h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You are right about Long-COVID (my brother has that since march 2020-ish, so probably related to the alpha or delta variant. Omikron set him back a few months worth of recovery).

Since the govenmernt bulk testing sites shut down monday last week, I don't know what the current numbers are (last official daily cases count was around 4000, down from a peak of 189000). Current policy is self testing with 5 days quarantine if positive, but no quarantine for vaccinated close contacts.

Our conservative judges in Florida voided the mask mandate on airplanes. This had a domino effect throughout the country

Planes and public transport were the last to lose the mask mandate around here.

I don't think it was exactly a "domino effect". It was a federal judge invalidating a federal CDC rule.

Where is everyone? This place is a desert.

Still working from home perhaps, so h2g2 isn't the same break from work it was if in an office? Or down with COVID?
I have a hay fever cough instead!

Interested to see our Parish Council put chairs out a token half metre apart, but hadn't got round to opening any windows when I arrived to join the audience.

If you're on an island with coconuts and dates, then it's a dessert island

We had a two week school holiday around here. Now I'm back.

I hope the school enjoyed its holiday. The elementary school I went to basically wore out after about 50 years.

I suppose it did (never asked)

Just back from Italy, where I thought they were behaving pretty well, mandatory masks on public transport & most restaurant & hotel staff wore them (although not always adequately).
However, managed to catch Covid while there, just confirmed today after return late late night. Feel a bit peeved, given that we were more conscientious about mask wearing than most of our party.

Sod's law applies, I've only just got over a dose of covid, after managing to avoid it for two years.
No idea where I caught it and others who were with me at the most likely sources didn't catch it this time.

Luck and variations in immunity are the main factors.

I've just seen a youtube video about the covid deaths in every country. The U.S. has had the most. Not a record to be proud of

I haven't had it yet, at least I don't think I have. I felt unwell earlier in the year but tests were negative. I fear I might be getting complacent now.

The problem is, they say that building up immunity by actually having a mild dose of the disease in conjunction with vaccinations is the best protection. But if you do get it, how sure can you be that it will only be mild?

You can't be sure...

We had it but after all the vaccinations we never noticed until the pre-hospital Covid test for the OH's 4 monthly scan said so.

That was lucky. I thought most asymptomatic cases were young people. Had you been unwell at all?

Several people I know have reported negative tests which were probably false, given that another family member tested positive.

I thought it odd that no-one in our group queried if we might have Covid, nor was concerned about being near us while travelling home. Perhaps because there were quite a few coughs & sniffles abounding anyway. Our symptoms only partly fitted, but they seem so varied anyway. I was very careful testing, even though we feel past the worst, but got the red line straight away.

Day 15, still have residual covid cough & lack of stamina.
In the supermarket today, counted only 6 people wearing masks. I felt like going up to people & saying 'do you know the risk you are taking?' - or I could have done lots of loud coughing.

Well had an appointment at the hospital for a breast scan.They are no longer handing out masks at the door although nearly everyone did mask up so I guess we are going to be living with it from now on.