COVID-19/Coronavirus Information and Support Thread (see OP for useful links)

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Spacegoat
The Australian government has bought forward the time between the 2nd and 3rd shots to four months instead of five. With the time reducing further to three months at the end of January.

www.abc.net.au

COVID booster shot intervals to be slashed in response to Omicron variant

Australians will soon only have to wait four months between their second COVID vaccine and booster, with plans to reduce the gap even further.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au

This now means that I'm eligible for my booster in just under a month's time. Bring it on.

Hope everyone stays safe over the holiday period. 👍
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I'm in the same boat, should be able to get it now before I go back to work on the 10th of Jan.
 
Biggles
My dilemma: I don't see any obvious way I would have got Covid ... but the same thing is true of a cold or flu. Do I go to my Covid booster shot appointment on Jan 27th, two days before my PCR test? If I do have Covid, I probably don't need a booster shot. If I'm not that sick by Dec 29th there's probably no point in getting a PCR test. If I am that sick by Dec 29th it's pretty certain that I do have Covid so I don't really need a PCR test. :confused:
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I would reschedule the booster appointment. If you know you have something but don’t know what it is then it’s best to stay at home.

Is there no way to get tested earlier?
 
Today I was able to schedule my booster for next Wednesday (Pressing F5 helps to get a better date and location). Here in the Netherlands people born in or before 1970 are now eligible to make an appointment. I'm still hesitant about having my family over for X-mas tomorrow, because my 86 y/o dad has a severe cold. I had to press him to take at least a home test, which turned out to be negative. But still.
 
Things are blowing out here in Australia. New South Wales which has a liberal government did practically nothing to stop the latest Delta outbreak they had in the state. That was under Gladys Berejiklian leadership. She ended up resigning over corruption allegations and the one that succeeded her, Dominic Perrottet is even worse. I know is a a lot more transmissible than Delta even, so cases would have gone regardless but the rate at which this is happening is incredible. Just a couple of weeks ago NSW were having a couple of hundred daily cases. Now they have recorded < 5500 cases for the last two days. Perrottet has now been forced to reimplement the mask mandate but it seems a case of too little too late. It is expected they will have more than 10.000 daily cases soon. Here is great article that sums up this crisis.


"Here are the grim statistics that tell us what is happening in NSW: 5,715 new cases reported on Thursday; 1,500 health workers sick or isolating (leaving the health system even more stressed); rising Covid cases in ICU and nearly 150,000 people a day lining up to get tested...

...In the three weeks since the Omicron variant was first detected here on 28 November, Perrottet has been telling us to go out and spend, head to the pub, get back to normal."

www.theguardian.com

Dominic Perrottet has finally realised that ‘letting it rip’ comes at too high a cost | Anne Davies

The pro-business premier eased restrictions and ‘opened up’ the NSW economy but staff are ill or isolating while customers are staying at home
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
Dotini
Has it been established exactly how/why the Omicron variant is more transmissible than the Delta?
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From what I understand, it multiplies 70x faster in the respiratory track first 24 hours compared to Delta and other variants. So you are contagious a lot earlier then with other variants, maybe before you even know you were exposed? That same study said it doesn’t multiply as fast/well in the lung tissue as Delta and other variants, so that’s why the illnesses aren’t as severe.

www.statnews.com

Preliminary laboratory data hint at what makes Omicron the most superspreading variant yet

Preliminary data, which provide a first look at how Omicron may behave inside the human body, offers a clue to what might be behind its superspreading powers.
www.statnews.com www.statnews.com

I also read this on some booster data this morning. This report said that the protection from omicron with this third booster shot, drops dramatically at 10 weeks.

www.businessinsider.com

Booster shots protect against symptomatic Omicron infection for about 10 weeks, study finds — which could mean more doses for some in 2022

Experts said boosters should still provide protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19 caused by Omicron.
www.businessinsider.com www.businessinsider.com
 
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prousonhairy
From what I understand, it multiplies 70x faster in the respiratory track first 24 hours compared to Delta and other variants. So you are contagious a lot earlier then with other variants, maybe before you even know you were exposed? That same study said it doesn’t multiply as fast/well in the lung tissue as Delta and other variants, so that’s why the illnesses aren’t as severe.

