Crown Heights 2nd Covid-19 wave (Omicron?)

[ExGingi]

This morning had to start Shachris a few minutes late due to no minyan, between some people who are scared and stay away out of abundance of caution, and a few that aren't feeling well (almost people in my minyan are over 50).

One of my sons tested positive. I am letting everyone else who isn't feeling well (or that I suspect might not be 100%) stay home.

Per Dr. 40-50 cases per day seen in his office. Low single digits sent to the hospital. He says the current symptoms are mostly in the head (sinuses) vs first wave which was in the chest (disclaimer: I didn't have any chest symptoms when I had Covid-19).

[AsherO]

My first run I had a cough that’s lingered on and off until now, almost a year later. That’s chest. Also lost smell and taste.

For Omicron my biggest symptom was headache, and I agree it felt like inflamed sinuses. No loss of smell or taste at all. A senior relative is currently symptomatic (not infected by me, we weren’t in contact) and they are highly congested.

No fever for me either time. Highly YMMV.

[AsherO]

One of my sons tested positive. I am letting everyone else who isn't feeling well (or that I suspect might not be 100%) stay home.

Symptomatic? Rapid?

[ExGingi]

Symptomatic? Rapid?

Tested rapid at home because of flu like symptoms.

Confirmed by PCR test.

[AsherO]

Tested rapid at home because of flu like symptoms.

Confirmed by PCR test.

Refuah Sheleima. Bez”H you stay healthy and have no minyan disruptions

[ExGingi]

Refuah Sheleima. Bez”H you stay healthy and have no minyan disruptions

אמן

[aygart]

אמן

+1

[Mf1]

family member tested positive this week as well. main symptoms stomach ache and cough.

[Essen est zich]

I most likely have it.

 I did not bother getting tested as symptoms pretty much match omicron.

Almost done with it.

Symptoms. Dry cough, nasal congestion, some body aching.

No fever. No stomach ache. Strangely my sense of smell is much stronger than before.

[shulemw]

Maybe stronger smell and taste is the new symptoms.

Same as a huge snowstorm can be caused by global warming, cam also be omicron causes better smell and taste

[AsherO]

Gut voch, gut chodesh, and a goyishe gut yor

My shul was emptier than usual both last week and this week, BH all those (like me) who were not there last week were there this week. IYH all those (like my relatives) who were not there this week, will be back next week.

Sunshine pharmacy now does PCR testing. I got swabbed Thursday afternoon, and had my test results in my email box just before Shabbos, so BH PCR negative exactly a week after symptoms onset (symptoms lasted 2-3 days and I was rapid negative Tuesday morning.

Crown Drugs had at-home rapid tests in stock, but it’s a single test in the box (not a 2-pack like some others) for $20.

[ExGingi]

At the rate things are going I think the party will be over in 3 to 4 weeks at most.

[MeirS]

At the rate things are going I think the party will be over in 3 to 4 weeks at most.

I remember when they said that 21 months ago
In a way they were right, in a way they were so wrong.

[ExGingi]

I remember when they said that 21 months ago
In a way they were right, in a way they were so wrong.

This time is different.

[Dan]

This time is different.

Why won't there be another variant that breaks through?

[ExGingi]

Why won't there be another variant that breaks through?

IDK what you mean by "breaks through". It seems like Omicron is a fast path to herd immunity. Everyone seems to be getting it. It's exposing the power hungry politicians for what they are. The most logical thing to do would be to remove all mandates, and let people make their own choices, telling them that vaccination is likely to protect them from severe disease.

[Dan]

IDK what you mean by "breaks through". It seems like Omicron is a fast path to herd immunity. Everyone seems to be getting it. It's exposing the power hungry politicians for what they are. The most logical thing to do would be to remove all mandates, and let people make their own choices, telling them that vaccination is likely to protect them from severe disease.

What good is herd immunity if another variant doesn't care if you had a previous variant?

[yelped]

Why won't there be another variant that breaks through?

There very well could be, but if this one goes fast enough, which it definitely seems like it does, there seems to be much less chance for the virus to fester and mutate in uninfected/unvaccinated people, and previously infected/vaccinated people have far less chance of mutation (body works through it much faster if they get it again and less chance of a significant mutation.)

[Dan]

There very well could be, but if this one goes fast enough, which it definitely seems like it does, there seems to be much less chance for the virus to fester and mutate in uninfected/unvaccinated people, and previously infected/vaccinated people have far less chance of mutation (body works through it much faster if they get it again and less chance of a significant mutation.)

Maybe, but it just takes one person to mutate a virus and if they're also a superspreader, we're back to square one.

[aygart]

What good is herd immunity if another variant doesn't care if you had a previous variant?

Because it is far along the way to being just another coronavirus causing a common cold.