Calling Omicron "mild" is misleading. My uncle just passed away from it.

[dsp3000]

The news keeps calling Omicron mild. Maybe breakthrough cases are mild if you're vaccinated?

My uncle was not vaccinated. he spent a month in the hospital before passing away this morning. He leaves behind a wife and 12 year old son. Sadly, his FB page reads like every other herman cain award too. Misinformation / fake news in Vietnamese is disgusting and fatal.

I am processing alot of emotions right now. I always had good memories with him while growing up. Basically taught me how to use MS DOS and Windows 3.1 when i was 6 years old.

I'm more sad and angry for the wife and son. I dunno what I can do to help.

[blm]

1. ((dsp))

[Johnny2X2X]

2. Close family friend being taken off vent tonight or tomorrow

So sad. I can't believe it, Ralph was such an amazing person, would do anything for anyone. He was in construction and would drive across the state to help any friend with any project for free. The most generous person I've ever met. Full blooded Navajo, 63 years old, took a spill down a flight of stairs a couple weeks ago and broke his neck, caught Covid in the hospital, fully vaxxed, now he's going to be gone. I hate this so much, an amazing person gone. I'm sure his injury played a factor, but Omicron is not some mild version, it only seems like that because most people are now vaxxed.

[SheltieLover]

17. So sorry to hear this!

[MLAA]

18. What a sad loss of an amazing person.

He did everything right and bad luck and the ignorance of others hit him. I am so sorry for your loss. ❤️❤️❤️

[LoisB]

25. This is so sad.

[calimary]

43. I'm so sorry, Johnny.

[leftyladyfrommo]

47. I wonder if his being Navajo played a role? Remember

when this first wave hit the reservation so hard? So many people got really sick. They shut the reservation completely off. They may be more susceptible to this virus.

I am so sorry about your friend. We have lost so many wonderful people.

[BeckyDem]

3. So very sorry for your loss. 12 year old boy with no Dad, so sad.

I can't say enough how frustrated I am when I see omicron associated with mild. I believe we should keep our guard up, the pandemic is not over and it is deadly.

[Bev54]

32. It is more often mild for those who are vaccinated, it is still a killer for the unvaxxed.

[BeckyDem]

45. Exactly and too many don't wear masks where I live and it is wrong.

Long covid is scary too.

[Dial H For Hero]

4. I just had Omicron, and for me it was quite mild.

On the other hand, I’m vaxxed and boosted. It can certainly be deadly to those who are not, as in the case of your uncle.

Please except my condolences.

[OLDMDDEM]

5. Just be there for them

[ProfessorGAC]

6. I Haven't Seen It Called Mild

I've seen it called less virulent than prior variants.
But, I've not seen what you say you have.

[JanMichael]

9. I've seen it referred to as "milder" on several news programs. So "mild" was probably inferred.

There has also been an attempt on DU and media to downplay Omicron at least at the beginning, then crickets after the surge became evident. It was all - South Africa sez it is mild and over fast.

Then of course case numbers skyrocketed in the US and hospitalizations (at least in NC) have exceeded Alpha and Delta wave highs. And that is with the population over 50% vaccinated and gawd knows how many "naturally" immunized people exist added to the vaccinated.

Omicron was different, as it focused less on lungs, but still an awful addition to the COVID-line. I wonder how bad Omicron would have been absent of vaccines?

[ProfessorGAC]

11. MildER!

Which the data appears to support.
In my mind, calling a disease milder is not the same as calling it mild.
Milder requires a comparison. Compared to prior variants, that descriptor appears apt.

[Sympthsical]

12. It was called mild

And the tenor of many of the earlier stories were definitely in the, "It's not that bad," zone. I know, because I was incredibly annoyed with them when I caught it in December and had not so pleasant symptoms.

I was sitting there thinking, "When I emerge from this burrow lined with heating pads and advil packets, I am coming for you all."

I even made an OP about it at the time, because articles I was reading really were downplaying what catching it could be like, even if you are vaxxed and boosted as I was.

Edit/Note: I'm not talking about the scientists. I'm talking about media portrayal.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Got Ya!

I'll trust you on that.
I don't recall hearing it expressed as no big deal, but i don't watch & read everything.

[dsp3000]

16. I've had coworkers parrot what they see on the media... "oh it's supposed to be mild now!"

"at least it's mild now!" they say. i'm not taking any risks w/ my 2 year old kids.