www.statnews.com

Preliminary laboratory data hint at what makes Omicron the most superspreading variant yet

Preliminary data, which provide a first look at how Omicron may behave inside the human body, offers a clue to what might be behind its superspreading powers.
www.statnews.com www.statnews.com

I also read this on some booster data this morning. This report said that the protection from omicron with this third booster shot, drops dramatically at 10 weeks.

www.businessinsider.com

Booster shots protect against symptomatic Omicron infection for about 10 weeks, study finds — which could mean more doses for some in 2022

Experts said boosters should still provide protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19 caused by Omicron.
www.businessinsider.com www.businessinsider.com
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Thanks for that.
Elsewhere I have read, and heard on air, suggestion than Omicron potentially lingers in the air and upon surfaces for longer than Delta. Other people are recommending double masking or upgrading your mask.
 
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I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose and a sore throat, and my sister took a PCR test yesterday after developing cold symptoms the day before. She is waiting on the result, but suffice it to say that she is something of a test case for us all.

We have a major complication, however, insomuch as my Dad is currently in hospital, but is probably going to be allowed home at the end of this week. We were already a bit concerned about this as the hospital seemed a bit too keen to release him before Xmas, even though in our opinion he was not ready. Fortunately they decided not to release him, but he is improving every day and we would like to see him get home as soon as possible.

The problem is, we are virtually certain that my sister would have picked up whatever bug she has from the hospital, despite fastidiously observing hygiene measures. We are not only worried that my Dad may also be exposed to COVID in the hospital, but also that if someone in our little bubble (my sister, my Mum, me and my nephew) test positive this week, then that will pose a massive problem for how we are supposed to look after my Dad if he is allowed home this week as well.

I hope that my sister's test comes back negative, but if it doesn't, then I would have to assume that I am also positive, which would also mean that my Mum is likely to be positive as well (since I'm currently staying at my Mum's), and hence we would have no choice but to isolate, even if the hospital decide to let my Dad return home. We want him out of that hospital as soon as possible because a) it's a clear COVID risk and b) we don't like the place at all, but paradoxically, we also don't want them to basically plant him back in his flat without the ability to get out (which apparently is common practice...) at a time where we cannot safely visit him (or even leave our own homes without breaking COVID rules).

It has been a tough Xmas for us, but pretty much everyone I know in Edinburgh has had their plans wrecked by COVID as well.

-

edit: A bit of much-needed good news - my sister's PCR test came back negative :)
 
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Touring Mars
I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose and a sore throat, and my sister took a PCR test yesterday after developing cold symptoms the day before. She is waiting on the result, but suffice it to say that she is something of a test case for us all.

We have a major complication, however, insomuch as my Dad is currently in hospital, but is probably going to be allowed home at the end of this week. We were already a bit concerned about this as the hospital seemed a bit too keen to release him before Xmas, even though in our opinion he was not ready. Fortunately they decided not to release him, but he is improving every day and we would like to see him get home as soon as possible.

The problem is, we are virtually certain that my sister would have picked up whatever bug she has from the hospital, despite fastidiously observing hygiene measures. We are not only worried that my Dad may also be exposed to COVID in the hospital, but also that if someone in our little bubble (my sister, my Mum, me and my nephew) test positive this week, then that will pose a massive problem for how we are supposed to look after my Dad if he is allowed home this week as well.

I hope that my sister's test comes back negative, but if it doesn't, then I would have to assume that I am also positive, which would also mean that my Mum is likely to be positive as well (since I'm currently staying at my Mum's), and hence we would have no choice but to isolate, even if the hospital decide to let my Dad return home. We want him out of that hospital as soon as possible because a) it's a clear COVID risk and b) we don't like the place at all, but paradoxically, we also don't want them to basically plant him back in his flat without the ability to get out (which apparently is common practice...) at a time where we cannot safely visit him (or even leave our own homes without breaking COVID rules).

It has been a tough Xmas for us, but pretty much everyone I know in Edinburgh has had their plans wrecked by COVID as well.

-

edit: A bit of much-needed good news - my sister's PCR test came back negative :)
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My daughter brought back 10 antigen tests from the Netherlands where they were apparently easy to get hold of - in Ontario at the minute they are impossible to get hold of because of skyrocketing demand & limited supply.

