yeah band-aid removal on shoulder hair hurts more than the shot heh

Great news, free test kits resuming. I just bought a couple weeks ago, just bad timing ...

We don't have ours yet and I'm going to a soccer tournament (staying in a hotel) with my youngest this weekend so we're totally going to get it. Wonderful.

The wife and I appear to have survived flights to Seattle and a week cruise to Alaska without getting it. Unlike last time, when my wife got both Covid and a stomach bug after a cruise.

Starting Monday you can request some more free tests.

COVID.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests

I survived the Milan derby, trains to and from Milan and the Milan metro last weekend, had to test every day this week for a work event. That or the tests are absolute garbage, but haven’t had any symptoms either (knock on wood).

Day three for me. My wife's case was mild, thankfully (four days before she stopped running a fever entirely). Now she gets to take care of me. One of the advantages of not working in an office is that I'm never exposed to anything, so I'm unfamiliar with being sick.

I asked my doctor about criteria for going to the hospital, other than the obvious (chest pains or shortness of breath and disorientation). He suggested getting what's called an Oximeter, with which you stick your finger inside and it measures blood oxygen level. He said if that drops below 90%, you should probably seek emergency care.

After most of two days not able to work at all, I find myself trying to work now, so that's a good sign, I think. Most of today, I couldn't even lift my head to read. My wife is not happy with me going back to the home office.

I don't know if Joe Burrow is married, but if so, I'm sure his wife has somewhat similar thoughts right now.

ETA: I had some old tests from last year lying around. When symptoms started, I took one. Negative. Its "true" expiration date was 1/23, so my guess is that it's best to throw away expired tests without a second thought.

Glad you guys are feeling better. Didn't know about the oximeter, thanks for the info.

FWIW. In case you missed it, you can order some new test kits courtesy of Uncle Sam.

COVID.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests

On that link there is info about extensions for expired tests beyond stated expiration dates.

So a person has a 6.9% chance of having long covid.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/long-co...c-survey-data/
List of symptoms.

Additionally, anything below 95% isn't good, and should be monitored, and if it keeps going down there's a good case to go to the ER before it even gets to 90%. This is especially true if you have any history of other respiratory or other cardiovascular ailments.

Went to the doctor yesterday and I didn't get a Covid booster, but I did get a flu shot and the second shingles shot. For those of you who said the second shot is not as bad: Liar liar lying liars.
Both arms, but mostly the shingles arm, has been hurting me all day. It was a tough day at work, and my arms not wanting to work didn't help. It got to a point where both hands were tingly.
Once I got home I realized I was running a nice low-grade fever. I'm achy all over.
Real fun.

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Hit me on the first shot only. Although maybe if you didn't get achy and fever on the 1st shot then you had to pay for it on the 2nd.

Take an ibuprofen for the soreness.

Chat bots get weirder and weirder.

Atocep's positive test in Random made me look at current state ...

CDC changed up their reporting some. I wouldn't trust "test positivity" but the other 3 indicators should be fairly accurate. Basically, no uptick even with the poor uptake of the most recent booster.


The page says it gets updated Mondays & Fridays, but it's as of Nov 4. So metrics are not really update to date (what's going on CDC?)


CDC COVID Data Tracker

I've been reading about some sort of infection in China for the past week or so. It was hard to gauge what was really going on (e.g. some sensational headlines) but below Politico does a good job.

Chinese hospitals are full of sick children, but don't worry - POLITICO

The problem:

The rationale:

Bottom-line. Nothing to worry about (or at least, not yet):

Not for those of us who don't have shoulder hair!

Finally got my booster the day after Thanksgiving. Pretty sore shoulder, but otherwise it was no problem.

Damn aliens can't grow shoulder hair! :)

I kinda like the ad. Thanks Martha.

Because of course it did;


Malaria drug Trump touted as Covid cure increased chance of death – study | Coronavirus | The Guardian

Should I wait for Joe Rogan's apology?

Just got the latest Covid shot on Fri. Going on a trip next month so purposely waited to maximize effectiveness.

Timely report on the latest vaccine effectiveness. 54% beats the flu vaccine.

Early Estimates of Updated 2023–2024 (Monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Against Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection Attributable to Co-Circulating Omicron Variants Among Immunocompetent Adults — Increasing Community Access to Testing Program, United States, September 2023–January 2024 | MMWR.

It talks about protection against catching it but don't think it gets into protection from hospitalization or severity of infection if you catch it.

I also thought quote below was interesting, implying good/maximum vaccine effectiveness through at least 4 months.

Bird flu is up next.

Time to stock up on TP and canned food.

reuters.com
Well, maybe not ...


But sure hope the CDC is on the ball here.