this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2023
282 points (98.3% liked)

News

23397 readers
3477 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil


Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.


2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.


Obvious right or left wing sources will be removed at the mods discretion. We have an actively updated blocklist, which you can see here: https://lemmy.world/post/2246130 if you feel like any website is missing, contact the mods. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted seperately but not to the post body.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source.


Posts which titles don’t match the source won’t be removed, but the autoMod will notify you, and if your title misrepresents the original article, the post will be deleted. If the site changed their headline, the bot might still contact you, just ignore it, we won’t delete your post.


5. Only recent news is allowed.


Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.


6. All posts must be news articles.


No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials or celebrity gossip is allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis.


7. No duplicate posts.


If a source you used was already posted by someone else, the autoMod will leave a message. Please remove your post if the autoMod is correct. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.


8. Misinformation is prohibited.


Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.


9. No link shorteners.


The auto mod will contact you if a link shortener is detected, please delete your post if they are right.


10. Don't copy entire article in your post body


For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Welcome to sick season.

According to the CDC, New York City — along with New Jersey and at least 16 other states — is now experiencing “high” to “very high” levels of respiratory-illness activity as measured by the number of weekly visits to health-care providers and emergency rooms by people having symptoms of fever, cough, and sore throat.

The culprits are the usual suspects: this year’s strains of influenza, COVID, and RSV. And though flulike-illness levels have been above baseline nationally for several consecutive weeks, the CDC warns that we still haven’t hit the peak.

...

As always, seniors remain the most at-risk demographic for severe outcomes from respiratory illnesses, which is why the low vaccination rates for that group remain troubling.

Beyond vaccination, for everyone, the best way to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV is regular handwashing; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and staying home if you get sick. High-filtration face masks still work great, too, and not just for avoiding COVID.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 96 points 11 months ago (5 children)

Saw a guy on the subway having a cough the whole ride, two weeks later I have COVID again. I find myself wearing a mask this month cause I don't want a flu or anything, and not a single person has a mask on and is looking at me like I'm a psycho for wearing a mask.

I have seen so many sniffly and sick people out and about recently and not a single one had a mask. It's like everyone just said fuck it, forgot about the pandemic and just went back to no masks and looking at masked people like they're crazy

[–] BigBenis@lemmy.world 18 points 11 months ago

I moved to Portland over a year ago and I'd say about 25% of people at the grocery stores here are still wearing masks to this day and nobody makes a fuss about it. It's been great.

[–] hansl@lemmy.world 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The good news is that it’s likely you didn’t get COVID from that guy. Gestation period is on average 5 days.

[–] Coreidan@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Key word is average

[–] SoleInvictus@lemmy.world 14 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

A significant portion of the population still believes masks don't work because their favorite talking heads told them they don't.

I made the mistake of going back to Reddit ONCE and got in an argument with an alleged "MPH" (master of public health) who was adamant masks don't work, despite the overwhelming evidence they do. He ended up threatening to stab me with an icepick. Multiple times across various, unrelated threads. Reddit actually banned him.

These motherfuckers are out there and they're some combination of stupid and crazy.

[–] SeaJ@lemm.ee 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This reminds me that I have to get more N95 masks. People don't give a shit here in Seattle. Most grocery store workers wear one and about 10% of the public still does.

[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

My local grocery store took down the plastic shields between The customer and the cashier this month, after they've been up for years why take them down during flu season? It's just so foolish how everyone is letting their guard down

[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 3 points 11 months ago

Yeah, I developed a cough and decided it was time for masks again but because I know it will definitely work to help me avoid spreading whatever I got further.

I wish that was what most people used them for too since that makes pretty good sense to me but... Nope. One nice guy in a wave of people who would lick my eyeball if they thought it would give them 5 seconds of happiness.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 90 points 11 months ago (6 children)

Boy am I glad I'm having surgery on Thursday.

In a hospital.

Full of people with these highly contagious respiratory illnesses.

Oh well, at least I'm vaccinated.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Good luck. I went to one for an hour appointment and got COVID. Also vaccinated. The strain out there right now just does not care.

[–] MDKAOD@lemmy.ml 9 points 11 months ago

The strain out there right now just does not care.

For real. Caught covid for the first time just before Thanksgiving. Got the newest booster back in October. New strain be like a honey badger.

[–] Poem_for_your_sprog@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Why aren't things separated into something like surgical/lab test centers and illness centers.

Why must I sit next to someone with COVID just to get my 3rd colonoscopy of the week?

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

The hospital here does have a separate surgery center, but it is only for simple procedures. Apparently mine requires more than what the surgery center can do, so I have to be in the main hospital.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 4 points 11 months ago

3rd colonoscopy of the week?

Weird hobby ...but okay. :-P

[–] SeaJ@lemm.ee 5 points 11 months ago

Wear an N95 mask. You should be making up in hospitals and clinics anyway.

[–] Linkerbaan@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Good luck my dude get well

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago
[–] TheRealLinga@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It's so funny. I don't know you, and yet I have this bague picture of your life from reading your comments here and there.

I hope this surgery is going to solve what's been going on! Feel better! Don't stress 😊

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'm hopeful too, thanks. I am trying not to stress, but any surgery is risky, so I'm a little bit on edge, but I've been sick for months, so this is my last hope before the Mayo clinic.

[–] TheRealLinga@sh.itjust.works 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well I'm rooting for you! You'll be ok. And of course you already know this, but try to focus on the moment now instead of the possibility of unhappiness and pain in the future. Worrying doesn't help anything. And for all you know your life will be greatly improved!

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago
[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago

I'll do my best!

[–] Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 49 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Its almost like the government told us we were on our own to stay safe, then stopped funding the tracking, testing, and reporting that would let us do so.

[–] KevonLooney@lemm.ee 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You can get free tests from the US Government. They still report on it.

[–] Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 11 months ago

Tests are great, but the wrong end of the funnel. The virus has already potentially permanently altered my immune system when that positive line pops up. There's no way for me to know how much community spread is happening so I can avoid indoor spaces when its high. Hospitals are basically only reporting deaths so I don't know when I should be more serious about masking. Really the fact that we still need free tests is a giant flashing failure light.

[–] dan1101@lemm.ee 38 points 11 months ago

Christmas gatherings will really get it going.

[–] june@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I just had the nastiest something I’ve had in a LONG time last week. Got tested for covid, influenza, and strep, all negative. Guessing it was RSV or just a really bad cold, not sure.

My partner got it from me and got hit twice as hard and wound up with a 103 degree fever and unable to get out of bed.

It’s going around for sure

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Same here. Caught something on the flight back home from Thanksgiving, and I still can’t kick it

load more comments
view more: next ›