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Post by 950nancy on Dec 28, 2023 4:16:27 GMT
We are not required to mask unless in a patient room with a positive test for droplet/airborne (covid, flu, RSV, that kind of thing). We only test patients who are symptomatic. If we test positive, it's 5 days quarantine (off work) from start of symptoms and then 5 days masking. It's up to us to self-report to employee health. I think we're all quite happy to go test bc it's an automatic 5 days off work. Honor system, test can be a home test. There has been a huge rise in influenza A. I would say on any given day in the last week or two, about 1/4 of our patients tested positive for flu A and we have seen an uptick in Covid as well. Because of this, most of us are masking everywhere even though not required in common areas. This is a cardiac floor and we don't normally have so many flu cases at once that needed to be hospitalized. Many of ours are medical overflow and each night there are about 140 pts in the ER when I get here, waiting for beds or waiting to be seen, so we have to help accommodate. They're lining the hallways. The flu is also causing people to go into Afib/Aflutter so we are getting a lot of those too. The ER is drowning every night. Last night I caught 2 cardiac patients who weren't even being addressed as cardiac. Now is not a good time to head into the ER if you don't have to! Your job must be so mentally and physically exhausting. Flu season on top of Covid and RSV? Ugh.
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Post by chaosisapony on Dec 28, 2023 5:07:33 GMT
My HR at work says that current CDC guidelines are to isolate for 5 days then, even if you are symptomatic, you can go back to work. They count the day you experience symptoms as day 0, then count all the way up to 5. For me, I had symptoms on a Friday but didn't test positive until Sunday. So, Friday was my day 0 and I got 5 days off from there. Then, once back at work, you have to mask for 5 days. Which makes zero sense to me because if I'm not contagious thereby required to be at work why do I need to wear a mask??? Seems to me that if I'm still contagious enough to need a mask I shouldn't be at work...
I was still very sick 10 days after first getting symptoms but I guess I wasn't contagious anymore? I don't know, I stayed in bed and isolated in my house just because I felt like crap.
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Post by heckofagal on Dec 28, 2023 5:11:12 GMT
My DH tested positive Christmas morning after we hosted Christmas Eve for his side of the family. He is staying in our basement for now, guess we will let him back up on Saturday. Unfortunately his stepdad tested positive today. (He is in his mid 80s).
DH and I have been on vacation this week, what a waste of vacation days!
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Post by natscraps on Dec 28, 2023 5:56:02 GMT
Timely question… DH got sick Christmas day. I got sick last night. Tested myself this afternoon because DS8 was supposed to go to winter break camp the rest of the week and I know there are a few medically complex kids there. Thing turned positive in less than a minute. What a waste of my winter break.
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Post by Zee on Dec 28, 2023 10:03:36 GMT
We are not required to mask unless in a patient room with a positive test for droplet/airborne (covid, flu, RSV, that kind of thing). We only test patients who are symptomatic. If we test positive, it's 5 days quarantine (off work) from start of symptoms and then 5 days masking. It's up to us to self-report to employee health. I think we're all quite happy to go test bc it's an automatic 5 days off work. Honor system, test can be a home test. There has been a huge rise in influenza A. I would say on any given day in the last week or two, about 1/4 of our patients tested positive for flu A and we have seen an uptick in Covid as well. Because of this, most of us are masking everywhere even though not required in common areas. This is a cardiac floor and we don't normally have so many flu cases at once that needed to be hospitalized. Many of ours are medical overflow and each night there are about 140 pts in the ER when I get here, waiting for beds or waiting to be seen, so we have to help accommodate. They're lining the hallways. The flu is also causing people to go into Afib/Aflutter so we are getting a lot of those too. The ER is drowning every night. Last night I caught 2 cardiac patients who weren't even being addressed as cardiac. Now is not a good time to head into the ER if you don't have to! Your job must be so mentally and physically exhausting. Flu season on top of Covid and RSV? Ugh. It can be but in the ER is where it's really bad right now. And patients just sit and wait for hours and hours and hours until a room can be found. Everyone is a bit tightly wound right now. 🫣
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Post by agengr2004 on Dec 28, 2023 13:33:42 GMT
Our policy at work is 5 days quarantine from the onset of symptoms then 5 days masking after that. The only place we are still required to mask is in the cancer center. Testing is on the honor system, I test when I don't feel well but I work in the cancer center and other clinics quite a bit. I've been masking in the clinics lately because mountain cedar is starting and everyone has the sniffles.