My daughter needed a negative PCR test to get on her flight from Amsterdam to Toronto ... & was then PCR retested at Toronto airport when she arrived. That test result came back within 24 hours - also negative. In the meantime, I took two antigen tests which both came out negative. So ... I had some kind of cold, & I assume there are plenty of other people who have "symptoms", but not Covid. All very confusing. It would be easier if Covid had some clearly defining symptom that didn't resemble symptoms of other common minor aliments. Just to further complicate things, I completely lost my sense of smell about 25 years ago. :ouch:

I'm getting my booster shot today & have cancelled my PCR test for the 29th.
 
McLaren
Mike Rowe is a moron & that long ass post is easily summed up into these 2 sentences as to why.
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I don't understand why someone would take epidemiology advice from a checks wiki because I've never heard of the man opera singer and TV host. That black on black writing is hard to read in night mode though.
 
Biggles
My daughter brought back 10 antigen tests from the Netherlands where they were apparently easy to get hold of - in Ontario at the minute they are impossible to get hold of because of skyrocketing demand & limited supply.

My daughter needed a negative PCR test to get on her flight from Amsterdam to Toronto ... & was then PCR retested at Toronto airport when she arrived. That test result came back within 24 hours - also negative. In the meantime, I took two antigen tests which both came out negative. So ... I had some kind of cold, & I assume there are plenty of other people who have "symptoms", but not Covid. All very confusing. It would be easier if Covid had some clearly defining symptom that didn't resemble symptoms of other common minor aliments. Just to further complicate things, I completely lost my sense of smell about 25 years ago. :ouch:

I'm getting my booster shot today & have cancelled my PCR test for the 29th.
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Indeed, it's a complicated situation...

Of my 4 friends with kids in Edinburgh, all of them had some virus in the house over Xmas...

  • The first had a daughter test positive (LFT and PCR) but no-one else (2 adults and 1 kid) tested positive at all..
  • The second tested positive (PCR) but is not sure if it is a hangover from a previous infection last month. Meanwhile, neither his wife or two kids have tested positive.
  • The third's two sons both got colds and have since tested positive (PCR) but both adults tested negative.
  • The fourth has two kids, both with colds but no-one has tested positive.

My sister and I have both still got colds, but so far have not tested positive despite daily LFTs (and my sister was testing every 6 hours earlier this week!!) and one PCR.... and yet, I would not be surprised if we both actually do have COVID.

What's weird is that we've both been super careful and were basically already hunkering down except for visiting the hospital, and yet somehow we both got a virus. I'm glad to say, however, that my Dad (in hospital) is fine and so far there's no indication that any of us actually have COVID, other than these cold symptoms, though we are all triple-vaxxed.
 
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McLaren
Mike Rowe is a moron & that long ass post is easily summed up into these 2 sentences as to why.
Click to expand...
Screenshot-20211227-135157-Samsung-Internet.jpg
 
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Touring Mars
Indeed, it's a complicated situation...

Of my 4 friends with kids in Edinburgh, all of them had some virus in the house over Xmas...

  • The first had a daughter test positive (LFT and PCR) but no-one else (2 adults and 1 kid) tested positive at all..
  • The second tested positive (PCR) but is not sure if it is a hangover from a previous infection last month. Meanwhile, neither his wife or two kids have tested positive.
  • The third's two sons both got colds and have since tested positive (PCR) but both adults tested negative.
  • The fourth has two kids, both with colds but no-one has tested positive.

My sister and I have both still got colds, but so far have not tested positive despite daily LFTs (and my sister was testing every 6 hours earlier this week!!) and one PCR.... and yet, I would not be surprised if we both actually do have COVID.

What's weird is that we've both been super careful and were basically already hunkering down except for visiting the hospital, and yet somehow we both got a virus. I'm glad to say, however, that my Dad (in hospital) is fine and so far there's no indication that any of us actually have COVID, other than these cold symptoms, though we are all triple-vaxxed.
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Yes - you would assume if you were being "super-careful" not to get Covid, you would be unlikely to pick up a cold or any other kind of virus. I spoke to my niece who's 30 years old & lives in London - she told me "most" of her friends had tested positive for Covid over the last three weeks.
 
