Got my first ever Covid diagnosis after July 4 travel - was no mask mandate to blame?
Jul 29, 2022, 11:54 pm
#91
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How is OP doing with Covid recovery?
Jul 30, 2022, 6:06 am
#92
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Tested negative about 7/8 days after original positive test. I didn’t do any treatment (paxlovid, antiobodies, etc), just recovered at home. Still had an occasional lingering cough for a while after testing negative, and my cardiovascular strength is still taking time to recover, but good otherwise. Stuff like gym sessions are taking time to get back - headed to the gym in a couple of hours for a spin class, will need to take it easier than I did before. I figure it may take another month for that to get back to normal based on what I hear from other people / pro athletes.
Jul 30, 2022, 11:32 pm
#93
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Tested negative about 7/8 days after original positive test. I didn’t do any treatment (paxlovid, antiobodies, etc), just recovered at home. Still had an occasional lingering cough for a while after testing negative, and my cardiovascular strength is still taking time to recover, but good otherwise. Stuff like gym sessions are taking time to get back - headed to the gym in a couple of hours for a spin class, will need to take it easier than I did before. I figure it may take another month for that to get back to normal based on what I hear from other people / pro athletes.
Jul 31, 2022, 1:05 am
#94
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I'm about 4 weeks post negative test and use a peloton so it's easy to track my cardiovascular strength. The first couple times back I couldn't get through a 30 minute workout without pausing because my heart rate was over my max for too long. That's not an issue anymore put my output is about 10-15% below what it was pre-covid, so I'm still working my way back to normal.
gl gl with your workouts :-)
Aug 9, 2022, 1:59 am
#95
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FWIW most people still wearing masks seem to be wearing either surgical (which have questionable value these days), or more likely KN95 or N95.
It seems like these masks work well for doctors and nurses treating Covid
And the whole point of masking is that masks are as important in preventing you your I from expelling Covid as opposed to preventing your or I from getting it. Broad masking is source control
It seems like these masks work well for doctors and nurses treating Covid
And the whole point of masking is that masks are as important in preventing you your I from expelling Covid as opposed to preventing your or I from getting it. Broad masking is source control
It's no coincidence that so many healthcare staff - draped in PPE and thoroughly trained in infection control - succumbed to COVID on the job.
Your cloth/ surgical/ N95 mask won't even protect you from a mild fart, much less a virus. The ONLY masks that will actually protect you (and are specified to do so by the manufacturers - typically filtering around 99.97% of material the size of a virus) are full face respirators (properly fitted and sealed) with a P3 filter cartridge.
Everything less is theatre. Very expensive, very inconvenient, very environmentally damaging theatre - but theatre nonetheless.
BTW if you're paranoid enough to now run out and buy a respirator, the cartridge you want is the 3M A2B2E2K2-P3.
Aug 9, 2022, 9:02 pm
#96
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Zero doubt that these disposable masks are the new 6-pack ring for the environment.
Aug 12, 2022, 10:46 am
#97
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For background - I have been flying somewhat heavily since February 2021, always being pretty compliant with masking (mask on unless eating or drinking). Wire masks in airports. Obviously at the destination, I would follow local custom (including maskless indoor dining and meeting). Never left NYC during the dark times. Not a homebody at all
I also follows mask recommendations on subways, commuter trains, taxis, etc. basically any public transport I as wearing a mask.
In Summer 2022, there is almost no masking in this situation. The past weekend I took two flights (both in F), took two Amtrak trains, navigated a very busy ATL airport, rode Ubers maskless, etc.
I sit here a few days later with Omicron or whatever. We will see a big surge related to July 4 maskless travel.
I understand you can’t and shouldn’t require masks on the ground in most situations, but doesn’t a mask mandate on all public transportation make sense given it’s the crossroads for the globe and people are carrying all kinds of stuf? I know there was a lot of symbolism regarding the plane and airport masking but i do think some airlines and airports should explore it in a high transmission environment
I also follows mask recommendations on subways, commuter trains, taxis, etc. basically any public transport I as wearing a mask.
