Within 3 days, 3 people I know have tested positive

[orangecrush]

And possibly 2 others close to those people.

The first one is an unvaccinated Trumper.

I have not been in direct contact, but am still nervous.

At this rate I see America in lockdown very soon.

[LisaL]

1. Omicron is coming to town.

I don't think we will go into any lockdowns, though.

[orangecrush]

3. Respectfully disagree

If the hospitals get overwhelmed, it won't be a matter of choice.

[Texaswitchy]

5. Santa will stay home.

We are staying away from the public.

[enough]

2. What area?

[orangecrush]

4. South of Erie, Pa., rural.

[durablend]

6. The country isn't going into lockdown.

TPTB won't have it.

[at140]

7. Asymptomatic "cases" do not mean much

all it means is the virus is quite contagious.

The important number is what % get hospitalized.

Even more important number is what % of infected die from the virus.

[LisaL]

8. OP doesn't say his friends were asymptomatic.

NT

[onenote]

9. Doesn't say they were symptomatic

Doesn’t say they were hospitalized

[orangecrush]

15. They are not

They are very ill

[Ms. Toad]

27. More than 50% of even people who are mildly symptomatic

have symptoms for 6 months or more (including depression, anxiety, loss in mental acuity, fatigue, lingering difficulties breathing (including - for some - long-term lung damage).

Not to mention that asymptomatic cases are every bit as contagious in the vaccinated as in the unvaccinated - and those infections can be deadly to those who are unable to be vaccinated - or whose bodies cannot build up immunity (very young, very old, immune compromised).

So yes. Asymptomatic, and mildly symptomatic, cases matter.

[at140]

31. Everything matters, including each breath we take in

but obviously all matters do not have same criticality.
Death is more critical than mere hospitalization.
Hospitalization is more critical than mild symptoms.
Mild symptoms are more critical than no symptoms.

Just have to pay attention to level of criticality.
Not everything in life is critical.

Many more people are still dying from heart attacks than recent rate of covid deaths.
But we keep eating non-healthy foods in excess and avoid exercise.
That to me is more critical than asymptomatic covid infection.

[Ms. Toad]

32. Heart attacks are not contagious. COVID is.

Regardless of how mild your symptoms are personally, you can kill someone it hits harder by pretending anything but death is insignificant.

We need to treat EVERY COVID infection as potentialy deadly, and take every step possible to not be a link in the chain of transmission.

I'm literally sick of people ignoring the consequences of acting as if a mild case is insignificant.

I don't leave my house without a mask. I don't leave home with symptoms of cold/headache/allergies without two days of negative tests. (I have had my mask off indoors in the presence of people I don't live with 4 times since September.) I have had both doses of the vaccine and a booster. My employee was equally cautious - although she was not yet eligible for her booster when some jerk gave her COVID despite her precautions. She gave it to every other member of her family - at least one of whom has lingering symptoms more than a month later.

It is very possible that I have COVID right now. I tested negative this morning - but my symptoms have worsened since then, including starting what - for me - is a fever.

I have to have lung scans every three months to ensure my very aggressive cancer (diagnosis one year ago) has not metastasized to my lungs. Those are scheduled for Wednesday - and most likely will need to be cancelled. Unless they can fit me in during the last week of the year, the delay will be more than a month because of hassles starting Medicare.

Cancer kills too - and delays in diagnosis or treatment becuuse of mild COVID cases can mean the difference betweeen life and death, even if COVID doesn't kill me directly.

Asymptic cases spread to others who are not similarly asymptomatic also kill patients with other diseases by filling up the hosptals. Just because you are asymptomatic does not mean the 8 or so you spread it to will be asymptomatic.

So yes, even asymptomatic cases are critical at this point.

[at140]

35. Heart attacks are enhanced by foods sold on market

So those are not completely voluntary. Go to any fast food joint. Or most restaurants.
The foods available are not healthy. Very difficult to eat healthy in USA unless we cook all our foods from scratch ourselves. That is not easily done by most people.

My point is why you are not railing more against unhealthy foods sold on the market which will kill 50-100 times more people in 2022 than covid will?

[Ms. Toad]

38. If you die of a self-inflicted heart attack, you do not take others out with you.

Your right to kill stops with yourself. That should not be that hard to understand.

[roamer65]

45. +1000

[at140]

46. Read my post again please without pejudice

My point was there is NO easy choice available in USA for people who can not always cook for themselves, and have to rely on restaurant food or ready made food from grocery stores. I am one of those people. I am at age 81 and my wife has stage-4 cancer. We just do not have the energy to cook healthy foods ourselves daily.

So if I get a heart attack tomorrow, IT IS NOT SELF-INFLECTED. It is because it is VERY DIFFICULT to eat healthy every meal in USA prepared by others.

Heart attack will be #1 killer in USA in 2022, not covid.

