Hoping his recovery is total and quick. And you stay healthy.

Thanks for the kind thoughts! We suspect husband was infected by our contractor who was with him on the Monday before Xmas and who started to feel ill 2 days later. They were mostly outside but did go in the house without masks on for 15-20 minutes. And I don't think the contractor was vaccinated which I wish I'd known.

Then again at this point COVID infections are popping up everywhere including among many vaxxed folks we know and associate with. Omicron has certainly destroyed any faint assumption I had that vaccinations/boosters prevent infection although I didn't get sick with/from him so who knows?! I am so grateful that they prevent severe illness.

As for the lingering positive, thanks for confirming what I've read also. I just hope he switches to negative soon because although it's not rational there's a corner of my mind that feels like I"m hanging around with COVID cooties 24/7 lol.

And finally, I hope nobody experiences any severe sickness from this surge, it's still worrisome even with 'mild' effects.

Yes, regularily taking the Flovent is good. Too many patients rely solely on an albuterol rescue inhaler. If he was able to shovel, sounds like he is doing quite well. Glad to hear you have a pulse oximeter to monitor. Take care!

Thank you for sharing that information, Mdln.

3katz, thanks for the update on your DH. I'm not a doctor, but it seems to me that if he feels like shoveling, it's a good sign.

I hope everyone continues to recover and stay well.

Sending positive energy for a complete recovery for your DH.

I saw a tweet today:

Having not gotten covid yet feels like I’ve been hiding in the back of a 2+ year long middle school dodgeball game and the front lines have been thinned.

😆

Preach.

So glad to hear that hubby is doing well. This has been a very helpful thread thanks to 2katz, mdln, and runninginplace sharing their stories/knowledge. Thank you.

Glad you have found this helpful @Re Tired. DH continues to do well. Much as he wanted to go to the office today he did some work from home thinking at least one of his employees would freak out hearing him coughing even with an N95 mask.

Though everyone is different, and the virus may change, it is somewhat reassuring at the moment to see someone live through it firsthand and find it to be milder and shorter lived than the common cold. I keep hoping this will spread quickly around the world and bring Covid to its knees. I have an easier time envisioning that than ever having the majority of the world vaccinated for the latest variant all at the same time.

My brother-in-law tested positive today. His story is a bit different as he has felt really bad. He is vaxxed and boosted and he and my sister have been very careful - they wear masks if they go anywhere. I know they went to a restaurant Thursday or Friday to celebrate his birthday, so of course they would have been unmasked there. Not sure if that is where he could have picked it up. They were at church Sunday morning but their church now requires masks and are only have twice weekly services, no group meetings of any type. I find it hard to believe he would have picked it up there since he started feeling bad Sunday evening. Thought it was just a cold, but yesterday he started running a fever, etc. and did not get out of the bed all day, which according to my sister, she has not seen him do in 25 years of marriage. His fever is lower today and he went to be tested. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I think he has felt more like a bad case of flu, rather than a cold, although it seems like it may run shorter. A family we know, mom, dad and 1 out of 3 kids have it (none vaxxed or boosted). Theirs has been more like a cold with fever and aching but short-lived, although daughter had it first, was sick a couple of days, felt good a couple days, then fever and aches started back up for another couple of days. Weird.

With the original version, day 5 or 6 is when you really start feeling bad.

Tina Marie - You say that they always wear masks, but what kind of masks? I think that we all need to be wearing N95 or KN95 masks - and wearing them properly.

https://www.vox.com/2022/1/8/22873390/covid-19-better-masks-n95-respirator-surgical-omicron

Masks are mandatory in my state at all indoor businesses, but as recently as last weekend I only saw about 70% compliance. However, yesterday I made a quick trip to the grocery store and was pleased that I didn't see one person without a mask.

