Question about Covid

[Laura PourMeADrink]

My girlfriend was with someone ( couple hours inside) whose husband had Covid. The very next day she got an email, "well I've got it too."

(I told my friend not to put this person on any brainiac list)

But ....

Is each strain different?

When is a person infectious? In the arc of Covid?
When they're symptomatic?

Assume this person was incubating the infection since her husband had it.

Do not understand why this isn't a documented sequence by now. Or is it constantly changing?

[elleng]

1. I suspect it IS this a documented sequence,

but I'm a retired lawyer. I know, as do we all, that new things are happening all the time.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Ya, learning everyday.. but.you know who might have

infected you is what I'm asking about. .As someone who lost a loved one to
Covid, think it should be finely defined by
now. But wtf do I know

[Meowmee]

2. I think your friend could possibly

Have been exposed. So the best thing would be to test and isolate etc.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Thanks. But you know .. I'm an analyst and am

Looking for a precise sequence. Perhaps it doesn't exist. Exposure, Incubation, infectiousness, illness...

[Meowmee]

4. There is no set precise

Sequence, only estimates and sometimes guesses. Which is not imo worth risking your life on.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. No it's not. But surely by now someone is

coming up with more precise averages?

Day 1 Very near infected person

Day 2 Nothing

Day 3. Feel lousy but testing negative

Etc etc

[Meowmee]

16. The problem is

It could be that way for many, but there is no guarantee, each case is different. That is what I am saying. I also think the strains have gotten more contagious and most people are not trying to stop spread anymore.

The incubation period for omicron is 10 days. I just googled that but I’m not sure if it’s for the most current strains or not. 2-14 days until symptoms and you can be contagious the whole time after infection even if not symptomatic.

https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/covid-19/covid-most-contagious-when

[wnylib]

44. The incubation period can vary

according to which covid variant is involved.

The original strain's incubation period was 14 days. Symptoms usually did not show up before 7 days after exposure. That changed considerably with the later, more infectious variants, as evidenced by the delta mutation which could double in a community within 2 weeks.

Other variants after delta could double in an area in less than two weeks, sometimes in just one week or less.

So, the couple in question. The husband might have been infectious before he had symptoms. The wife was exposed during that time, but didn't have either symptoms or enough antibodies to show up in a test until later. She could have been infectious when your friend was with her.

The timing also varies with individuals, due to differences in general health, individual immune systems, if vaccinated and how long ago, if boosted and how long ago.

In other words, there is no single, definitive sequence of time and exposure. Too many variables in both the virus and the people.

[allegorical oracle]

46. That correlates to most of what I've read, too. My doctor, yesterday, told me that she had two

bouts of covid this year, despite taking all the vaccines/boosters, wearing masks constantly, keeping hands gloved, avoiding crowds and family gatherings. She said both cases hit her really hard and she had no idea where she caught them.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

58. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Another aspect

of this to me is whether or not the vaccine provides any protection whatsoever from getting the virus. Because I truly think some people think that it's true.

All I can ever find on this subject is that the vaccines protect you from getting super sick. And the danger is that you may be somewhat asymptomatic and be spreading it to others. But you can still get infected. But I've never heard a definitive statement as to the likelihood of contracting the infection to begin with.

[wnylib]

61. According to what I've read,

the time when vaccines are most protective against getting infected is two weeks after getting the vaccine (after the 2nd shot for mRNA vaccines) or booster up to a couple months. But that's variable, too, because people's immune systems can respond differently to vaccines and boosters. Older people and those with compromised immune systems often do not produce as many antibodies in response to vaccines as you get people do.

I would not count on the vaccines and boosters for prevention of infection since too many vaccinated, healthy people have been infected. The vaccines are very good at preventing severe illness and death in most people.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. I am sure there has been a segment of people infected

Who knew precisely when they were around a person infected. Not a "who knows how I got it" situation .

[Dorian Gray]

12. Most people are coming down with it in 3-4 days

after exposure, but there are always exceptions to the rule. I've seen some 5 days.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

14. Thank you !!! On point. Thank you! nt

[RobinA]

60. I Was Exposed

on a Friday, I first showed symptoms (of some illness or allergy) Sunday evening, I tested positive Wednesday morning. That's after negative test every day from Saturday through Tuesday. YMMV.

