Covid-19 check in - How are you doing?

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Little swab up the nose, no big deal. Takes about a minute.
 
After 70 -80 new cases Saturday thru today our county stopped listing the places where exposures have or will take place because they say the virus is so widespread, we also just had 3 new deaths with the average age being 77.

I'm pretty sure we started this November with just over 409 cases but today we have a total of 761 with 124 active cases.

Info from our State & County

Total Positive Cases to Date : 761
Active Positive Cases : 124
Recovered Cases : 628
Current Hospitalizations : 12
Deaths to Date: 9
Total Number Tested : 112,732
County Population: 108,047
 
If people just did what they are supposed to, mask up, social distance and didn't congregate in groups, what is happening now would probably not happen. Every time I see someone with no mask on a retail establishment like s tore, I cringe and of course get as far from them as possible.
 
Our health department also just stopped listing exposure sites. They said your safety is your responsibility.

I just went to the gas station today and 3 unmasked guys walked in before me. Nobody at my work seems to take it seriously but me. Nobody else masks or distances. Some are sending links that masks are bad and the virus is fake news from Democrats, and saying things like “take that pissy diaper off your face”. One guy just went on a job site in South America and was right back in the office the next day. Him, the vp, and owner were all in the cubicle joking about the virus, unmasked of course.
 
If people just did what they are supposed to, mask up, social distance and didn't congregate in groups, what is happening now would probably not happen. Every time I see someone with no mask on a retail establishment like s tore, I cringe and of course get as far from them as possible.
A little about PPE. We went from treating this like the plague in EMS. Tyvek suits, respirators, double gloved, showering after every possible exposure, the list on and on.
Now it’s a surgical mask, uniform, and gloves. I’ll wear glasses if I intubate and N95 if I intubate but, we are not wearing all the stuff in the field anymore. I don’t know much but, I do know for the most part we have been ok and most cases are traced to home for medical workers not, work. In fact it was our 17 year old that brought it in our house not me or the wife that work in healthcare. I say that because I know for a fact the she wore a mask at all times when she was out and still got it. I don’t believe in the masks and there is no absolute with them.
 
Knowing of 2 folks that died from it and 4 others that had it but survived and are still have issues, I'd say it's nothing to fool with. One of my close friends, a retired Doctor got it and his wife as well and they aren't doing well and I'd say he was very careful but all it takes is a person shedding it unmasked and you walk near them and wham you have it. You may not have an adverse reaction but then you may and you may die from it. Me, I prefer to expire in a less gruesome manner. I don't want to drown in my own bodily fluids, don't seem all the wonderful to me.

I see you are in Michigan like me. Was my understanding that the governor mandated masks in all public places. While I may or may not agree with that, the bottom line to me is, a mask is the first line of prevention, the first line to keep your exhaled aerosols in the mask and not floating about where they may infect someone else. That someone else is an innocent bystander. I would never want that on my conscience.

To me, the mask wearing thing is more about respecting others than being a 'diaper wearer'.

I do know that when the vaccine is available I'll be getting it ASAP and I'll probably be on the priority list with my pre existing condition. My oncologist told me as soon as it's available he would let me know so I can get it. I understand it's a 2 injection deal. First one, not bad, a week later the second and you get sick from the second one but I'd rather be sick for a couple days than dead.

heck, I got sick from the flu shot a few months ago. I get the 'old person flu shot', a double dose. I was deathly ill for about 12 hours and then the sick part vanished. Got mine at the hospital right in my infusion lab where I get my port accessed every month.

I've been really sick in the not too distant past, on life support and it's not a pleasant experience.

Long as I can stay relatively healthy and on this side of the dirt, I'm happy. Like the saying goes... You are a long time dead.
 
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A little about PPE. We went from treating this like the plague in EMS. Tyvek suits, respirators, double gloved, showering after every possible exposure, the list on and on.
Now it’s a surgical mask, uniform, and gloves. I’ll wear glasses if I intubate and N95 if I intubate but, we are not wearing all the stuff in the field anymore. I don’t know much but, I do know for the most part we have been ok and most cases are traced to home for medical workers not, work. In fact it was our 17 year old that brought it in our house not me or the wife that work in healthcare. I say that because I know for a fact the she wore a mask at all times when she was out and still got it. I don’t believe in the masks and there is no absolute with them.
I look at the mask only as a first line of defense. Best bet is staying sequestered away from strangers, especially questionable ones which isn't an issue for me or my wife as neither of us are friendly people anyway. We are perfectly happy being with each other and the cats...lol Well she's happy with the cats, me, not so much.