I imagine there is still some Delta in circulation. What you describe @Tina Marie does sound more like Delta but what do I know and everyone's reaction is different so could well be Omicron. Does your brother's family wear 95 masks? If not possibly they were exposed to some Covid aerosols if they came in close contact with an infected person. Sending good thoughts for mild symptoms and speedy recovery but important to keep a close eye on symptoms. Do they have a pulse-oximeter? I felt some peace of mind having that.

ETA: I second that - wearing 95 masks. As Osterholm says, the others are just for show. My quick trip to the grocery store finds lots of people without masks and very, very few with an effective mask. Of course we no longer have a mask mandate.

And then there is this new study. very interesting info

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/11/covid-loses-90-of-ability-to-infect-within-five-minutes-in-air-study

@User, don't think they studied Omicron.

I didnt see specifics. its a great reinforcement for masks.

To tell you the truth, I don't know what kind of masks they wear as they live out of state. They are both in the medical field, so hopefully they know what to do ??? It could be Delta, although he did not have cough, etc. as I thought was more common with Delta, but again I don't know. I guess they don't give you the variant when testing.

To be honest, while we started wearing masks again, we do not wear the 95 masks, but I ordered some today! We do not have any kind of mask mandate here and many businesses have gone to letting employees go mask-free if they are vaccinated. I don't think our schools are still doing masks, but I'm not sure about that. I know they do that at the grocery store I use, although I still order/pick-up my groceries. I make sure to have a mask on when the delivery person comes to the car also. Hoping my sister doesn't come down with it, but at least they know what to watch for and how to care for each other.

2katz you need to sit on that man!! Glad he's feeling well enough to be up and working but he still shouldn't push it - I have friends that are dealing with a bounce back of symptoms.

@mdln getting a good fit from a mask is where I run into trouble. I've tried a couple of different kn95 with ear loops and n95 with the head straps but neither one fits me well, all are too big. I haven't tried a child size but I'm sure that would be too small based on the ones I've bought for my granddaughter - I need an in between :-/

We’ve been wearing KN95s for at least a year. I feel pretty safe being around other people as long as I have it on. Very thankful I had them when DH first reported symptoms. I had that thing on so fast it would make your head spin. I’m concerned about wearing it for about eight hours of air travel in March though because it is harder to breath. I’m going to look into the next best thing in case I can’t take it the entire time.

Sorry to hear about DH getting COVID, 2katz, and so glad to hear he is better.

I made a point of buying N95 masks for our plane trips, but TBH I kept it on all of about 10 minutes before switching to a cloth one i have with filter. I got mine from Bonafide and it was just uncomfy, and hurt my ears too.

This is the n95 most of my colleagues wear, 3M Aura, comfortable, easy to breathe, and effective.

I just got some of those Aura for teaching, I generally do not like the head straps vs ear loops, but these are pretty good.

I also ordered more from Bonafide masks to hand out to students. I gave some out in class the other day to one who had a cloth mask and one whos surgical mask keeps falling off.

My issue with the n95 I have and the kn95 is not with the breathability, it's with the top edge of the mask pushing up on my lower eye lids. The irritation on that tender skin is painful - I have nothing but respect for those in the medical field who deal with that day in day out. Apparently my face is somewhat smaller than average because it comes up too high under my eyes and also cones down very low under my chin and well onto my neck. I manage for the limited time I'm in stores but our 5 hour flight was awful. And as Mtn said, the ear straps on the Bonefida masks are painful. I'm going to keep looking and check out Project N95 but by the time I find the right fit we'll probably be past the point of needing them. Of course I thought that last year and the year before, too.

I just finished the Christmas season at Longwood. The season is 52 days long and the majority of my days was spent in the Conservatory with a ton of visitors. Some wore masks, many did not. I wear only KN95 masks and I wear them for 8 hrs (with a 30 min meal break). I worked about 28 hours a week. I wore my mask religiously and used a crocheted mask extender to make it comfortable. I ordered my masks from Bonafide masks after a recommendation here. I'm on my third order (waiting for my hot pink kN95s). I absolutely do not feel safe in a cloth mask anymore.