In Summer 2022, there is almost no masking in this situation. The past weekend I took two flights (both in F), took two Amtrak trains, navigated a very busy ATL airport, rode Ubers maskless, etc.
I sit here a few days later with Omicron or whatever. We will see a big surge related to July 4 maskless travel.
I understand you can’t and shouldn’t require masks on the ground in most situations, but doesn’t a mask mandate on all public transportation make sense given it’s the crossroads for the globe and people are carrying all kinds of stuf? I know there was a lot of symbolism regarding the plane and airport masking but i do think some airlines and airports should explore it in a high transmission environment
However, on Aug 7 I flew back to US (DEL-HEL-JFK) and then JFK-CLT-PIT to my final destination. Possibly boldened by my previous travel, I didnt mask myself as diligently and I think the HEL-JFK segments as well as lengthy immigration line in JFK I didn't have the mask on much as it was humid and hot. I started having a mild cough symptom during the CLT-PIT flight. I started wearing my mask promptly now (to reduce outward spread if any).. and later that evening I had a fever and a home test positive. Two nights of fevers, loss of taste, cough, fatigue and better by 4th, 5th days now. Airplanes at least direct a flow of air to your from overhead so if you wear a N95 mask it filters your output and you get mostly fresh air from the overhead (in theory).
K95 masks and proper usage can substantially reduce chances of catching respiratory viruses, but still it is a game of probability.
Last edited by psusaver; Aug 12, 2022 at 10:50 am Reason: highlighting a portion
Aug 12, 2022, 12:19 pm
#98
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I flew to India (PIT-EWR-FRA-MAA) on July 16th. I personally wore a mask for all segments. It was mandated on the FRA-MAA segment by Indian aviation rules. I was then in India for over 15 days no symptoms/never felt ill etc. I was going to visit my mother who was nt well so I took extra precautions.
However, on Aug 7 I flew back to US (DEL-HEL-JFK) and then JFK-CLT-PIT to my final destination. Possibly boldened by my previous travel, I didnt mask myself as diligently and I think the HEL-JFK segments as well as lengthy immigration line in JFK I didn't have the mask on much as it was humid and hot. I started having a mild cough symptom during the CLT-PIT flight. I started wearing my mask promptly now (to reduce outward spread if any).. and later that evening I had a fever and a home test positive. Two nights of fevers, loss of taste, cough, fatigue and better by 4th, 5th days now. Airplanes at least direct a flow of air to your from overhead so if you wear a N95 mask it filters your output and you get mostly fresh air from the overhead (in theory).
K95 masks and proper usage can substantially reduce chances of catching respiratory viruses, but still it is a game of probability.
However, on Aug 7 I flew back to US (DEL-HEL-JFK) and then JFK-CLT-PIT to my final destination. Possibly boldened by my previous travel, I didnt mask myself as diligently and I think the HEL-JFK segments as well as lengthy immigration line in JFK I didn't have the mask on much as it was humid and hot. I started having a mild cough symptom during the CLT-PIT flight. I started wearing my mask promptly now (to reduce outward spread if any).. and later that evening I had a fever and a home test positive. Two nights of fevers, loss of taste, cough, fatigue and better by 4th, 5th days now. Airplanes at least direct a flow of air to your from overhead so if you wear a N95 mask it filters your output and you get mostly fresh air from the overhead (in theory).
K95 masks and proper usage can substantially reduce chances of catching respiratory viruses, but still it is a game of probability.
Took me 4 days for my symptoms to start showing up, and I knew exactly where I got it from.
Aug 15, 2022, 10:44 pm
#99
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… I started having a mild cough symptom during the CLT-PIT flight. I started wearing my mask promptly now (to reduce outward spread if any).. and later that evening I had a fever and a home test positive. Two nights of fevers, loss of taste, cough, fatigue and better by 4th, 5th days now. Airplanes at least direct a flow of air to your from overhead so if you wear a N95 mask it filters your output and you get mostly fresh air from the overhead (in theory).
