Corona Virus Pandemic Preparedness

I am excited to see that vaccines are starting to spread throughout the country, and some of you have been able to get at least your first shot!
I hope you're finally feeling better Leslie.
Yes Marianne, I will continue to be careful. Thanks for caring.
Spring Break gives me a chance to catch up much needed maintenance and chores that I don't normally have time (or energy) for. Dad's taxes are now done and I donated two cars to charity which were picked up yesterday and today. I'm marking off my list, which is calming to see things done and out of the way. Still can't do much here. We are finally in the red tier, so some things are opening at reduced capacity, but I'm still going out only for essentials and work, except for a haircut. Marianne reminded that I wouldn't be fully vaccinated until two weeks after my second dose. That won't be for another week. So, I'm staying the course. The school year, such as it is, is winding down. I only have about seven weeks left after spring break before summer break. This is my 29th year. This has been the weirdest school year ever!

Bumping up!!! How are you all doing?
CA is looking pretty good right now! Covid new infection rates are down to 0.4 - 0.6%. As of June 1, 2021, 70% of adults in CA have been at least partially vaccinated. That's pretty amazing considering our diverse population. It is the most populated state in the US, so I am thrilled with that! We have finally mostly opened up. Masks are no longer required for the fully vaccinated. This is based on the honor system, so obviously it is not enforceable. Masks are still required for all inside of hospitals, schools, etc. Businesses can enforce their own mask mandates, so masks are still sporadic here. I feel really weird venturing out without either a mask, or shield. I am comfortable being outside unmasked. Inside, around others is another matter.

I am now on a much needed Summer Break. I'm not sure what the Covid protocol will be when I return in August. It is changing daily. My school district confers with several agencies on this matter with CDPH (California Department of Public Health) taking the lead. Since the Delta variant is now surging and affects more children, it's unlikely that our protocol will change much, even for the fully vaccinated. Staff needs to set an example. If we aren't wearing masks, the kids see that and think they aren't necessary. New school guidance hasn't been released as of yet. It's a wait and see. Right now, I'm home, unmasked and thrilled about that. It has been a very intensely stressful year for all!

Dad and I are both doing well. I have had numerous close contacts, and yet stayed well. Dad just turned 90 a few days ago and still trucking along. He has many issues, but who doesn't?

Take care all and update us when you can.

Hey Kathy! So good to read your update and to hear that, everything considered, things are going pretty darn well out there :-)))). Here in Georgia, unfortunately our vaccination rate is lower rather than higher. But thus far, regardless, we've managed to dodge the bullet and our infection rate is still going down. What with the introduction of the new Delta variant, our progress may not hold. But at the moment, the positivity rate in my county is around 1%, and it's around 2% statewide. So you've got us beat in CA, but we're still doing much better than I might have predicted given our lower vaccination rate.

For better or worse given that lower rate, all of the statewide emergency orders will end in a couple of weeks. Where I live, a significant number of people are still voluntarily masking inside stores and businesses (myself included). But the number is declining daily. I still don't feel comfortable with inside dining, but we are patio dining with friends and enjoying in-home dinners once again. All in all, the atmosphere is certainly far less restrictive. Since I spent so much time at home even pre-pandemic, honestly, my daily routine hasn't changed all that much over the past year. But it is a relief to feel a lot less vulnerable on those occasions when I *am* out and about. And if and when a booster shot ends up being recommended, you best believe that I'll be stepping right up for that extra security.

Anyway, congrats to your dad in celebration of his birthday! And congrats to you for keeping your dad as safe and healthy as possible ;-). Enjoy your summer break -- you surely deserve it!!!

Marianne

We're doing good here on Long Island, too. We are both fully vaccinated, so is Jess, Sigi and Jeremy. Josh gets his first shot on Saturday...he's nervous because he heard that a 12 year old had some heart trouble, but we're getting it for him anyway. Alex is still too young. Some places are maskless if you're fully vaccinated, honor roll also, but others are still enforcing the masks, which is fine with me. I will wear one if I have to. Outside I don't wear one. We won't eat inside a restaurant yet either, but since Victor still doesn't have much of an appetite and has trouble eating, we don't go out to eat anyway. I'll go with the kids...