Touching on a verboten subject on here, I blame Trump for a lot of what has transpired. He made it a political thing and it isn't. No virus or disease should have political overtones.
 
I look at the mask only as a first line of defense. Best bet is staying sequestered away from strangers, especially questionable ones which isn't an issue for me or my wife as neither of us are friendly people anyway. We are perfectly happy being with each other and the cats...lol Well she's happy with the cats, me, not so much.

Touching on a verboten subject on here, I blame Trump for a lot of what has transpired. He made it a political thing and it isn't. No virus or disease should have political overtones.
I really don’t want to turn to politics. I can’t stand Trump but, it’s the media that politicized this. The media has made it the mess it is.

I cut out all news sites from my life a few months ago and haven’t been happier in years.
 
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the only way {those people that thing this is a joke} is to get it or a loved one to get it before they take this serious. there is no changing them. they are also the 15 to 30 something that if they get it won't be to much to them so they don't care. for them selves or the people around them. we just had a 60 something year old guy that came across to people walking a trail in the woods that because he's wearing a mask and the two people were not he came at them with his mask down spitting at them and told them that he had covid 19. here is a prime candidate that should get it. you see someone that is not wearing a mask go in the other direction. so because of his stupidity he has been arrested and put thru a test and might see jail time for the threat.
 
A little about PPE. We went from treating this like the plague in EMS. Tyvek suits, respirators, double gloved, showering after every possible exposure, the list on and on.
Now it’s a surgical mask, uniform, and gloves. I’ll wear glasses if I intubate and N95 if I intubate but, we are not wearing all the stuff in the field anymore. I don’t know much but, I do know for the most part we have been ok and most cases are traced to home for medical workers not, work. In fact it was our 17 year old that brought it in our house not me or the wife that work in healthcare. I say that because I know for a fact the she wore a mask at all times when she was out and still got it. I don’t believe in the masks and there is no absolute with them.
That might be the case where you are, but other places are still wearing max PPE. I think it is more of a supply issue. Nothing in this world is absolute, but we all wear seatbelts despite the risk of an asteroid destroying our car without warning.
 
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Still doing decently good, over the beginning of Summer I kind of felt my mental health taking a decline, that was through the unknowns of this virus, the possible looming 2nd wave, and the thinking shutdowns / shortages from shutdowns. Sitting here the day before thanksgiving and I would say I feel pretty good, everything is well stocked, I'm keeping busy and have gotten use to gathering / hanging out with distance. On the plus side of things, and not to make light of the situation, I haven't contracted my usual fall cold this year, normally I kick off November with some type of sinus issue, so I'm happy about not getting that.
I am concerned for the age group ahead of me, I'm in my mid 30's and maybe an animally here, but I see the age group ahead of me (40-65) that seem to have the biggest problems with following rules, not understanding or complying with social distancing, more or less demonstrate self entitlement behavior.
I was working a storm for the power co a week ago and you wouldnt believe all the people that came out screaming about not having electric, we can take a beating here and there, but it was the age group of 40-65 that were losing there marbles, had to be in our faces and of course, maskless. Never mind the poor lady in her late 20's early 30's with 2 toddlers that just more or less agreed the power was out due to the weather and generally thankful that we were there to fix it, just unbelievable.
 
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the only way {those people that thing this is a joke} is to get it or a loved one to get it before they take this serious. there is no changing them. they are also the 15 to 30 something that if they get it won't be to much to them so they don't care. for them selves or the people around them. we just had a 60 something year old guy that came across to people walking a trail in the woods that because he's wearing a mask and the two people were not he came at them with his mask down spitting at them and told them that he had covid 19. here is a prime candidate that should get it. you see someone that is not wearing a mask go in the other direction. so because of his stupidity he has been arrested and put thru a test and might see jail time for the threat.
If that guy was in missouri he would have assault charges filed against him. If he was positive for covid it would have just stepped up charges.
 
My wife is an LPN and took the contact tracer course for healthcare workers and she advises you get tested again, just to be sure. It might be a snapshot in time, but it might also be super important if you don't get better. Covid is burning through Maine it seems right now. I hope everything is ok and you do get better.