I should add that I wasn't very sick and this was after all vaxes and boosters. I got it from someone who also had all the shots. She wasn't real sick either, but we did have very different symptoms.

[womanofthehills]

18. My best friend held an indoor memorial last week for her mom

Who died from a stroke. It was a super spreader in our very small town. I walked in planning on just greeting my friends close family & leaving because of Covid. The memorial was in a small church inside a store front - no open doors, windows etc with about 150 people - chairs with no spaces behind them. Only 2 people masked - me & another woman. I only stayed for 5 minutes. They sung too. One friend got Covid at 3 days, her husband at 5 days, my best friend got it around 8 days and her sister at 2. The others I know who got it - I’m not sure when.

Probably depends on lots of stuff - who got a larger exposure, what strain, the person’s health status and their individual immune systems.

Many people I know did not feel great for 4 to 5 days before testing positive. When I got Covid a few months ago - I had 5 days of a stomach ache before I got sick.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

20. Thank you. Perfect real life explanation! Sorry

you got it, was it rough?

[womanofthehills]

50. It was rough for two days and then the horrible body pains disappeared

My body stopped hurting but fatigue from hell set in. I no longer felt sick but was so exhausted I stayed in bed for seven days listening to books on tape and podcasts. I got up only twice a day for an half hr each to eat & feed my animals.

Most people I know feel mildly ill. for a few days before getting it. My friend told me it was just her allergies acting up and I had a mild stomachache for 5 days before getting ill. It’s so different in everyone and what was creepy about mine was - only the right side of my body hurt - head, ears , jaw, teeth, neck, ribs - no pain beyond ribs or on left side of my body. My friend must have a different strain - no body pain - she’s just can’t stop coughing. I had no cough.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

51. Do you know how you got it?

That is just so strange about just one side of your body. So nothing helped like aspirin didn't ease the pain at all?

[womanofthehills]

53. Advil helped big time - my ribs hurt the most

I always mask in our small town. One time I didn’t. I pulled in front of the small grocery- noticed no cars - no one shopping in store. I only needed one item so I figured I would be out in a few minutes. What I didn’t figure was the cashier coughing on me. She told me she just recovered from Covid but I’m sure she was still positive- then all the other workers in the store got Covid. My case was mild compared to friends because I think I had a small exposure.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

59. Such a struggle between having to work with no

Paid sick leave and protecting others. Looking back I think a lot of it had to do with the attitude of the business owner. The owner of that store should have never allowed the cashier to be at work. Or at least mask up. And of course a doofus president who never once talked about protecting and caring about other people. Of course I don't think you can do that when you deny virus existence to begin with

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Every person is different w diff capabilities, diff behaviour, diff ways of treating self, on & on.n

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. So given the exact same circumstances, one

of us could be infected with Covid on day 2 and one on Day 3, and one on Day 4, depending on individual body makeup?

Even so, there's got to be an average????

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Oh, an average. Put all the paints in a paint store in a vat and you get gray. But it's average. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. I e. Average 3 days post encounter. nt

[Ace Rothstein]

38. My wife and I were exposed together at a party on a Saturday back in May.

We both started feeling sick the following Monday afternoon less than an hour apart. We had my mom over for dinner on Sunday and she was fine.

My mom recently had it as well. She thinks she was exposed on a Thursday. We had a family party on Saturday and she started feeling ill on Sunday. Nobody at the party came down with it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. That's interesting. Quickly. Hope everyone ok now ?

[Ace Rothstein]

41. Yeah, all good.

My wife was fine in about 10 days outside of some minor fatigue. I had the same a bit longer and a lingering cough for about 3 weeks after everything else cleared up. Mom is dealing with the fatigue a bit as well still but improves weekly.

I've seen something recently about the average incubation period by variant and it has really sped up since the original strain. This isn't the article I saw but the data is pretty similar from what I remember.

https://www.contagionlive.com/view/the-shrinking-incubation-period-of-covid-19

[Laura PourMeADrink]

42. Very interesting article! Thank you so much. And glad

You guys are out of woods.