[Ace Rothstein]

10. There very likely won't be any lockdowns.

All lockdowns do is push out the infections as well. They aren't very effective.

[Thtwudbeme]

11. There certainly will if it hits schools and colleges

I foresee schools starting to shut down in January.

I am responsible for technology for a 800 student middle school, and I am already making plans and dreading it.

[Ace Rothstein]

12. A school going remote for a period of time is not a lockdown.

There aren't going to be federal funds to support people who will lose their jobs from a lockdown. States won't be able to afford it. 75% of the states won't lock down anyway.

[beaglelover]

13. There will not be any lockdowns.

Americans aren’t going to stand for that unless deaths skyrocket which they likely will not. Get vaxed and boosted and you’ll be fine if you get COVID.

[orangecrush]

16. I am vaxxed and boosted

The Omicron doesn't seem to mind, but so far they are still saying it reduces chances of hospitalization.

[WarGamer]

26. +1000 nt

[Demovictory9]

34. MOST will be fine... vax isn't a guarantee, just helps the odds

[Hortensis]

14. My best guess is we'll see a lot of lockdowns. Regardless of

how mild or serious the infections are, we're probably about to have the floods many epidemiologists are predicting of ill people unable to work and needing medical services, overwhelming capacity in some places.

[mvd]

17. My neighbor and family are sick

Fortunately I saw her a few days ago and not yesterday.

Reporting runny nose, cough, sneezing. Sounds like a cold but I hope they get tested as omicron can act that way. They are vaccinated which helps.

[LisaL]

19. Yea, Omicron produces cold like symptoms,

scratchy throat, runny nose, sneezing.

[orangecrush]

21. Sorry to hear

Wishing them a rapid and full recovery.

[budkin]

18. No one is going to lockdown anymore

We’re either getting it or we aren’t.

[orangecrush]

20. If lockdowns are ordered

There will be lockdowns.

[LisaL]

22. Who is going to order lockdowns?

NT

[orangecrush]

23. The same people

Who ordered them last time, I suppose.

And I'd rather see a lockdown than mass casualties, if it comes down to a choice, regardless of it making some MAGATs feel inconvenienced.

[LisaL]

25. They won't.

At least in red states it won't happen. We can't even get a statewide mask mandate.
So, there will be no lockdowns here.

[orangecrush]

28. That is likely true.

[Demsrule86]

49. Ohio never locked down last time...many businesses were open there were enough loopholes to drive

a truck through...and since folks are getting no money now if they have Covid and can't work...I speak from experience...there isn't going to be lockdowns.

[Zeitghost]

36. And COVID isn't going anywhere

So long term, we're all getting it in some variant or another. Get vaxxed for better outcomes and go on with life.

[Meowmee]

24. I hope you are ok

I am getting worried. I hope they won’t stick head in sand again and will go to remote education etc.

[orangecrush]

29. Good so far

Thank you!

[Meowmee]

30. That is good 😀

[Demovictory9]

33. Netherlands went into total lockdown yesterday... for two weeks

[orangecrush]

39. Heard that today

Just a matter of time.

[Dorian Gray]

37. Friends

in NY, NJ, MD, MA, and CT have all tested positive. I know of people in Virginia and Kentucky too. Ugh.

I feel like I'm just biding time here in NYC until I get it.

Dominoes falling.

[orangecrush]

40. Last night

Found out my AA sponsors wife tested positive.

He tested negative, and is in quarantine.

[Dorian Gray]

41. Ugh

that's tough. luckily with cell phones and technology we don't need to rely solely on in person meetings to maintain contact.

Hope he stays negative and his wife recovers quickly.

If you're worried for your own safety, hope you're not too anxious.

Only a couple of friends had any fever. Most just sniffles, sore throat and fatigue. Hopefully that is all it will be for the majority.

Strange and scary times.

[orangecrush]

43. Thanks!!

Not freaking, but cautious.

Masking at all meetings, even though not required.

Thanks, Dorian!

[Demsrule86]

48. My husband who was vaccinated but had not yet had the booster had a sore throat and

congestion. He never ran a fever and his oxygen was around 97 98 the entire time. I had the booster and didn't get it or if I had it...no symptoms...hubs and I were tested the same day and he was positive but I was not.

[Dorian Gray]

50. That's good to know

I had a friend whose whole family got it (they were vaccinated not boosted), but she, recently boosted, never did.

My booster was four weeks ago, so hoping that is optimal to help avoid this!

Lots of friends are positive these days.... hoping you all remain healthy this holiday season after that bout.

[pecosbob]

42. Word on the street is Allegiant Stadium here in Las Vegas will likely be shutting down

Haven't heard anything about other venues yet.

[orangecrush]

44. Not surprised.

I expect to see more.

[Demsrule86]

47. I don't see that happening...those who are vaccinated including my husband...had

very mild cases. The only folks at great risk are the unvaccinated and those with autoimmune disorders. I think schools may shut down or go on virtual...some not all.