Doc said it was optional . . . she said it would rule things in or out, but by the time the test results come back chances are whatever I have -- whether another virus or Covid 19 -- should be done and over. A test will be necessary should I not get better.

Meanwhile, it looks like we may have our first case here at work . . . it was only a matter of time I suspect as we are hauling patients with Covid 19 or suspected Covid 19 all of the time.
 
Our rural county in NH was doing good with few cases except for a few big city folks moving up here and bringing it with them. The town next to me informed one of these carriers that they they were quarantined for two weeks even before they knew they had it and made sure the folks did not leave their summer house. Then a few weeks ago it got into part of local federal prison by visitors from out of state and then somehow a supplier to the prison passed it to a nursing home. They caught the early stages too late and more than half the residents got it and a bunch of the staff. Staff that have it are still going to work if they can as there are no relief workers available. Except for the nursing home cluster the rest of the areas numbers are low to zero and even the prison seems to have got things undercontrol. The funny thing is there are still people fighting the masks.

Its going to be sad to see the inevitable videos of family members crying about passed and ill loved ones caused by them thinking they could beat the odds and have a good old thanksgiving .
 
On the plus side of things, and not to make light of the situation, I haven't contracted my usual fall cold this year, normally I kick off November with some type of sinus issue, so I'm happy about not getting that.
Last fall, nephew and his wife commented about all of the pneumonia (multiple times), and other "crud" their 5yr old son kept bringing home to their family. And wouldn't you know, thanksgiving last year he gave it to both of us too. All of that I don't miss.
 
I find it interesting that the more urbanized an area is, the more frequent the cases and deaths are. Stands to reason though. Concentrations of people raise the chances of contracting any virus from Covid to the Asian flu. Glad I live in a very rural setting with not many people around, most of which I can avoid anyway. People today don't respect others and only care about themselves. The 'American' way today. Whatever makes you feel good and pizz on everyone else. I purposely stay out of urban areas just for that reason.
 
Our rural county in NH was doing good with few cases except for a few big city folks moving up here and bringing it with them. The town next to me informed one of these carriers that they they were quarantined for two weeks even before they knew they had it and made sure the folks did not leave their summer house. Then a few weeks ago it got into part of local federal prison by visitors from out of state and then somehow a supplier to the prison passed it to a nursing home. They caught the early stages too late and more than half the residents got it and a bunch of the staff. Staff that have it are still going to work if they can as there are no relief workers available. Except for the nursing home cluster the rest of the areas numbers are low to zero and even the prison seems to have got things undercontrol. The funny thing is there are still people fighting the masks.

Its going to be sad to see the inevitable videos of family members crying about passed and ill loved ones caused by them thinking they could beat the odds and have a good old thanksgiving .
I suspect things here are going about the same as where you are. Lots of pushback on the masks and distancing. Many local families are committed to having a giant feast, the local organic poultry farm sold out of turkeys weeks ago.
 
I have a distinct dislike for turkey meat, wild or domesticated, we don't eat it here. Standing Rib roast here (Prime rib). Go turkey hunting every year but I never load the firearm. I just call them in and observe them, fun to watch. Eat, not so much. Never could bring myself to eat something so dumb as domesticated turkey, they are so dumb that if their ration isn't right in front of them, they die from starvation and same with water. Not in front of them they die from lack of water. Wild turkeys can at least forage for food, but still pretty dumb and the meat is tough as shoeleather. Only thing edible is the breast meat and even that is marginal.

I'll pass. Give me prime rib instead, I like to eat what tastes good, tradition or not. Tje pilgrims ate turkey because that was all there was available not because it was good.
 
I have a feeling that Biden will invoke (by fiat), a national mask mandate with some sort of penalty for not complying. Should be interesting. Stay tuned....
 
That might be the case where you are, but other places are still wearing max PPE. I think it is more of a supply issue. Nothing in this world is absolute, but we all wear seatbelts despite the risk of an asteroid destroying our car without warning.
We have plenty of PPE. We understand the transmission better and understand that there was a lot of overkill with PPE early on. Normal patient contacts, even Covid positive, that are capable of wearing a surgical mask They wear one and I wear one. If the pt is intubated then a viral filter is placed and we are probably the safest of anything at that point.

I have not worn a gown in 6-7 months in an ambulance. My uniforms don’t come home and are washed at work. I shower before I leave and wear clean clothes.

