotional impact of testing positive in my case was far worse than the symptoms, we had the backdrop of all the horror stories - my poor husband was so scared for me (and he couldn’t go near me) but vaccination really does change the course of this thing.

Stay well and safe everyone and celebrate the holidays!

@Discombobulated - Thanks for the update. I am glad you generally had mild symptoms. Happy Holidays to you too!