[Pobeka]

8. Try that google thing.

"covid infectious period"

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. Thanks !!!

[hamsterjill]

15. Good question.

It surprises me, as well, that we don’t have a better documented time line of the various strains.

All I “know” is my own personal experience. I was exposed on a Tuesday morning, started feeling crappy Thursday afternoon and figured it was bad allergies. By Friday morning, I figured I had it and tested positive. This was last July.

I’m convinced as well that some people just aren’t going to get it. I know one person who works retail, never closed a day throughout the pandemic, never has worn a mask and has not caught COVID when several employees have had it multiple times. What’s her secret? Wish I knew.

[Meowmee]

17. She could have had an asymptomatic case

And not have known and she could have transmitted to others.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Yes. But even if you weren't.. you *might* have been

unknowingly infecting people?

Ok will say It.. even if I get dinged.. but thought when we took over, it would be different. Never in a million years would I have thought that it would all be ignored ( to me,) and common citizens would be shrugging wtf.

Thought there'd be updates. Thought there'd be more science introduced.

[Meowmee]

22. I never thought that

Last edited Thu Dec 1, 2022, 07:04 AM - Edit history (1)

Because people who should not have lied about masks etc.

It has been a lot worse than I thought though, because you had Walensky going on TV and saying only high risk and old people are dying now so basically it doesn’t matter etc. And then all of those we don’t need to mask anymore etc. When it was obvious we still did need to. I have lost track of all of the negligences involved. Which were largely politically motivated by fear of the crazy Maga objections etc. and biz objections.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

23. All that you wrote..my take, we are basically on our own. Duh

knew that.. no meaningful guidance. If one is in the la-dee-dah category... Perfect !

[Meowmee]

24. Yes

Fortunately we can still make choices that keep us as safe as possible for now anyway. 😀 it is still a pretty awful feeling. But at least so far we have access to vaccines and masks now. Unlike many in other countries who would take them. I presume if a better vaccine comes out that really will prevent infection from all strains, it could be a one shot in a booster deal…that’s what I’m hoping for.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. Me too! And thanks for taking me off the ledge! nt

[Meowmee]

26. You're welcome

And I hope your friend is ok. 🤗

[hamsterjill]

27. That's right.

But I’d still like to know how some people remain asymptomatic. Might be the key to a “cure” somewhere down the line. There is no doubt that this person has been exposed multiple times, and most likely to several different strains.

She is completely anti-mask. I have masked all the time and still managed to catch COVID.

There is so much yet to be learned about this virus.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

28. Theories...

Dear Patients and Friends

Today I was reading an article about why some people with the Covid 19 infection have no symptoms, while other patients die from the same disease. It is estimated that 18-30% may be asymptomatic.
https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/why-are-some-people-asymptomatic

There are 2 theories mentioned in the article:
1- Some people have a stronger "innate" immune response to the virus.
2- Some people encounter a smaller viral load.

Personally, I have an additional one:
3- People with stronger "adaptive" immune system are able to respond to an infectious contact much quicker and therefore with fewer symptoms!

[Prairie_Seagull]

33. I have another theory for you.

I had the 1968 pandemic flu generally known as the "Hong Kong" flu. It nearly ended my 8 yo life.

Apparently, while this needs more study, there has been a reduction in some metrics relating to Covid19.

I can say that I have never had covid (running to knock on wood) that I know of. Maybe a asymptomatic case due to other issues. (another discussion). Anecdotal though this is. In my view it is something to consider.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

40. What do you mean?

[Prairie_Seagull]

55. Apparently!, there is some sort of protection against covid 19 if

one had the "Hong Kong" flu in 1968. It is very early days relative to this being looked into but speaking only for myself, I will tell you I have never (that I know of) had Covid 19. I am not a medical researcher so I leave specifics to the pros.

P.S. I live in a very red area of Eastern Wash, where covid has been rampant off and on. Had a case within my own home. I still never got it. (that I know of) We still practice most if not all covid avoidance procedures.