I think a lot of people don’t realize stopping at a gas station on the way home is just as dangerous as transporting a patient in the ambulance.
 
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I am concerned for the age group ahead of me, I'm in my mid 30's and maybe an animally here, but I see the age group ahead of me (40-65) that seem to have the biggest problems with following rules, not understanding or complying with social distancing, more or less demonstrate self entitlement behavior.
I was working a storm for the power co a week ago and you wouldnt believe all the people that came out screaming about not having electric, we can take a beating here and there, but it was the age group of 40-65 that were losing there marbles, had to be in our faces and of course, maskless. Never mind the poor lady in her late 20's early 30's with 2 toddlers that just more or less agreed the power was out due to the weather and generally thankful that we were there to fix it, just unbelievable.

It's because you're referring to the younger half of the ME generation (Baby Boomers), and GenX who were primarily raised by the ME generation. I don't intend this to be a blanket statement but there is a trend there.

I had to go to the DMV yesterday to take care of something necessary to do in person. There were around 6 of us in the room at the time. One woman came in without a mask, and proceeded to let her 4-5(?) year old run rampant. The DMV has strict rules concerning abusive language and conduct, but for some reason this was ignored despite the posted mask requirement. I could get fined $100 for cussing or being obnoxious, but her behavior was overlooked. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.
 
I find it interesting that the more urbanized an area is, the more frequent the cases and deaths are. Stands to reason though. Concentrations of people raise the chances of contracting any virus from Covid to the Asian flu. Glad I live in a very rural setting with not many people around, most of which I can avoid anyway. People today don't respect others and only care about themselves. The 'American' way today. Whatever makes you feel good and pizz on everyone else. I purposely stay out of urban areas just for that reason.
Viruses are parasites. They need hosts and will spread faster in populated areas.
 
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We have plenty of PPE. We understand the transmission better and understand that there was a lot of overkill with PPE early on. Normal patient contacts, even Covid positive, that are capable of wearing a surgical mask They wear one and I wear one. If the pt is intubated then a viral filter is placed and we are probably the safest of anything at that point.

I have not worn a gown in 6-7 months in an ambulance. My uniforms don’t come home and are washed at work. I shower before I leave and wear clean clothes.

I think a lot of people don’t realize stopping at a gas station on the way home is just as dangerous as transporting a patient in the ambulance.
I definitely agree on the last part.
 
We have plenty of PPE. We understand the transmission better and understand that there was a lot of overkill with PPE early on. Normal patient contacts, even Covid positive, that are capable of wearing a surgical mask They wear one and I wear one. If the pt is intubated then a viral filter is placed and we are probably the safest of anything at that point.

I have not worn a gown in 6-7 months in an ambulance. My uniforms don’t come home and are washed at work. I shower before I leave and wear clean clothes.

I think a lot of people don’t realize stopping at a gas station on the way home is just as dangerous as transporting a patient in the ambulance.


I do and so does my wife, which is why we only use self serve pumps (credit card insertion payment). wear disposable latex gloves when handling the filler nozzle (because you have no idea who handled it before you and / or where their hands were when they used it). One of the most germ laden things you can touch is the gasoline filler nozzle. After filling the tank we always use hand saitizer before motoring away. The disposable gloves go in the trash can (which is always by the pump anyway).

We NEVER go inside and gas station and especially NEVER use the bathrooms. Same goes with public rest areas on freeways. I never use them. If I have to go, I'll find an off ramp that is somewhat secluded, open the door and whizz in the grass and hope I don't have to do Number 2, but I always have a roll of TP in the vehicle just in case and I'd do the same for that if necessary.

Like when I farm. I carry a roll of TP in every tractor, always have. Out in the field, I just take a leak and if it's a Number 2, I do the 'farmers squat' next to the tractor tire and 'fertilize' the ground. No big deal. Always done that anyway.

Gas stations are generally filthy breeding grounds for germs, from the counters to the rest rooms. Don't do that, ever.

A bit of common sense with the virus goes a long way towards not catching it but then people today, lot of them lack basic common sense anyway. I look at it like 'survival of the fittest'. In nature it's natural selection, the fittest and strongest survive. The others don't. Natural selection don't apply with humans because of artificially placed 'helpers' that are there to insure the lesser humans can survive. Not good in my view but then my view of natural selection and survivability isn't the popular view.
 
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