It is starting to feel normal again. I would like to start taking the boys on excursions the way we used to...

Happy that our Cushing's family seems to be doing okay!

Hello! I hope you have all been able to stay safe and healthy. I'm beginning to think that this pandemic will out live me! CA's positivity rates have gone from 1% to 5% within the past few weeks and there is no stopping the rise. The Delta Variant has completely taken over and is responsible for our recent surge. LA has returned to mandatory masks indoors, whether vaccinated or not. My county is still allowing for fully vaccinated people to go unmasked indoors as of now. Unfortunately, this is all on the honor system and we all know how well that works! I am continuing to wear my shield indoors. I do feel comfortable going unmasked outside. My county generally follows LA within a few weeks. That means that indoor masks for all will probably be resuming again very soon. I am not going to get into why we are having this surge because it is political and is the same nation wide. You all know.

School/Work resumes in three weeks. It appears that masks will be required for all, vaccinated or not. I work in a K-8 school. The majority of our students are too young to be vaccinated. There is no way to know how many who are old enough actually have been. Same holds true for staff. Getting vaccinated is a personal choice. It is encouraged, but not required.

I will be getting a booster shot as soon as they become available.

That's my Covid update, such as it is! Protect yourselves and take care....

Hey there, Kathy. Thanks so much for the update and I’m so glad you’re still safe and well. If I’m counting right,you’re now only two weeks away from school starting back, and I’m guessing that time will go fast. Here in Atlanta we’re in pretty much the same boat as you guys, except our vaccination rate is even lower :-(((. Aside from private in-home get-togethers with vaccinated friends, though, hubby and I had never quit wearing our masks while interacting indoors with others. So in a sense, nothing has really changed much for us. Prior to Delta, we had been thinking wistfully about traveling to visit vaccinated family and friends, but now we’re pulling back from that idea, too, until another booster rolls around.

So I know I’m really boring because I don’t have anything new in my life to talk about. But right now, I guess “boring” is actually a good thing…

Good luck heading back to classes!
Marianne

Hi Marianne, it’s so good to hear from you! Your update is not at all boring. It appears safe, and that’s what we want for all! Yes, the south eastern states are lagging behind on vaccinations. They have significantly picked up the last few weeks. I hope the trend continues.

You are correct. I return to work in 10 days. I did not retire because I didn’t want last year to be my last. I want to go out on a normal year. One where I have had the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy my kids. With variants surging, this may be the new normal. I hate to think of that! I am sick of all the protocol. I do realize that it is still necessary right now. It just makes everything that much harder.

I will be turning 65 in another month. I will finally be considered a senior and be able to be first in line to get a booster when they come out. Supposedly they are going to be starting with seniors first. They are already doing boosters in Israel, so it’s probably just a matter of time.

Stay safe and let us know how you are doing. Hearing that someone is safe and doing well is awesome news, never boring. Until next time…

Hi all! So here is my COVID update. I am going to try really hard not to get political, by just stating the facts. Here in CA, Governor Gavin Newsom has overwhelmingly survived the recall and all Covid restrictions and protocol remains in effect.

Booster shots received the final approval on Friday morning (9/24). I went and got my shot that very day, right after work. I had pre-planned knowing exactly where to go. I figured that I'd jump in before the word got out to all. It worked! That is the good news! I got REALLY sick with the booster, knocked flat for over three days. High fever 102-103, body aches making it difficult to move, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, etc. You name it. I probably had it. Today is Tuesday. My fever has broken and my symptoms are finally fading away. I am out on Covid leave. It covers Covid related symptoms, as well as reaction to the vaccines. Since I had symptoms for more than 72 hours, I require another negative Covid test to return, and 24 hours symptom free. I've lost count as to how many tests I have had by now. All negative, by some miracle, so far. So, I went and got another test this morning. Results are due in 24-48 hours. That's at least one, or two more days at home. My symptoms have to be resolved also, and they aren't quite yet.

