Remember a year ago when they kept telling us COVID was under control in NYC, & would stay under control — that we only had a few cases. Later research would show there were 100s of thousands of cases by then, soon 2 million.
We KNOW extra contagious variants are already here…
My advice, do not for one moment reassure yourself that “there are only a few cases of the variants”. Have you looked up how often they test samples for which variety of SARS2 it is? tl;dr: almost never. Instead assume there are 100s of thousands of cases *now*, doubling often.
If this assumption is wrong, oh, you stayed home. You wore 2 masks, as experts advise.
If this assumption is right, you might prevent yourself & your loved one from getting sick (possibly for months) by doing everything you can to not get it. You might save someone’s life. 🦸
I know it feels like everything is ok. The vaccines are here. The graph points down. The NYC govt just opened indoor dining. The U.S. govt is pushing to open all the schools.
They wouldn't open if it weren't safe, right? It must be totally safe.
Uh.
Did you live through 2020?
This feels to me exactly like Feb 2020. The government is telling people — well, really big business — what they want to hear. Making foolish decisions that do not help the people or keep us safe. Stay home. Do not eat out in restaurants. Wear two masks. Do all the things.
Do your own research if you want. You'll see the reason for alarm. Look at the graphs in the U.K. when a variant hit there.
We are so close. Just another several months. We can do this. Don't let your guard down now. Do whatever you can do to keep safe.
I know people reject this call with “I don't want to live in fear. I'm not going to worry about it. I'm going to live my life.”
Well, that's delusion. You can't wish this thing away. Two & half million people have died worldwide. Don't dishonor them by pretending they didn't.
Instead, let's be brave. Be real. Look at this reality straight in the face.
I can do everything that I can do. Do my best. It won't be perfect. I do have to take certain risks. But I can relax and rest, knowing I did everything I could.
We can tolerate sacrifice. We can do it.
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It’s hard to watch people not take strict precautions against COVID, despite raging case loads all around them. All while claiming they are being careful — when it's clear they are NOT.
Then, it’s even harder when they get COVID to know what to say besides “I fucking told you.”
I‘m not proud of my reaction. At all. But I have no empathy, no kindness, no caring left.
You’ve been running around, traveling, visiting, putting other people in danger — acting from of selfishness & delusion. And *now* you want other people to care about you?
Uh. I’m done.
Honestly, this is one of the hardest thing about COVID — watching myself have absolutely no more empathy for many people anymore. Have I really become this person?
I expect that other hard thing will be being able to stand being around such people in person again in the future.
Day 30.
Still sick.
Still well-enough to avoid the hospital, thankfully.
What does still-sick look like lately? 99.X°F Fever. No appetite. General feeling of deeply unwell. Pressure in chest, ill lungs. Oxygen saturation of 95% often. Sometimes faster breathing. Exhausted.
I’ve talked to ER docs via video twice now, including recently. They say hang in there. As long as oxygen is above 91%, I’m ok. Rest. Take care. Drink fluids. Keep an eye on vitals.
“Just a flu.”
“7-10 days.”
“Mild.”
Bullshit.
I wish the news had more truth about the reality.
What do I wish people knew? This is a very up & down disease. For many of us (I have several sick friends), it gets better… and then worse.
Maybe this is the end of it?
Oh, actually no, now I’m more sick than ever.
Shit, this is scary.
Oh, actually I’m fine.
Maybe…
I’m pretty sure I have COVID-19. I’ve had symptoms for a week, and got more sick about 3 days ago. I cannot get a test in NYC, so there’s no way to know for sure, but this presents as described by international medical professionals.
I haven’t left my apartment for days. Realized I need to quarantine my dog as well (she won’t get it, but could carry virus on her fur). This is why I spent two solid weeks in Feb preparing — so I can lock myself away and protect my neighbors. Especially my super & his wife.
I wish I could know for sure if this is COVID. But the U.S. Government won’t let me. I might never know. Sadly some people don’t believe me without a test. I keep asking myself, what else could this be? It’s nothing like a cold or typical flu. It’s quite different.
Right now, responsible news sources & medical pros are pleading with us to avoid getting or spreading COVID-19. Asking us to stay home, cancel events, change how we live. Yes. We *must* do these things to help each other & lessen the overall impact. Collective action & benefit.
And yet, this pleading with us to avoid, avoid, avoid also leaves each of us with a lot of fear & stress. What if we can't avoid it? What if it gets me?
I always find it helpful to face such fears straight on. What am I afraid of exactly? What if that happens? What's the worst?
In this case, what happens if I, or people I care about, get COVID-19? Ok. So, what should I do if that happens? How will I know? What decisions will have to be made when? What is likely to happen? How can I prepare, mentally, if nothing else.
As COVID-19 spreads in the U.S., don’t assume new cases happened because other people known to have it or be exposed (Diamond Princess passengers for example) being brought back to quarantine here. Of all cases, those are the ones that are handled quite skillfully by experts.
I learned from @NYCMayor yesterday NYC is only testing people with flu symptoms who’ve travelled to China or had family/similar who did. We’ve tested 7 people total. We don’t have the ability to test in NYC.
We are not testing other patients. Not checking airport passengers.
Potentially hundreds of infected people have traveled to the U.S. already. Science from China shows tells us this virus spreads via asymptomatic people, and it spreads through the air.
It’s become very clear that odds are, COVID-19 will reach where you live. Rationale doctors & scientists are explaining what’s happening, and telling us quarantine measures, esp in China, have given us a gift — of time. We need to use this time to prepare. Mentally, emotionally…
Think through: when will you pull your kids out of school? Where do you want to be? Do you have enough food, medicine & other daily stuff to get through an extended stay at home? What might you want to do now? How can you calmly prepare?
I cleaned out my freezer. Made & froze lots of soup. Stockpiling veg next. Learning ways to store food.
I usually only have 2-3 days of food on hand. (Very NYC.) Now have 2-3 weeks. Aiming for longer. While thinking about how to not waste food/$$$ if this is all for not.