Laura, pour me one too. I hope this clarifies things for you. Mostly anecdotal but not without some medical study/research
to back it up. I do not want to characterize the amount of protection. I would prefer to let this be characterized by a health care pro.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

56. Wow that's interesting! So protected against

Covid but virus doesn't look like covid to scientists.

[Prairie_Seagull]

57. Sinificantly above my pay grade. haha

[Laura PourMeADrink]

29. Think time spent around infected person along

With ventilation of room plays a big part.How long were you near her?

[hamsterjill]

30. This wasn't the person that I caught it from

Sorry for not being more clear. I caught it from someone in my office.

The person that has not caught COVID is the manager of a pet store that I frequent and am friends with from that association. She has been exposed both at the store and in her personal life and she’s never tested positive.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. That is interesting. Have met people like that too.

No precautions and around lots of people and don't get infected. They should do a study and ask for participants from this group

Remind me though, how long were you near the person in office? Just one day a week right. Bad timing for sure 😃

[hamsterjill]

32. Yes. One day a week in the office.

Otherwise remote. I don’t think my exposure was very long at all. She was helping me set up a desk for my laptop. Twenty minutes max.

Just my turn, I guess.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

37. Wow... Short time indeed!

[Meowmee]

36. As for her she is completely irresponsible

It could be that she is one of those people who successfully fights off the virus before it becomes symptomatic but there is still a period of contagiousness and spread.


Most viruses you will find a certain percentage of people fight the virus off before they ever get symptoms. Even the most deadly virus known to man, which is rabies, one doctor who figured out a new protocol for treatment called the Milwaukee protocol, believes that about 20 to 25% of people exposed to rabies fight the virus off before it becomes symptomatic. When rabies becomes symptomatic it’s almost certain death.. only 7 are known to have survived. But a study was done in Peru in a community where people lived near bats and they found that some people had rabies antibodies without ever having been vaccinated.

It could also be that she did have some damage from it but it hasn’t shown up yet. It’s well-known now that covid can cause long-term damage.

As for you catching it while always masking maybe there was a time when you weren’t careful enough, maybe your mask isn’t the best mask such as n95. Masks are not 100%. You could still be exposed but the likelihood is much less likely. However if you are say having a long exposure to someone who is highly contagious, who is very close to you, and your mask is not sealed properly it can happen. If you’re not wearing an N95 your mask is not going to protect you as much obviously. I’m not sure when you had covid but each successive strain has become even more contagious.

I can say that I spent many hours while in hospital with my father, sometimes with Covid patients in the next room or across the hall. I always wore KN95 then and I never once contracted Covid at that time. That was post first two vaccinations. I contracted it in the very beginning when there was no vaccine and when they were lying about masks. Had I worn a mask and had they shut down when they should have which is about 3 to 4 weeks earlier I probably would never have gotten it. And I now have heart damage and long-term problems. My father died, he was exposed negligently at the er, pre-vaccination, when they decided to vaccinate young healthy people before him. He was infected one week before he would’ve been eligible for the vaccine.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

43. Thanks for sharing all that. The human immune system

is a mysterious and fascinating thing. I wish I had never heard of Covid. And wish it didn't cause such horrors to you and yours.

[Meowmee]

45. I wish many times I could go back in time

And that none of this had ever happened and I had never heard the word covid. I think about it often, before covid. At the least I wish we had left here before it happened.

Immunity is very interesting to me also. I have several autoimmune diseases so I have read a fair amount about it.

Thanks… I know you have suffered a lot too and I am very sorry for that and for your loss. It’s not something you ever get over.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

47. I know everyone loses loved ones. But it takes a special

mentality to get over gross negligence as a main factor. The hospital, the "president."

I'd like to go back to pre-9-11 and pre-Covid

[Meowmee]

48. the pain of this is unbearable

When the death was caused by murder which is what it was. No matter however people try to excuse it or explain it away. Starting with the madman, now a mass murderer, still walking free. He knew how bad it was, a plague he called it and for imagined political gain he callously and knowingly murdered millions with lots of help…withholding help from those against him, selling out the country, selling ppe and ventilators to other countries for a profit. He will never be held accountable for these crimes or maybe for anything.

