This is a discussion that fell kind of silent since April but it has suddenly become more relevant.
In just the last two weeks, one of my friends, who is a former executive in the tech industry and lives in an upscale part of SCC, posted on Facebook that his entire family tested positive for Covid. His wife and kids recovered quickly. He said he had a persistent fever -- which I thought was worrisome -- but a few days later he said he was feeling better.
Then just two days ago, I was in touch with my cousin in LA, who revealed she and her husband have Covid. I asked her permission to post her experience(s), because I think it's eye-opening.
I've mentioned on early threads that I feel now is the most dangerous time in California and here in SCC. I really hope people -- rather than feeling burnt out by restrictions -- can now be at the maximum most careful for just a few more months and hopefully the vaccine will distributed and accepted widely. I also think some people felt kind of "safe" because Covid was something that happened to people in other industries and who lived in "other areas." I always felt like that was a pretty cavalier perspective, but now not even that is true anymore. We have been so lax in CA lately that now Covid is everywhere -- spreading across well-educated households with grad degeres, white collar teleworkers, and wealthy, isolated neighborhoods. It shouldn't take that to finally become more cautious, but maybe now all households will support more safety measures.
My cousin from LA's emails:
"LA is crazy. [Spouse] got it from work. 60 out of 200 coworkers got it. The CDC even showed up at one point to find out why they have such a high incidence of infection. He wears masks all the time but there’s only so much a mask can do. He works at <a retailer selling essential goods>.
[He] first experienced symptoms 12/8 then tested positive 12/10. I started experiencing symptoms 12/12 and tested negative on 12/13. I didn’t get tested again cuz I was feeling so ill and experienced basically all the COVID symptoms. I couldn’t handle the idea of waiting in a long line to get tested a second time. My doctor said there’s no point since I have so the symptoms.
That’s great that you guys are so safe.
I almost had to go to the ER because my o2 level kept dipping below 90 again and again. My doctor prescribed me azithromycin and albuterol. It took about 3 days before my o2 level started staying consistently above 90. It really took 7 days of constant bed rest and lots of fluids before I started feeling better. The first 7 days I teleworked which wasn’t a wise idea. I should’ve rested the first 7 days too but I kept working even through my 3 days of fevers.
We ordered so much delivery! So expensive! I really lost my appetite for awhile too. I couldn’t keep anything down except fruit and raw vegetables. My body couldn’t handle with grease or oil.
Today is really the first day I am finally feeling normal. I still have this cough which sometimes becomes a coughing fit.
[Her husband] and I both still have a little big of a cough but per the CDC guidelines we can both go back to work.
My parents are both very careful. I think it’s cuz they both worked in healthcare that they’re taking this very seriously. My dad basically banned me from their house back in March 2020. When I did visit, it was always through a screen door and I always mask. I remained outside and just dropped stuff off. I started wearing double masks in November cuz I <had a work task that had to be done inside a building>.
...
2 coworkers got covid and their symptoms were so mild. They each had symptoms that lasted 2 days. Minor headaches and minor fevers.
Another friend of mine and her husband got Covid. He had bad flu symptoms for 21 days. She had a really bad headache and nausea for 2-3 weeks also. They are both in their 40s, my age
So glad your parents haven’t gotten sick. My parents stopped going to church. Their church stopped going to church. "
[next email]
"I am feeling better but this cough is exhausting. I keep having these coughing fits where i feel like I am coughing out an organ or something. It’s a violent cough. That’s how a coworker described it.
I am teleworking but not doing that much work cuz I get so tired.
Covid was worse than I expected. I thought I would only get mild symptoms but last week, I felt like I would rather die than have to endure it anymore. It was a weird pain. It wasn’t sharp but the headache and body aches and this general horrible feeling were very grating, like Chinese water torture.
"
In just the last two weeks, one of my friends, who is a former executive in the tech industry and lives in an upscale part of SCC, posted on Facebook that his entire family tested positive for Covid. His wife and kids recovered quickly. He said he had a persistent fever -- which I thought was worrisome -- but a few days later he said he was feeling better.
Then just two days ago, I was in touch with my cousin in LA, who revealed she and her husband have Covid. I asked her permission to post her experience(s), because I think it's eye-opening.
I've mentioned on early threads that I feel now is the most dangerous time in California and here in SCC. I really hope people -- rather than feeling burnt out by restrictions -- can now be at the maximum most careful for just a few more months and hopefully the vaccine will distributed and accepted widely. I also think some people felt kind of "safe" because Covid was something that happened to people in other industries and who lived in "other areas." I always felt like that was a pretty cavalier perspective, but now not even that is true anymore. We have been so lax in CA lately that now Covid is everywhere -- spreading across well-educated households with grad degeres, white collar teleworkers, and wealthy, isolated neighborhoods. It shouldn't take that to finally become more cautious, but maybe now all households will support more safety measures.
My cousin from LA's emails:
"LA is crazy. [Spouse] got it from work. 60 out of 200 coworkers got it. The CDC even showed up at one point to find out why they have such a high incidence of infection. He wears masks all the time but there’s only so much a mask can do. He works at <a retailer selling essential goods>.
[He] first experienced symptoms 12/8 then tested positive 12/10. I started experiencing symptoms 12/12 and tested negative on 12/13. I didn’t get tested again cuz I was feeling so ill and experienced basically all the COVID symptoms. I couldn’t handle the idea of waiting in a long line to get tested a second time. My doctor said there’s no point since I have so the symptoms.
That’s great that you guys are so safe.
I almost had to go to the ER because my o2 level kept dipping below 90 again and again. My doctor prescribed me azithromycin and albuterol. It took about 3 days before my o2 level started staying consistently above 90. It really took 7 days of constant bed rest and lots of fluids before I started feeling better. The first 7 days I teleworked which wasn’t a wise idea. I should’ve rested the first 7 days too but I kept working even through my 3 days of fevers.
We ordered so much delivery! So expensive! I really lost my appetite for awhile too. I couldn’t keep anything down except fruit and raw vegetables. My body couldn’t handle with grease or oil.
Today is really the first day I am finally feeling normal. I still have this cough which sometimes becomes a coughing fit.
[Her husband] and I both still have a little big of a cough but per the CDC guidelines we can both go back to work.
My parents are both very careful. I think it’s cuz they both worked in healthcare that they’re taking this very seriously. My dad basically banned me from their house back in March 2020. When I did visit, it was always through a screen door and I always mask. I remained outside and just dropped stuff off. I started wearing double masks in November cuz I <had a work task that had to be done inside a building>.
...
2 coworkers got covid and their symptoms were so mild. They each had symptoms that lasted 2 days. Minor headaches and minor fevers.
Another friend of mine and her husband got Covid. He had bad flu symptoms for 21 days. She had a really bad headache and nausea for 2-3 weeks also. They are both in their 40s, my age
So glad your parents haven’t gotten sick. My parents stopped going to church. Their church stopped going to church. "
[next email]
"I am feeling better but this cough is exhausting. I keep having these coughing fits where i feel like I am coughing out an organ or something. It’s a violent cough. That’s how a coworker described it.
I am teleworking but not doing that much work cuz I get so tired.
Covid was worse than I expected. I thought I would only get mild symptoms but last week, I felt like I would rather die than have to endure it anymore. It was a weird pain. It wasn’t sharp but the headache and body aches and this general horrible feeling were very grating, like Chinese water torture.
"