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Post by auntkelly on Dec 28, 2023 14:01:06 GMT
We went to a big family gathering on Tuesday night. After we’d been at the party for about two hours, one of my nieces told me her family was leaving because her eight year old daughter wasn’t feeling well. My niece said her daughter had been sick for three days (during which they had attended multiple family gatherings). My niece even said “look, she’s wearing her coat indoors because she is cold.”
I’m not paranoid about catching Covid or any other illness, but I am careful because I visit my aunt at her memory care center every other day. I just can’t believe how thoughtless some people are about needlessly exposing others to illness. My little great niece has probably been in close contact with 50 other people over the last few days while she has been running a fever. Her parents both have college degrees and understand how viruses are spread. They obviously just don’t care.
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Post by myshelly on Dec 28, 2023 14:42:11 GMT
DH was recently in the hospital. He was never tested for Covid or asked if he had the vax. None of the drs, nurses, or techs wore masks. School district no longer has an official Covid policy. I hope your DH is ok I have zero because I’m a part time teacher. Full time teachers have 10 days to take. I’m .4 FTE so it would have seemed reasonable that I have four days in case of illness, but nope. This new superintendent imposed on us by the state is a piece of work. A custodian was fired a few weeks ago because she took too many days off to care for her sick daughter. Teachers get reprimand notes in their files if they exceed guidelines like more than three missed days before November or some such. It’s absolutely asinine. that’s nuts. I guess they just have so many backups they don’t care? 🙄 Thank you.
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Post by bratkar on Dec 28, 2023 14:54:19 GMT
Returned from Vegas on the 15th, was getting sick by the 17th, the 18th, 20th and 22nd I tested for covid. Had a drs appointment for something else the 22nd and she stated everyone is sick right now and she only saw 1 case of covid, but 4 cases of RSV and more than 50 of the common cold. We just have a common cold, but damn its just lingering like it wants to see the new year..... I finally feel like I am not craving sleep anymore, but the cough just wants to linger on.
I did mask up at the drs, I figured I had a cold, and its just a breeding space for everything right now, I didnt need to make anyone else sick and I didnt need to catch anything else.
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,363
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Dec 28, 2023 14:56:22 GMT
My experience is that some test, some dont. My colleagues who have tested positive have generally felt pretty bad and they’ve called out sick for a few days. When they return they wear masks for a few more days. I’ve seen some mask wearing for colds and for preventative reasons, too. I personally haven’t been sick this Fall, and even though I considered preventative masking, I didn’t do it.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,408
Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
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Post by RosieKat on Dec 28, 2023 16:47:05 GMT
Day 0 is now the first day of your symptoms (regardless of when you test positive). You are supposed to isolate for 5 days, then you may end isolation if you are improving and weren't super sick. You should mask for 5 more days. If you aren't improving or were moderately or severely ill, you should isolate for longer.
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Post by lbp on Dec 28, 2023 17:50:52 GMT
I had it over Christmas (yay Merry Christmas to me!). I tested on Sunday and was negative, went to work Monday and felt horrible but felt some better on Tuesday but after half a day at work was exhausted and coughing my head off. Went back home and retested and was positive. I stayed off work the rest of the week and was negative on Saturday. I went back to work Tuesday but have been wearing a mask, which I plan to drop next week.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,872
Jun 26, 2014 22:49:09 GMT
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Post by tracylynn on Dec 29, 2023 3:32:38 GMT
I was at a work Conference in NOLA the week before Thanksgiving. I masked in the airports and planes, but not otherwise. Came home and promptly got sick. Tested 4 days straight, all negative. Just a massive cold. Cough lingered about 3 weeks.
I don't mask at work, but I have my own office and can distance enough.
I do mask in grocery stores and Dr offices still.
I'm not ask careful as I was during the height of Covid, but still take precautions when necessary.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,548
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
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Post by Just T on Dec 29, 2023 3:38:07 GMT
Where I live, most don't care anymore. I few weeks ago, I spent the afternoon hiking with a friend who woke up sick the next day and tested positive for Covid. I was a bit freaked out for a few days, because when I had it in 2022, I was so miserable and I did NOT want it again. Thankfully, I didn't get it.
I live in a very conservative area, but I am starting to notice more people wearing masks at the grocery store lately.
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Post by ToniW on Dec 29, 2023 16:32:58 GMT
Both my children tested positive and they both live states apart. DD is in quarantine until January 3rd, DS retook the test after 5 days and is still positive, so another 5 days home. We were with DS a couple of days before the first test and luckily, we're both negative.
I do know of someone who took Paxlovid and is sick from it with her liver being compromised. That is scary!
