Here's an example of why I am not easing up on my Covid-19 precautions

[Siwsan]

This is a post by a young woman who recently found her mother, also suffering from Covid-19, unresponsive and with an oxygen saturation level of 41%. The mother has been RE-admitted to the hospital. Her lungs are destroyed, and probably her brain, too. (Found on sorryantivaxxers.com. Despite it being a public account, I've shown her more courtesy, by blurring out her last name, than she's show to the public, at large.)

So, lots of concern about how her looks might have affected people, but no concern about how many she may have infected.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. You aren't alone, Siwsan

I’m still masking up when a store visit is essential and DEFINITELY am avoiding restaurants or any other place where lots of people are crowded together. Even though I am triple vaxxed, Why risk it?

[2naSalit]

2. Same here...

Been masking this whole time, vaxxed to the max but still masking up.

[Hugin]

13. "vaxxed to the max"

I love it.

[2naSalit]

23. ...

Thought it up all by myself, I think. It just "came out" when I was talking to a clerk in the store as I was telling her I'd just had my booster shot.

[ChazII]

20. We are doing the same thing

in my household. There are just two of us but why take chances.

[Siwsan]

3. I also do my best to stick to the early shopping hours

I just got back from Aldi. I knew what I needed, where it is, and so I was able to get things done in just 20 minutes, from leaving to returning to the house. Kroger and Meijer are a little further away, and MUCH bigger so I only go there for thing I can't get at Aldi, and still shop their early hours. Even though all 3 places have a mask required sign on the doors, very few customers comply at Kroger and Meijer. Aldi actually has a pretty good compliance rate by the early shoppers. I'm glad my needs are simple so that I can get most of my shopping done, there.

[Diamond_Dog]

4. I wish people were more vigilant around here.

I try to only go to a store when I know they aren’t real busy (not that easy this time of the year). Around here you are lucky if you see 1/3 of people masked. Stores post signs that only unvaccinated people must wear masks. Yeah,right. Last time I checked, my county was in the lower 50% for having one shot. Disgraceful.

My family doctor had Covid last year at this time, before the vaccines were widely available, and he said he was flat on his back for two weeks. You don’t want to get it, he told me.

I am extremely fortunate I don’t have to go out to a workplace every day.

[sarcasmo]

22. Started using store pickup, no in store visits until Spring.

[2naSalit]

24. I would do that but...

I'm too picky about selecting my perishables. I'd rather do it myself.

[Voltaire2]

5. My state, NH, is now worst in the nation

for infection rates, our icu’s are full, and our vac rates have plateaued.

GOP swept the legislature, governor scared to stand up to his party’s fascist wing, insane shit happening at the local politics level.

Year three of the pandemic is looking grim.

[Ms. Toad]

6. Yup.

Turns out we've had an outbreak where I work - largely because the (now identified) patient 0 for this outbreak didn't bother to let anyone know so they could be tested and avoid exposing others. We're in the middle of exams - and the exam for most of those students had to be moved online (not to mention that a large quantity of that class has to take it while sick with COVID).

[róisín_dubh]

8. Wait...what?

What school/university are you at that your students are taking an exam while sick with COVID?
I'm sorry, but that's horrendous. My university hasn't done great with COVID protocols, but it's been made very clear to faculty that we are allowed to be lenient with students who have COVID. It has been exhausting and a ton of extra work, but I made it clear on Day 1 of this semester that students sick with COVID just needed to give me a heads up and I'd make arrangements for them. If that means they get an incomplete, so be it.

[Ms. Toad]

15. I'm not sure if they are giving extensions or not.

They were when they were requring an in-person exam to avoid the scenario of people deciding they have to come in and take the exam and infecting everyone else. Now that they shifted the impacted exam to a remote exam, I'm not sure what the policy.

This is a law school, where there is (mostly) a single exam at the end of the semester - and far less flexibility in adjusting the deadline.

[róisín_dubh]

21. Ahh ok that makes sense.

My undergrads and grad students have struggled mightily this semester.
Good luck wrapping up the semester

[John Ludi]

7. Not giving up my

double masks 'til they pry them off my cold, dead face.

[Iggo]

9. I'm continuing to act as if there's a global pandemic.

[Hugin]

11. +1

A fact lost on far too many people.

[Wounded Bear]

12. Because there is...

[Iggo]

17. In other words, there's a global pandemic and I'm acting accordingly.

[Wounded Bear]

19. Indeed! nt

[Midnight Writer]

10. Big surge in my area. 40% vaxxed and few masked people. I will maintain my protocol.

Idiots are killing themselves and each other, and for no reason.

[DeeNice]

14. every time people let up just a little it comes surging back

I'm triple vaxxed and will continue to mask until we can truly say we are in the clear. Someone will continue to spread it. I'll try my damnedest to not let that be me.

[SoCalNative]

16. I only interact with actual humans

if I have a medical appointment. Otherwise I work from home and still order groceries online for pick-up (they put it in my car) or delivery.

[BannonsLiver]

18. Why would you ease up anyway?

We’re still loaded with Delta and are heading into a winter wave. I’m not sure “keeping your precautions” is the flex you think it is. Nobody should be “letting up” in the first place.

[2naSalit]

25. It ain't over till it's over...

Is the thing about pandemics. They seem to, historically, last from three to five years with or without vaccines for the same reasons we have now. It's like all the assholes from the last pandemics have reincarnated to be here for this one too.