I am still working. It is my 30th year. I have a delightful class this year. Dad is still plugging along at 90.

Please do not let my booster ordeal stop anyone from getting their shot. I would do it again in a minute. I receive repeated exposure in the classroom and need the protection that a booster can provide.

We'd love to read your Covid upate! Hope that everyone has remained safe, healthy and happy. Take care.

As always, so good to get your update, Kathy! So sorry to hear your booster knocked you for a loop, but I agree 100% that I’ll take the vaccine side effects over the disease itself, any day. Hubby and I got Moderna originally, and we’re anxiously awaiting general approval for the Moderna booster since we’re now eight months “out” since our original vaccination. If I can manage it, I’ll be the first in line just as soon as we get the green light. We did feel pretty crappy for 36 hours after our second jab, so I asked our local pharmacist what the reaction to the Moderna booster has been thus far. She said that she hasn’t heard any particularly negative feedback, but she said that may also be because largely only immunocompromised people are approved for Moderna boosters right now, and so their immune systems may just not be mounting a big response to the booster itself. So in reality, your “big” response may be a good thing — it may mean your immune system will now be loaded for bear if/when you do get exposed!

No other big news from our side of the country. COVID cases are going down, thankfully, probably due to the combination of vaccination and also the large number of unvaccinated folks in our area who have already gotten sick (Spoiler alert: I’d rather stay in the first group…). As I wrote in an earlier note, probably no news is good news from our household, though. Can’t believe it’s already October and time to put up the Halloween decorations!! Right now, I have no idea whether kids in our neighborhood will be trick-or-treating door-to-door this year. If I’m successfully boostered by the end of the month, I’d probably feel fine about holding out my candy dish at the door, especially since I can be legitimately masked in some way as part of a costume ;-). But if parents are still feeling worried, my card table on the driveway with baggies of candy actually worked great last year. I had luminaries and my Jack o’ lanterns out there, too, and I could sit on my front steps and wave. So either way, I think we’ll be fine.

OK, that’s it for now. But once again, great to hear from you and to know that you’ve got a good class this year and that your Dad is still hanging in there. I know you’re so grateful for both.

Marianne

Hey Kathy,
No major updates from our neck of the woods - we are in the decline of variant cases here. I too got the Moderna Marianne, and interesting comments from my doctors and several of my nurse friends ... I was very sick after the first shot for about a week and half but the second shot did not bother me at all. Reasoning behind this is according the doctor, nurses and even the health dept drs I spoke with is because I already had been exposed to COVID early on. Hope this means double protection :) - So Kathy this may your case too. Keep well and very glad to hear your dad is going strong :)
Terry

Just checking in again with everybody as we’re poised to exit 2021 and enter 2022. I have nothing new to report from my end, other than the fact that hubby and I braved the road to drive to Tennessee to visit my brother and his family at Thanksgiving. Our first post-COVID trip!! It was great to finally see family face-to-face once again, but the trip did carry some stress. Traveling did strain our elderly Luna, and I was fairly worried about viral exposure since literally nobody else in our hotel was wearing a mask aside from us. But Omicron had not yet arrived and hubby and I had been recently boostered, so thankfully we remained healthy. Now it’s home again with a lot of the same-old, same-old. We did have a very quiet but pleasant Christmas, just the three of us. It’ll be ditto for New Year’s.

Hoping to hear that everybody else is still hanging in there, too. I’m especially wondering about you, Kathy. I’ve missed seeing Buddy’s sweet Christmas avatar this season, and I’ll be anxious to see an update from you whenever you’re able. And the same for all the rest of our family — please add a note if and when you can.