[DLCWIdem]

61. I've heard it called mild if your caused and boosted

[Rebl2]

21. True

The media still said if you weren’t vaccinated it could be deadly. At least that’s what I saw from doctors on news shows.

[BComplex]

31. True. Chris Hayes had a graph on last night: 2,500 +/- people dying every day now from Omicron.

That's a LOT of people!! 17,500 per week! Averages out to 910,000 per year.

That right there is part of why there's a labor shortage. The people who work with the public are getting infected and dying: teachers, first responders, grocery stores, fast food, restaurants, events....they're getting exposed the most.

[piddyprints]

7. I'm so sorry.

I just found out that a friend's son's father-in-law died from it this week. He was not vaccinated because he had heart issues and the anti-vax cardiologist in our town told him not to.

It's all so sad. I'm sorry for his family. Hopefully they will get vaccinated if they haven't done so already.

[femmedem]

49. OMG, that cardiologist should lose his license

and be sued into bankruptcy for telling someone with heart problems not to get vaccinated.

Heartbreaking.

[patphil]

8. The percentage of deaths is much lower than the Delta variant.

But there are a lot more cases per day, and the 7 day rolling average of deaths in the US is 2310. That works out to nearly 70,000 deaths per month, or about 840,000 per year.
I'm not saying we will actually see that many deaths in a year, but I'm showing the number to put things in perspective.
Mild is just a relative term. Omicron is still a major killer.


https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

[halfulglas]

27. Sunday's Baltimore Sun front page "January deaths break record."

Even though the cases are falling, our deadliest month of the pandemic. And Maryland is considered to be one of the states doing most things right.

[boston bean]

51. Due to the astronomical number of cases. The poster said percentage.

[halfulglas]

55. I wasn't disputing the previous post.

Just reinforcing the fact that Omicron is still serious and deadly, especially to the unvaccinated.

[Samrob]

58. The percentage of deaths is lower because more people are vaccinated now.

That does not necessarily mean Omicron is not deadly. For anyone with a compromised immune system almost any disease can be deadly.

[patphil]

62. My point was that it is deadly, but not to the same extent as the Delta variant.

Having a large number of people vaccinated has kept that percentage down, since vaccinated people usually have a less severe case of the virus. But still, if we had the same number of people with the Delta variant, we'd probably be seeing 10,000 deaths a day.

[brush]

10. Sorry for your loss. Omicron does seem to be milder on those..

who are vaxxed. Did your uncle have pre-existing health conditions?

[dsp3000]

14. None that i'm aware of. He was not overweight, didnt smoke.

[MLAA]

15. I'm very sorry for your loss.

The pain must be intense since it was likely avoidable had he only been vaccinated. Hold on to your good memories of your uncle teaching you something valuable when you were a kid and maybe you can create an opportunity to teach his son something that he will remember.

💖💖💖

[SheltieLover]

19. So sorry for your loss

[pandr32]

20. I am sorry you lost your uncle

I am especially sorry for your nephew. I certainly hope you can convince the mother to get her son and herself vaccinated. Perhaps you can remain close with them because you are family.
My best wishes for healing and progress.

[tiredtoo]

22. Sorry for your loss

As far as "What I can do to help" goes. Keep in mind everyone reacts to the loss of a loved one differently. Some seek solitude and others seek reassurance that the world will survive etc. Just be there and provide whatever they appear to need.

[Traildogbob]

23. So very sorry

The lose is horrific, and people do not realize when these people pass, after a MONTH in ICU, the expenses, bankrupt level, they leave their Spouse and children. Plus lose of income from the parents job. The Highway Patrolman Fox Hero the told Gov kiss his ass about vaccine, left a wife and 4 children, with a Months hospital bill and his loss of salary.
All because a minority of idiots, blindly believing the swill pit out just to advance their chance of power. Pure evil, we surviving family left to live with the emotional and economic pain.
For those children, thank god fir the Socialistic survivors benefits of SS until 18.
Wish you strength and courage to deal with the loss and hate for those that caused it.💔

[LoisB]

24. I am sorry for your loss.

[maxsolomon]

26. More infectious, fewer severe illnesses and deaths.

Condolences.

[IronLionZion]

28. Vaccine is free. I encourage everyone to take it

That is our Presidential administration's strategy to make sure everyone who wants it can have it.

Sorry for your loss but it could have been prevented.

[NNadir]

29. I'm very sorry for your loss but if your uncle...

...has been vaccinated he probably would have survived. The antibody response is low, but T-cells keep the disease mild. I just recovered from omicron, and in my case it was mild, rather like a bad cold. I'm vaxxed and boosted.