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Dec 29, 2023 16:50:14 GMT
I still hear of some positive Covid tests in our state, but the big thing right now is the flu. I saw on the news this morning that South Carolina is one of the top two states for most cases right now. The hospital ER is triaging preemptively for anything respiratory. You don't even get in the door without compromising comorbidities or being very young/very old. And of course, masking is back there starting today.
My in-laws had the flu last weekend necessitating a cancelation of the traditional Christmas morning breakfast at their home. My MIL even had to go the ER one night about 2:30 am because she couldn't breathe. It's scary stuff.
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Post by monklady123 on Dec 29, 2023 17:06:01 GMT
Finally got around to looking at this thread, lol. I was just talking about this with my dh.... My regular Sunday morning walking partner, a friend in the neighborhood, texted me this past Friday to say that someone who she'd just been with had tested positive for covid. So my friend was cancelling our Sunday morning walk, staying isolated in their guest room, and wearing a mask to and from the bathroom. She didn't have any symptoms and I told her she could walk outside, that I wasn't at all concerned about it. She didn't though. I did think this was a bit odd, and I felt like her response was an over reaction.
Personally I have stopped thinking about covid. I mean, I have all the boosters I can get, and I wear a mask in the hospital because that's the rule there... obviously, because people there are already sick with something else so they don't need covid, or anything else. But I go to school, and the grocery store, and occasionally Target or somewhere like that, and I don't think about covid. I worry more about the flu, although I have that vaccine also. And I got the RSV, and pneumonia vaccines.
Of course if I had a positive covid test I would do whatever our guidelines are (not sure, I'd have to look it up, lol)... And if someone at school tested positive and the school wanted those of us who had been in close contact with that person to stay home then of course I would. Although that never seems to happen...we've had covid run through entire teams at school and no one else is ever asked to stay home for a certain time period.
However, if I was going to get on an airplane I think I'd wear a mask because it's such a confined space, and crowded.
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Post by mom on Dec 29, 2023 17:28:46 GMT
For us, no one is really testing unless you are showing symptoms they can’t explain in other ways. I was in the er and hospital in late November and no one tested me.
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Post by karenk on Dec 29, 2023 17:43:22 GMT
I had COVID in September for the first time. Last Saturday I had the booster….waited 3 months after having COVID. Sunday night at church I felt a bit unwell. Christmas Day I felt worse, and tested on Tuesday, positive. I guess it takes about a week for the vaccine to be fully in effect. My biggest annoying symptom was a runny nose, like a faucet, every time I was upright. A bit of hoarseness when I am talking to people. Nearly every one I know knows someone with COVID right now.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,738
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
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Post by purplebee on Dec 29, 2023 17:54:37 GMT
My school is back to “Pre-COVID” guidelines for illness. In other words, if you have a fever, have diarrhea, or are throwing up, stay home. Other cold-like symptoms? Come to work. No rules for testing, isolation or masking. With Sarah Sanders as Governor, (I hate her almost as much as I hate her former boss) I doubt there will ever be any official state acknowledgement of COVID, regardless of how severe a surge may become.
I work with a teacher who had type A flu after Thanksgiving, and he said he was really, really sick with it. Not sure if he had the flu vax.
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camper65
Shy Member
Posts: 14
May 30, 2018 16:50:45 GMT
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Post by camper65 on Dec 29, 2023 18:01:50 GMT
My co-worker who was off for the week between Christmas and New Years ended up feeling sick two days before Christmas (thought she caught a head cold) end up she was positive for Covid Christmas day. Luckily she already took off for the week. She's still dealing with the loss of smell but is overall feeling better.
I had it last December and was completely exhausted/slept for like 2 1/2 days straight not realizing at first it was Covid. Ended up on Paxlovid which did help. Never lost taste or smell but was wiped out and at that time was able to work from home once I was up to it. The City where my main office is located has mandatory paid sick time for most work places (Ordinance) with a certain number of people employed to help the restaurant people from having to work while sick since we have a big College, Hospital and various theaters in the City.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,467
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Dec 29, 2023 18:17:26 GMT
My sister just texted me that her DH and boys all tested positive yesterday. We were all together Christmas. I have been running fever/no fever for 2 weeks and had a "licking envelopes" taste in my mouth. Figured it was sinus infection. Tested negative last week and negative again Sunday before Christmas. Hopefully I didn't give it to them and just never tested positive. I did not have a fever when we went to Christmas with them but it came back the next day. Low grade 99.9-100.9 fever that is damn annoying.
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ellemkay
Junior Member
Posts: 72
Mar 14, 2020 22:04:47 GMT
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Post by ellemkay on Dec 29, 2023 20:18:59 GMT
In my area of SC, even those testing positive don't seem concerned with Covid anymore. They aren't masking or isolating. RSV is going around like crazy and I spent Christmas night in the emergency dept with my toddler who was having trouble breathing. Turns out he has RSV AND croup and now I've got RSV from him. I demand a do-over of my holidays!!