Here is an example of the mask extenders. You can find them on Etsy or A.

crocheted mask extender to make it comfortable.

I've wondered it the uncomfortable-ness is part of the point? Ie, they need to be tight?

I don't find the Powecoms from Bonafide to be uncomfortable, I find it hard to breathe after a while - like I'm not getting enough air. I guess mine must fit well as I'm not sucking extra air in from the sides. As far as comfort goes, the ear straps are sometimes a problem with a fresh one but I find if I just stretch each one back from behind my ears a few times that remedies the problem. So far I haven't picked up any with the head strap as I think I'd end up with a ridge on the back of my hair - such a trivial vanity problem I know. @jojoco - I'm waiting for my hot pink ones too!

Mtn, its not the tightness of the masks, it's my ears that get sore (I also wear a radio earpiece.) The crocheted extenders make the mask tighter, if anything, but the tension isnt on your ears

N95 mask straps go around the head and neck, for a tight face to mask seal, to minimize air leakage.

The 3M Aura has foam padding along the inner top edge to help prevent air leak - which makes the mask more comfortable.

For those with smaller faces, we just began stocking these (3M Vflex 9105) and many really like them.

How do you get the straps to stay in place and not slip down on the ears? Mine inevitably end up around my ears, on both top and bottom. I guess I need to search out some old bobby pins or little plastic barrettes, that might work for the top strap . . . I also have the problem of the eye irritation from the top of the mask. Even though it is not right on my eye, it still ends up irritating the bottom lid.

DLM - you should check out the Korean made KF94 masks. I've watched a few videos from Aaron Collins, aka the Mask Nerd who has been testing out all different brands of masks. He seems to really like the KF94 masks, and they come in sizes.

Here's a link his YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3fF_rzkmZD0ufN685YE7lg

Thank you @mdln and @terezosa / terriks for those suggestions - going to see if I can order onesies of a few to try them out.

Prof. Linsey Marr is awesome. She is one of the leading experts on this and was already researching airborne spread of viruses and proper mitigation through masking and ventilation. Go Hokies! If you are on Twitter, follow her.

Does this feel like closing the barn door as the horses run down the road to anyone else?

Yes, for sure, springoz. But it sure "looks" good LOL

I've worn masks as suggested and work with elementary school kids. I haven't been sick in 2 1/2 years. No covid diagnosis, no symptoms, no other illnesses. I used to come down with something every four months or so. Masks may not be 100% against COVID but I am definitely enjoying this apparent side benefit. YMMV.

It's unfortunate the CDC has been so slow to update its information on masking when it's been known for some time that non-95 masks don't filter out aerosols that carry the virus. I'm glad it's finally being more widely communicated so people who want to wear a mask to prevent the illness know what kind of mask is most effective.

I'm with you @deegw - I haven't been sick in 2 1/2 years either. Of course I'm not exposed to kids every day either but I always used to get at least one cold a year and even pneumonia a few years back. I have to say though I won't keep wearing a mask when the Covid risk is lower.

I quit wearing one when I went to some shop that ”required” one, and I dug it out of a pocket in my purse. I was sitting in the car(where a mask normally hangs on my shifter), and I thought, ”You know, if I have been exposed to c-rona, and breathed in while wearing this, then the particle has been stuck to the outside the whole time. I just hang it on my shifter, where I have touched it taking it off, then grabbed a tissue to blot my nose(which drips continually with a mask on), and this just continues to feel like a futile exercise in theatrics.”

I pick up a new one at the entrance to a hospital or clinic, if I go in. Toss it in the trash at the door.

I checked out Prof Linsey Marr's Twitter feed. She retweeted this article from the NYT about how to find a good mask.

