this post was submitted on 28 Dec 2023
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[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 146 points 10 months ago (8 children)

I'm in Canada and nobody seems to remember COVID 19. No masks anywhere, people coughing on everything, if you wear a mask people look at you like you're psycho. I tried getting test kits and nobody has them anymore and one pharmacist even commented that nobody is worried or testing anymore. I got it for a second time this year, and everyone I knew was also sick but in denial, everyone insisting "it's just a cold"

[–] Odelay42@lemmy.world 71 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I got it from my boss last week. She "had a cold" for a couple weeks but wouldn't stop coming into the office and complaining that she can't stop getting sick.

I should have tried to avoid her more effectively. I've been on the couch for 5 days and I think I still have a couple more.

[–] voidMainVoid@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago

I should have tried to avoid her more effectively.

Don't victim-blame yourself. It's her fault for not doing the reasonable and considerate thing: staying home so that you don't infect your coworkers.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 2 points 10 months ago

Good luck! May you have a speedy recovery with no long COVID.

[–] SwarovskiYh78@futurology.today 9 points 10 months ago

Unfortunately we have the same scenario in Europe

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That more or less seems true globally.

But, if you have been keeping up with your vaccinations, covid is fairly mild these days. There is still the risk of complications and "long covid" but that is true of a lot more illnesses than anyone wants to acknowledge.

Personally? I still mask up when I go to the store or on public transportation. But I am not going to avoid eating out at a restaurant anymore and generally don't bother at airports or conventions since I am going to eat at some point and I am likely fucked regardless. But it is also less about covid specifically and more about just not wanting to get sick period.

[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 35 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

if you have been keeping up with your vaccinations, covid is fairly mild these days.

Sure, if you're <70 years old and not immunocompromised or otherwise unable to vaccinate you'll probably be OK. If you do fall into one of those categories you're at high risk every time you leave your house.

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 16 points 10 months ago

And you have those threats with other viruses. There is a reason there was always such a strong push to get people to get flu shots. Plenty of people die from pneumonia and other complications.

Covid is/was a global threat because of the combination of being highly contagious, having dangerous symptoms, and being something most people have no antibodies for. Vaccination, as well as mutations, have negated a lot of those. This is why getting covid in early 2020 was a potential death sentence and would leave you curled up in a little ball unable to function. Getting covid in late 2023 is often so mild that people may not even think to test.

And if you have a compromised immune system or are otherwise at risk? You really should be masking up and avoiding crowds anyway. Because influenza is still a thing as are plenty of other colds. The only difference is that the vast majority of people won't bat an eye if you wear a mask to the supermarket these days (aside from the hardcore republicans who may scream slurs at you).

These threats didn't start in late 2019 when we were starting to hear about some weird "coronavirus" that was totally going to be the next Y2K joke. Like, I remember my cousin (rest in peace). She didn't need to live in an outright clean room but she generally avoided going to crowded spaces because nobody knows how to sneeze into their arm. And when we went to visit, we were expected to reschedule or stay outside if we at all "felt sick".

In a perfect world? We would have learned from covid that you cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and to try to avoid being near people when you are sick. Instead... we at least semi-normalized wearing a mask?

[–] cactusupyourbutt@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Im immunocompromised and I got the covid vaxx. was a bit of an issue with getting it though, needed to jump through some hoops. doctor basically said that this is bullshit, I especially should get vaccinated

[–] winterayars@sh.itjust.works 3 points 10 months ago

Some immunocompromised people can get the vax, for others it's not recommended or but very effective. Same as with other vaccines.

[–] murk02@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago

I got it for the first time this year, I think from work. My boss and his friend a PM, don’t really care about bringing stuff to work. My family is similar, multiple people were sick at Christmas but we didn’t cancel it. I just tried to keep my distance but I probably should’ve just left :/

[–] lobut@lemmy.ca 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Where in Canada you at? I'm in Ontario and I wear a mask and see a few other mask wearers around. Although in Markham there's a larger Asian population so I don't think too many people look at you too weird.

[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

Mississauga. I tested positive but was only sick for less than a week. After I felt better I went out but kept a mask on, and nobody else at the mall had one on.

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

I had completely forgotten about it too, but my mom got it two weeks ago. Fortunately she was fine, but the virus totally dropped from the conversation, news, everything. It's mostly just a memory

[–] ominouslemon@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago

The situation here in Switzerland is similar. Every time I go to the grocery store, it's full of people (especially kids) that cough on everything and everyone. A couple of my colleages at work came in sick from what turned out to be covid. I somehow managed to avoid getting infected.

Last week a person in a supermarket basically coughed on me while passing by, and now I have a cold. According to the rapid tests (which are still available here, fortunately) it's not covid, but still. The pandemic has not taught us anything.

[–] Kalkaline@leminal.space 128 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Don't you fucking take him, COVID. Don't you fucking dare.

[–] crsu@lemmy.world 42 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Don't worry he has politician healthcare not plebeian deathcare like us peons

[–] Toribor@corndog.social 46 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It at least pleases me to know this level of care is something he wishes to extend to all Americans. Many in Congress with this care would deny it to the rest of us as if it were some sort of favor.

[–] crsu@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Oh it is a favor except to the insurance and healthcare industry

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 31 points 10 months ago

I really wish Bernie the best, but Covid has this whole cardiac component to it which makes it INCREDIBLY dangerous for heart patients, of which Bernie is one. :(

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-sars-cov-2-contributes-heart-attacks-strokes

He does have the best health care in the country though so here's hoping!

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 10 months ago

I'm sure he had his updated COVID shot, so hopefully his symptoms are mild. Fingers crossed.

[–] CosmicCleric@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

If there's one person whose head should be put into a jar Futurama-style, it would be him.

[–] Deconceptualist@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago

I know he's up there in years but Bernie's no idiot so I'm sure he's caught up on vaccinations. Hopefully that means he'll do fine.

More importantly though, more politicians need to take up the progressive mantle.

[–] badbytes@lemmy.world 74 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Wish that man a speedy recovery. He has given so much. Good luck Bernie.

[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

For God's sake provide soup to this man. Give him something to return!

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 13 points 10 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Thursday he tested positive for COVID-19, amid a nationwide spike in infections.

The 82-year-old Sanders, said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he was experiencing “minimal” symptoms and will continue to isolate while working from his home in Vermont.

The Senate finished its legislative business for the year last week and won’t be returning for votes until Jan. 8.

The U.S. is seeing elevated levels of respiratory illness this winter, and the Northeast is experiencing the highest levels of viral activity, according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wastewater data.

Nationally, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is the highest it’s been since the omicron surge in 2022.

It is too early to know whether or to what extent JN.1 will cause an increase in infections or hospitalizations,” the CDC said, adding that existing vaccines, tests, and treatments still work against JN.1.


The original article contains 258 words, the summary contains 155 words. Saved 40%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!