K95 masks and proper usage can substantially reduce chances of catching respiratory viruses, but still it is a game of probability.
K95 masks and proper usage can substantially reduce chances of catching respiratory viruses, but still it is a game of probability.
Aug 16, 2022, 11:41 am
#100
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Thanks. My body temps got to normal on own by Thursday. I did go to physician on Thursday and ended up getting a Paxlovid scrip and started it Fri morning. Been feeling fairly normal since Sat afternoon.
I started taking Paxlovid to potentially avoid long term covid/I also have mild asthma. The "relapse" aspect can be tested only a few days further down the line.
it has been known to start 2-6 days since exposure in many people so difficult to pinpoint. I did have a 22 hr layover in a mostly empty Helsinki airport.
I started taking Paxlovid to potentially avoid long term covid/I also have mild asthma. The "relapse" aspect can be tested only a few days further down the line.
it has been known to start 2-6 days since exposure in many people so difficult to pinpoint. I did have a 22 hr layover in a mostly empty Helsinki airport.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Aug 18, 2022 at 2:55 pm Reason: Please use multi-quote function
Aug 17, 2022, 9:24 pm
#101
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just curious how HEL could be so empty! I assumed many are traveling and using Finn Air which would include HEL layover. So nothing to do with Covid and what did you do for 22 hour HEL layover?
Aug 18, 2022, 7:53 am
#102
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Ok, it was not "very empty", but between ~1240 to 445 there's no flights so it stays quiet at night. I didnt have an active schengen visa so just decided to find a quiet corner and sleep at night. Daytime I mostly did some work on my laptop and some people watching.
Also in my mind I was comparing HEL to other major airports I use a lot (JFK, CLT, DEL, MAA). Probably not a fair comparison of course
Last edited by psusaver; Aug 22, 2022 at 10:00 am Reason: Time adjustment
Aug 21, 2022, 10:29 pm
#103
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A lot of people at work, whether travelling or not, caught COVID the last few weeks. This is in the US. One guy shared a crazy story. He went on a cruise with some friends. The night before the return trip, one of the travel companions didn't feel good. She flew anyway. She actually deplaned right into an ambulance and was COVID positive. I didn't want to ask but judging for the number of masked people on domestic flights, she probably did not wear a mask...I am sure there was no contact tracing.
I just did my 2nd journey yesterday (return trip from my late June travel). I noticed a lot more people were wearing masks but that was relative. In late June, I thought it was maybe 10% on my domestic flight. Yesterday, I thought it was maybe 20%. My seatmates (a couple) actually both wore N95.
I just did my 2nd journey yesterday (return trip from my late June travel). I noticed a lot more people were wearing masks but that was relative. In late June, I thought it was maybe 10% on my domestic flight. Yesterday, I thought it was maybe 20%. My seatmates (a couple) actually both wore N95.
Aug 22, 2022, 7:38 am
#104
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So be it, it's endemic and each person has to take his / her responsabiities. And yes, I put a FFP2 mask in crowded places, but it is up to me. Be happy in the US not having the Italian (or worse German) mask police.
Aug 22, 2022, 8:36 am
#105
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Does this thing still exist? People trying to "avoid covid"? It's an endemic disease. If I live a normal life, I probably meet several infectious people everyday. I will probably develop some symptoms approximately once a year as I did since the beginning of the pandemic until now. So what?
No mask police in Germany these days-seemed like the only folks still wearing them are American tourists who didn’t want to get sick while on vacation. It was so very typically German this summer when we flew into Munich arrived at a bus gate where every inch of the walls were plastered with earnest reminders to practice social distancing and then you promptly found yourself in the shuttle bus so crammed that everyone’s face was only a few centimeters from someone else.