There is some reason in Rowe's post. Most of us at some point will get COVID in one form or another. But as noted below, I'm skeptical of people who write long ass posts and leave some major glaring lies and ass-hattery mixed in.
McLaren
Mike Rowe is a moron & that long ass post is easily summed up into these 2 sentences as to why.
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That said, I'm not completely sure about this omicron variant. It seems like so far if one were to get the virus, this would be the variant to get. :dunce:
 
The worrying thing is that due to the shortage of available tests, a lot of people will contract Covid-19 and not really have any way of knowing unless they either obtain a test or end up needing medical care/ER.
 
R1600Turbo
I'm just going to disagree with you on that.

You should get to know him a bit more. Great man.
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You can disagree all you want, the man displayed it on a platter. Great man? For what, bull****ing people into thinking he's in touch with the average American because of a TV show?

Guy's a shill for corporate greed.
 
R1600Turbo
Spoken like someone that does not follow the man on social media. But we can agree to disagree or I'll just block you and move on.
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Why would I follow a guy who has been proven to be a corporate mouth-piece who larps as blue-collar and for the last year, propped up by Anti-vax/Covid-deniers? This dude gets hyped up by r/walkaway & r/conspiracy.

But hey, you're easily grifted I guess.

For anyone else, Mike's reality show about "people who are giving back to their communities" asks a book store to supply a bookmobile, which it accomplishes through donations of various partners, & Mike turns around, attributing the donations from his publisher.
We were contacted by Mike Rowe's people at Returning The Favor a few days before they were to film the segment awarding an utterly awesome bookmobile to Get Focused. They explained they wanted to deliver the bookmobile fully stocked, and asked us to supply the books. I explained that we had just sent 500 books to GF the week before, so we didn't have many on hand, but we would commit to providing the books, no matter what it took.

We immediately appealed to our family of friends, partners and customers and over the Thanksgiving weekend the books poured in from as far away as Maine. We gathered over 600 books to stock the bookmobile. On Wednesday evening, November 29, Returning The Favor picked up the books at our Shop in Flemington, NJ. (The picture is of the books about to be loaded into the Show's van. )

I spoke to Mike Rowe at the filming at the Boys & Girls Club in Newark and asked if the books were adequate, or if they needed more. He told me they were fine... and thanks.
He then stepped away, faced the now filming camera , and attributed the books to his publisher , Harper Collins.

Recognition has NEVER been a factor for us with this cause. It has ALWAYS been purely a labor of love, so personally, I didn't really care if he wanted to plug his publisher... except ... we had just asked an extraordinary effort of our friends and now they were left wondering what became of their donations.

I contacted , and spoke with the producers at Returning The Favor , and informed them of the dilemma, and that their dissemination of information that they knew to be untrue would cause genuine harm to our family owned business. We didn't want any acknowledgement, we simply didn't want an intentionally false attribution of our donation to Harper. Every book on that bookmobile that day was supplied through our donations. They replied that their financial and legal resources could swamp our business , and Mike Rowe felt strongly about promoting his publisher.
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Or one can look up his Safety Third controversy, or Sweat Pledge to just bootlick your workplace & be grateful you live in America. There's nothing genuine about Mike besides dog-whistling to Conservatives.
 
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Biggles
Moderna booster yesterday evening. So far, no side effects & barely a sore arm. I admit to being a bit confused as to why a 3rd shot (a "half dose") would provide additional longer term protection*. I hear that they are already talking about 4th doses. My hope is that Omicron signals the beginning of the end of SARS-CoV-2.

*https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/opinions/omicron-and-covid-19-vaccines-sepkowitz/index.html
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From my understanding, it's the same as it was before. Over time, the antibodies fade and a booster is needed to build them up again. But t cells should still be there to reduce the likelihood of a serious infection. I'm just not sure how long the t cells last.

I'm also hopeful with omicron. I just hope it doesn't lead to a variant that is just as infectious, but more harmful.
 
Blitz24
The worrying thing is that due to the shortage of available tests, a lot of people will contract Covid-19 and not really have any way of knowing unless they either obtain a test or end up needing medical care/ER.
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A friend of mine has tried to get tested for awhile but they won't let him because he has no Symptoms.

This whole system (in Australia at least, not sure about the rest) just guarantees Asymptomatic infected people will spread it because they will have no idea
 

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