Marianne

Hi Marianne, so nice of you to think of me. I actually prepared a long post a few weeks ago. It disappeared when I tried to post it. I just haven't gotten back here to post ,but have been reading along, as time allows. Sorry to hear about Lovely Luna's difficulties. It sucks getting old!

I did think about Buddy's Christmas avatar. I have had to limit the use of my hands for the last week or so. I have carpal tunnel in both wrists. I had cortizone shots done and needed 4 or 5 days to recover from that. That means limiting the use of both hands until they heal. I will eventually need surgey on both wrists. The shots are helping for now, lasting 4 or 5 months. They are not bad enough for surgery as of yet, but the day will come.

It is disheartening that I even have to do a Covid update after this long. I am beginning to think that it will outlive me. California remains firm on its protocol. Masks are required in all indoor businesses, through at least Jan. 15. This applies to everyone, vaccinated or not. Covid cases are rising substantially, just like the rest of the world. I don't see anything stopping it. I'm going to try really hard not to get political, because this is not the place for it, so I will just explain what is happening here without adding my opinion. Personally, I am fully vaccinated and boosted, yet I still do not feel safe. About 90 something percent of our district staff is vaccinated. The rest are tested weekly. It has been mandated by the state that all school staff is vaccinated. That requirement will be going into affect soon. Weekly testing will soon be off the table. Through it all, at school, close contacts continue at an alarming pace. I have managed to escape Covid so far. I don't see how, but it has happened. I still feel like it's only a matter of time. Hopefully being vaccinated and boosted, may help keep me out of the hospital. CDPH ( California Department of Public Health) guidelines require masks to be worn for all staff and students. Campuses are closed to everyone who isn't a student or staff member. Although universal masking, helps me feel a little safer, breathing with one on is difficult for me. I wear a sealing mask (R95). It is tight and extremely hard to breathe, talk, and teach through. They trigger my migraines, which is a whole other problem altogether. Thankfully masks are no longer required outdoors. I may end up retiring earlier because I'm really done with the whole Covid thing and I don't think it's ever going to go away. I personally know several people who have died. All of them were not vaccinated. That doesn't make it any easier for their friends and family who are now left without someone they love. Well, this has ended up being a real depressing report. I didn't realize how much it's all getting to me until I started this post. I realize that I am blessed. I have not gotten sick and dad is doing well, considering he is 90. I am thankful for that.

Post your updates when you can. Hopefully they will be more upbeat than mine, but if not, that's OK too. I'd love to hear from you.

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Originally Posted by labblab

JI’m especially wondering about you, Kathy. I’ve missed seeing Buddy’s sweet Christmas avatar this season, and I’ll be anxious to see an update from you whenever you’re able.

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Kathy, it’s so good to hear from you — we welcome any news from you whether it’s upbeat or not! I cannot even begin to imagine how tough it is to try to teach under these circumstances. Our teachers, healthcare workers, and first responders all deserve heroes’ badges!!

Like you, I’m so grateful for my own health so far. But also like you, it’s hard for me to imagine how this all will ultimately play out. In honesty, I’m now wondering why Planet Earth hasn’t been plagued by more pandemics in recent years. What with the ease of travel and the mobility of so many people, it seems like any new virus can be transmitted worldwide with lightning speed. Yesterday I was really dismayed to read about a new, horrible avian flu that is decimating wild bird populations in Israel. It was just one little article cited in somebody’s news feed, but that was also how I first learned about COVID. One little article I saw around Christmas 2019 about this odd new virus that had made a few people sick in China…. Anyway, this new avian flu is hard to transmit to humans (at least for right now), but of the few people who *have* gotten it, at least 50% have died. And the birds that are carrying the virus are on a migratory path that leads all over Europe. Perfect.

Hubby recently sent a birthday card to one of his childhood friends that had a greeting that went something like, “Happy Birthday — Party like there’s no tomorrow!” On the front was a T. Rex wearing a party hat, with a flaming meteor flying over its head.” A funny card, but perhaps not all that funny, given our own present circumstances <SIGH>.