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Post by christine58 on Dec 29, 2023 21:27:59 GMT
My DIL works in a dr.s' office as a PA. She has her own case load and always masks up when people come in with Covid. We are still having deaths from it here, but they aren't as bad as 2020, for sure. If our teachers get it, they are out for a few days and then mask up for a week or so. I got my flu shot and booster and just keep hoping to avoid it. I got my booster and my flu shot in October along with the RSV vaccine. (not all at the same time). I will get my pneumonia shot at the end of January.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Dec 29, 2023 21:44:08 GMT
In my area of SC, even those testing positive don't seem concerned with Covid anymore. They aren't masking or isolating. RSV is going around like crazy and I spent Christmas night in the emergency dept with my toddler who was having trouble breathing. Turns out he has RSV AND croup and now I've got RSV from him. I demand a do-over of my holidays!! You do deserve a do-over! I hope you are both feeling better. SC is another one of those states like Arkansas where our governor barely acknowledged Covid the first time around. I don’t think you’d get the majority of the people here to come anywhere close to resuming any of the precautions that were recommended back then.
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ellemkay
Junior Member
Posts: 72
Mar 14, 2020 22:04:47 GMT
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Post by ellemkay on Dec 29, 2023 22:02:53 GMT
In my area of SC, even those testing positive don't seem concerned with Covid anymore. They aren't masking or isolating. RSV is going around like crazy and I spent Christmas night in the emergency dept with my toddler who was having trouble breathing. Turns out he has RSV AND croup and now I've got RSV from him. I demand a do-over of my holidays!! You do deserve a do-over! I hope you are both feeling better. SC is another one of those states like Arkansas where our governor barely acknowledged Covid the first time around. I don’t think you’d get the majority of the people here to come anywhere close to resuming any of the precautions that were recommended back then. Absolutely not. Hell, the general population barely wanted to follow precautions and guidelines in 2020/2021. We moved to VA in 2021 and it was slightly better there and now we're back here in SC where nearly everyone I know doesn't really believe the virus is real, even if they've had it multiple times. I see maybe 5% of people masking in stores here in eastern SC. All it takes is looking at the comments on the local news stations fb posts to figure out exactly who I'm surrounded by.
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westiemom
Shy Member
Posts: 24
Aug 14, 2023 4:21:57 GMT
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Post by westiemom on Dec 30, 2023 15:23:54 GMT
We have been dealing with immunocompromised status for over 2 years. Last treatment will be in February. We take the whole COVID thing VERY SERIOUSLY. Our medical center is so serious that they FIRED any staff member who would not get the initial two vaccinations. I asked our chemo nurses if they lost any staff and they said, "No. We don't have anyone that stupid who works in this area." That said it all.
We go out of state for treatment. Our state is, sadly, very red. We have a doctor who is often on the news saying masks are not necessary. I say he is a quack. I am a retired nurse and several of my friends agree about him. We also have an owner of a local coffee shop who posts signs on her door that say "No Masks Here. Faith over Fear" Phony Christian at best!
I wear a mask whenever I am out. One day, a woman I did not know walked up to me in the grocery store and said (LOUDLY), "You don't have to wear that mask. Why are you wearing it anyway?" I looked at her calmly and said, "If you can tell me why it is any of your business, I will be happy to tell you."
I feel like it's a losing battle. The stupidity in this area is off the charts.
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Post by Merge on Dec 30, 2023 16:35:02 GMT
In our part of Texas at least they are still testing. DH has been dealing with a long-lasting respiratory thing and has seen a doctor three times. The first thing they do on every visit is test for Covid and flu. Both negative every time.
(It seems to be a viral thing that has to run its course, but isn’t Covid or flu. He is finally starting to feel better.)
And we do keep tests at home and if one of us is sick we always test. If I get Covid again, not sure I’ll be able to avoid going to school because of our teacher attendance policy, but I will at least wear a mask, stay home otherwise, and cancel my private lessons.
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Post by epeanymous on Dec 30, 2023 17:15:44 GMT
We're supposed to isolate for five days and return with a mask if testing positive. Personally I have told my students they are welcome to attend remotely if they are testing positive beyond the five days and I will count their attendance. I have avoided Covid for this long and I don't want to get it, and I don't want to risk an outbreak either (I think I had 2-3 students test positive this fall out if about 130 and they were all isolated incidents that didn't lead to outbreaks).
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