As is the case with so many, his death was unnecessary.

[Emile]

30. I have lost two cousins, two neighbors, seven old friends and 3 old coworkers.

Everyone of those deaths were preventable if only they had got vaccinated!

[CaptainTruth]

33. I'm so sorry...

[FakeNoose]

34. To honor your uncle's memory

I'm sorry you lost your uncle, but your aunt and cousin need to be vaccinated at the first possible opportunity.

It will hopefully save their lives, just as it would have saved him. May you find solace in the memory of your uncle from happier times.

[Sherman A1]

35. Lost a friend from years ago to a similar situation in mid January

Unvaccinated, unmasked and not a believer in the virus. Guess it doesn't matter what he believed now.

[BradBo]

36. Maybe now she can meet a sane person to remarry.

[BradBo]

37. My nephew...

… is 35, construction foreman, anti- vaxxer. Got the Delta, now his lungs are no better than and 80 yo mans. Permanent o2 and basically a homebody for the rest of his life.

[cate94]

38. I'm sorry

[Calculating]

39. If you're vaccinated and healthy it generally is

I think I had it like a week ago and it was like a weird minor cold with a mild sore throat that persisted for 4 days along with some light chills and fatigue.

[ismnotwasm]

40. It's not mild

My hospital has more cases now than it had the entire pandemic. The difference is more are on the floor, and less in ICU. My floor alone has 4 cases.

My SIL just got a trach and a feeding tube inserted through her stomach in preparation for discharge to an LTAC. Still vented though.

[mountain grammy]

41. I'm so sorry for your loss..

In the last 3 months we've lost 5 locals in our small county.. only 65% vaccinated. Free shots, available to all. We got three modernas, total wait time around 10 minutes each time. Easy peasy.

5 dead, all unvaxxed.

[hamsterjill]

42. I'm sorry for the loss.

It’s always sad to lose someone who has been a big part of our life. We may not always agree with them, but it’s still a loss.

Peace and comfort to you.

[calimary]

44. All my sympathy, dsp3000.

So much loss. Such a sad time. Too many gone too soon.

I’m so sorry, my friend.

[Klaralven]

46. Last Jan, deaths peaked at 3567 and new cases at 251,607; now peaking at 2397 and 811,626

So the ratio of deaths to cases is a lot lower this January.

Vaccination is probably the factor most responsible for the reduced mortality.

Unvaccinated people have all had their chance to get vaccinated.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/ and turn on 7-day moving average

[Pinback]

48. I lost a beloved uncle in my youth.

When you have a great uncle, it’s a very special relationship. He’s sort of like a dad, sort of like a brother, sort of like a pal. But different from all those at the same time.

I know how hard it must be to lose yours. My condolences to you and your family. Special hugs to your aunt and cousin.

[Tink41]

50. I'm triple vaxxed

I had it middle of January. Mild flu maybe. Not a mild illness by any means. Mild to me is sniffles, congested, able to work with no discomfort. THAT is mild. THIS I had bone aches, top of feet burning, 2 days of naps, and exhaustion by 11 AM. That was before I had any recognizable symptoms. Those started with a sore throat, congestion, malaise, chills. By day 3 of those symptoms I was down for the count. 7 days in I felt like I could be back to normal. I would not call it mild. Now Dr's, Nurses and those experienced with severe sickness, might call it mild as they have a different bar to compare it to.

[Lucinda]

52. ❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️

[Catherine Vincent]

53. Sorry for your loss

I hear ya. I was sick with it 2-1/2 weeks and it was not mild. But it was probably due to being immune compromised.

[ecstatic]

54. Sorry for your loss. I agree, the media really botched the messaging on this.

People have stopped taking precautions and they're saying it's like "the common cold" etc.

[NurseJackie]

56. I used to feel sorry for my own willingly UN-vaccinated family members...

... and for their loved ones. I don't any more. Not even for my own family, not even for the spouse and children (adult children) and grandchildren.

Try to find the silver lining... maybe their death can serve as a warning and object-lesson to others who would be inclined to believe the same thing. Maybe info can be added to his FB page letting others know what the outcome was, and what that type of paranoia and recklessness results in.

[yardwork]

57. I'm very sorry for your loss.

[LymphocyteLover]

59. It's "milder" than other variants but still nasty especially for the unvaxxed

sorry for your uncle

[uponit7771]

60. Sorry about your unc