This is an unlocked link that is good even for those without an NYT subscription. https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-masks.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUwZSZ8sQ4HVVIXH_UUZ0ipwaFnr7P3Lk4zDfYHRSidAxjna4TEpTSvADEf7ZibN8-mG6VSoIfarR0AaEtlb4aYhwwR0z5q5ff3ZoMLitv8N6_AT9s09iFR7038B7GPDnpc7omnOPg9xmcPTGsAPqDpCVncAV1opJldkWo2WgLwsrGFO113Np935QxF8wwBGdANGTR4a6eW1gpM86Gbxrc9gA1R-pSPDnWltWZ4LoBGx5ArkpS-sYrFGqS45Y6xMKwug&smid=url-share

then the particle has been stuck to the outside the whole time

The point your are missing is that these particles do not live long.

Mtn, that’s good!!!

The point your are missing is that these particles do not live long.

Which is why it's no longer recommended that we wipe down our groceries before bringing them into the house.

this just continues to feel like a futile exercise in theatrics

What you call theatrics, I call abiding by the rules, regardless of my feelings. That is how society works. Rules, you don't just follow the ones you like.

Its always been theatrics, so it makes it hard to know if the ”rules” are to be trusted or not. It has nothing at all to do with following the rules you like.

When you live in a society, you don't get to judge whether or not you trust the rules. You follow the rules, regardless of your trust issues, or you pay the consequence. Sadly, right now, I am paying the consequences for people who are not following the rules. This is an intolerable situation and no way to manage a civilized, advanced society in a pandemic. Those who wish to flout science should live in less advanced societies with the likes of the Talaban and others who wish to ignore the scientific revolution.

If Harvard Medical School can be believed: "Aerosolized coronavirus can remain in the air for up to three hours. A mask can help prevent that spread."

To me that means it could linger in a venue where an infected person breathed but I would not interpret that to mean you bring the aerosol home with you unless you inhaled it. I don't think it would persist on your mask, clothing, etc. - more that you would pass through the aerosol like you pass through an invisible cloud of cigarette smoke or perfume.

For the time being it seems most people have a choice to wear a mask or not which I think is the right thing after two years of this. Much as I believe in taking reasonable precautions I think we've seen that we aren't going to have much luck controlling this thing with mandates. That isn't even working in China. I think it's going to continue to run its course for however long with who knows how much morbidity and mortality. Everyone has to decide how they want to live (or die) with it. People just aren't 100% altruistic - they also have their own interests in mind. Everyone's self interests are different and we are often strongly opposed to what others want for themselves - the nature of mankind it seems.

By the way, on the original topic, we have passed our ten day isolation/mask period - YAY!!

Masking is effective in curtailing the spread, so is distancing. It's been proven in many studies - and in my personal experience.

Here's the latest:

https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/589262-new-study-says-air-knocks-down-covid-19

I work with elementary age kids too, and most are not wearing masks. A number have been sick with COVID and so have their grownups, so have a number of staff who are very casual about safety protocols.

I've been double masking since I had to return to in-person work. So far every COVID test has been negative. Unfortunately, once I returned to being in-person, I did get a cold/sinus infection that keeps flaring up every month or so. I'm on round 3 right now.

The idea that the new Omicron variant isn't such a big deal couldn't be more off base.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/01/15/1073075753/get-omicron-symptoms-precautions

Apparently, there's also a mistaken notion that Omicron's less severe symptoms means SARS COVID is lessening in severity, which is off base as well.

We had occasion to spend several hours in an emergency room last week with my mother. They were allowing no visitors, but given her grave circumstances (not covid related) let us inside only if wearing n95s - and they fitted us with their own. 3M Aura flat fold n95 masks. Our cloth with carbon filter inserts didn't meet their standards.

Mother was admitted, and it was the same on the hospital side. No entry of any kind into the hospital lobby without an n95 mask, and certainly not the elevators or upstairs floors. My sister in law had gone to mothers living facility after a couple of days to get her hearing aids at doctors request. When she came back with them, she didn't have an n95. They wouldn't let her in.

We had left with a few from the emergency department. Locally, the only place I could find a supply was Home Depot of that same brand, style, model #.

What is really interesting about the N95 is their ability to electrostatically contain the particles. You can google some YouTube videos about this, too.

NYTimes how N95 work