On the other hand, BA.4/5 is substantially (4.2-fold) more resistant and thus more likely to lead to vaccine breakthrough infections.
In fact, as lab testing becomes less prevalent and local surveillance budgets are cut, it’s increasingly difficult to detect new strains. California, for instance, doesn’t even separate the newer Omicron variants from the older ones.
So, more strains, worse strains, that we aren't aware of, and when we are aware of them, we do nothing differently? What could(n't) go wrong? :amerikkka-clap:
And because the Universe is apparently a joke at our expense: "A cluster of potential cases was also identified recently in Yolo County" :covid-cool:
Wishing that I didn't live in a country that lets a pandemic spread willy nilly probably occupies my thoughts more than anything these days, which is compounded by the fact that the overwhelming majority of people--especially those my age (in my 20s)--don't understand why I'm still avoiding large crowds & indoor dining, why I'm masking religiously, etc. :sadness:
I'm not even a long-hauler or immunocompromised, it's just the thought of getting long COVID or the cumulative impact of getting repeatedly infected for several years terrifies me, someone who was already a hypochondriac before this all started.
I don't even know how I'm supposed to navigate life right now
I’m not even a long-hauler or immunocompromised... already a hypochondria
I'm the same. But I'm in late middle-age and a bonus of aging is your immune system gets worse. And I fear long covid. It's a potential nightmare.
I don’t even know how I’m supposed to navigate life right now
I hope the US gets better. Don't ask me about the hows or whys or I'll have to get pessimistic.
America is so fucking stupid. People should be wearing N95 (etc) masks in public. Period.
On Sunday night I was sure I had covid symptoms. I gave myself a test - negative. I emailed my two elderly neighbors and I implored them to take a test anyway. At first light on Monday I gave myself another test - also negative. I almost didn't tell them because I wanted them to take their own tests and they are seriously stubborn old people. I took a day off. I felt better on Monday morning than Sunday but I still felt pretty bad.
On Tuesday I felt around 90% normal. My body doesn't do well when the temperate alternates between hot and cold. Which it had been doing. It must have been the flu. I realized I hadn't gotten the flu in 2020 and 2021 - probably because I and everybody else was heavily masked. My county voted 22% for Trump. We are a super-lib place. And the republicans usually keep their heads down.
But now with Biden's new normal and the CDC not giving a fuck if people mask up - mask usage has shot down.
On Wednesday I coincidentally got a covid booster. I went to a pharmacy to get it. Maybe 75% of people were wearing masks. The staff at the back doing serious stuff were wearing masks. But the cashier at the front was maskless. Then I went to a supermarket. I'd say very roughly 50% of customers were wearing masks and all the staff was masked.
I don't think either of my neighbors ever actually took a test. When it comes to covid - I live in fear that they'll get sick, go to the hospital, and they might die - and then I'll feel guilty even though I act responsibly about covid.
Well, glad to hear you've been testing negative--that's a relief.
Yeah, it's insane how much mask compliance has decreased in liberal areas. Like obviously it's probably still much better than a conservative area, but just the number of people who are willing to take their mask off because we have a polite Democrat in the White House who told them we can move on from the pandemic--it's astounding. I mean I'm sure I'm simplifying here, that's certainly not the only reason, I'm sure a lot of people just have pandemic fatigue and want to move on (even though the pandemic sure as fuck ain't done with us).
When it comes to covid - I live in fear that they’ll get sick, go to the hospital, and they might die - and then I’ll feel guilty even though I act responsibly about covid.
Yes, this is where a lot of my anxiety about COVID stems from too. I don't want to get my family sick, or anybody sick in general from my own cavalier behavior, especially the elderly, the immunocompromised, retail/service workers (who often can't afford to get sick), etc.
Why did they stop giving Greek letter names to the new strains? What's this BA.# shit?
Less memorable = less people talking maybe. Covid omicron delta rolls off the tongue