There are too many malfeasances and negligences to name.

It is a multi faceted devastation.. the terrible loss due to all of this, the trauma of it, the realization that you were betrayed by so many, the terror, the realization as you said that you are on your own, and no one gives a damn. I remember someone saying here, are we just going to sit here and die as death tolls went up and bodies were packed in freezers etc. And now many people want to pretend it didn't happen. The knowledge that they are going to get away with it all is one of the hardest things.

No remembrance day for people murdered by covid.

I just wish we never came here at all. Some days I wish this country never even existed.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

52. Not only is he walking free but he's running for freaking president!

Do you think your dad would not have gotten covid if he had been in Canada? Or that he might have gotten it but the health care is better?

[Meowmee]

64. I think he would not have gotten it

None of his friends did or relatives etc. in the same age group. Canada is not perfect, no country is, but it’s a hell of a lot better than here… you can compare the death rate in Canada to here it’s about 2/3 less. People are not so crazy there.

Overall the healthcare there would’ve been much better, not just for Covid, but for everything else. there were things that his doctors failed to diagnose, once people get older here people just stop treating for things and they don’t bother to diagnose. we are living in a very bad area here in the hospital has been a problem and really has not changed their policies or organizational structure in 30 years since they killed my mother there. My own condition what is not diagnosed after years of going to doctors and ended up in the ICU and almost died. there were very crappy and negligent doctors involved in both my father’s and my own care.

I just got an email that the Covid level is now high in my county again… 😖

[Laura PourMeADrink]

54. You made me think that seems like since 9-11, there has been too much death

due to hate and negligence and senselessness. Out of proportion with natural causes.

Covid, 9-11, police brutality, bombings in churches, shootings in nightclubs and schools and Walmarts.

No wonder we as a society feel a black cloud over us.

[Meowmee]

63. Yes it feels like things just get worse😿

Somehow we will get through it

[Greybnk48]

34. I just had COVID Omicron again this month.

The doc told me I was contagious for about three days before symptoms, and until I tested negative (usually about 5 days after symptoms start if you're vaxxed and boosted). And even with a negative test I'm still masking out of our house for others AND me.

In regard to Remdesivir, he said it was designed for people who were not vaxxed and that I should do without it. He said a high percentage of vaxxed patients were ok within a day or so of getting the drug, but then rebounded with positive COVID (like president Biden did).

He said it was HIGHLY contagious.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

35. Thanks for sharing! Surprised upthread that google

Says up to 14 days.

So sorry you got it twice. Bet you were PO Deluxe

[Johnny2X2X]

49. Remdesivir

Not sure I agree with the doc, Remdesivir helps people who are vaxxed too, they're just saving the supplies for the un-vaxxed because their lives are more at risk. I do not agree with this, the if Remdesivir helps, it should be given regardless of vaccine status. The un-vaxxed made a choice, they shouldn't be given the supply of this drug at the expense of the people who did get vaccinated.

[littlewolf]

62. I got COVID Jan 2020 I was 64

Went to the clinic n they tested me n said I was pos.
Was sorta sick not hungry no sense taste or smell
Tired so tired.. low grade fever never broke 100.
I was off work 9 days.. had to a note fm dr that I was clear.
Stayed out side when it was nice out free vit. D. Fresh air is good
Also walked around the house once a hour. When I was inside walked to the mailbox 3x a day. Mailbox is 4 houses down at the end of the street.
Before COVID I was walking 2 miles a day plus what I did a work.
Jan 22 I still had antibodies. I thought it may have been false positive.
But it was real. No shot not a lab rat … experimental drugs with no idea of long term
Effects not my thing. Anyway we know it is not Black Death aka bubonic plague.
It’s a lab made flu. If the shot makes u feel safe go for it.
Not me… too many athletes falling over dead.
That’s how I feel.
It’s a flu bug… keep yourself healthy eat health.. wash your hands avoid crowds if u can.. get rest.. if you feel sick get tested… normal flu stuff.