So, there’s my own not-so-cheery thought for the day! On a happier note, my mom had carpal tunnel in both wrists, too, and ultimately it was corrected satisfactorily with surgery. She started out with the injections also, and for sure, I know you don’t want to advance to surgery until it’s really necessary. But she did finally end up with relief, and I hope the same will be true for you, too.

Anyway, once again, thanks so much for your update. Stay healthy!!!!

P.S. And I just now visited your photo album so I’d get to see “Elf Buddy” in all his glory. It wouldn’t truly be the holiday season without seeing that sweet face at least once ;-)))))

Well, Glen Cove is a hotbed right now and Josh, my 13 year old grandson came down with it yesterday. He was exposed (we think) by one of their friends' mom who drove him home the other day before she knew that she and their six month old baby had it. They have five kids and the kids all went sleighing Friday together. He's been fully vaccinated so we're hoping it won't be too bad even though he has Chronic Granulomatous Disease. He's been running a fever between 101 - 103. Tomorrow, because of the high fevers, and his adrenal glands not working properly, they have to do stress dose steroids. 10mg Hydrocortisone tablet every 8 hours for 2-3 days. Immunology: Joshua is considered high risk, So he is scheduled for Monoclonal Antibody Treatment at Cohen Children’s Medical Center tomorrow at 1:00pm. Infusion is 3 hours, and then at least an hour after that for observation.

So far Jess, Sigi and Alex are not showing any symptoms and we did not see them at all last week. As soon as Jess heard that the mom and baby had it on Saturday, they stayed away from us over the weekend. Then Josh started showing symptoms last night...it was bound to happen sooner or later, especially with the holidays just over and Omicron running wild.

Oh goodness, Joan. I know how scary this is. But that injection really seems to help the people I know who have gotten it. A friend of my youngest grandson got COVID about a month ago and was really sick until he got that injection. He said within an hour he could tell his lungs weren't as tight and he started improving quickly after. Same for my brother and SIL...got the injection and were on the road to recovery pretty quickly. None of these folk were vaccinated either. So I pray Josh has the same reaction and is back on his feet in no time. Please stay in touch and let us know!
Hugs,
Leslie

Thank you, Leslie. Because of his disease he has a whole team of doctors, including the NIH, discussing and making recommendations. I haven't seen any other cases of COVID on the CGD Facebook group, but I can't imagine he's the only one. I keep thinking that things couldn't get any worse, but they just keep coming!

Dear Joan, I had intended to write here earlier in the hope of getting an update on Josh. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get here, but also hoping that maybe the delay has given him enough time to be recovering! Please let us know when you have a chance to write more, OK?

Huge hugs coming your way,
Marianne

Sorry for not writing sooner. Josh couldn't get the Monoclonal Antibody Treatment because he wasn't enough kilograms or something like that. Jess was furious (they had already been admitted to the hospital and everything). But he's back in school today. They all came down with it except for Alex so far. Josh had the most symptoms, but Jess and Sigi said it was just like having a bad cold. Thank God they had all been vaccinated! I just hope he doesn't come down with any of the long haul symptoms.

Good grief....you would think someone like Josh would qualify simply because of the high risk. I am SO GLAD that he is recovering as well as he is and pray that continues for them all.

Yes, that surprised me too, Leslie. But he seems to be over it. The funny thing is that the bladder issues he's been having since the summer disappeared when he got the virus! Weird....

That is interesting! Seems this virus can hit the kidneys but most folk suffer damage instead of improvement. But I say don't look a gift horse in the mouth! LOL

Well, let's see… CA is trending down from a very large, terrifying surge. Schools were impacted greatly. Subs were virtually nonexistent, which left administrators scrambling to cover classrooms and programs. I have been off on Covid leave for the last 10 days. Will be returning to work tomorrow. I came down with cold symptoms, which could also be Covid symptoms. I have had multiple tests, including antigen and PCR tests, which of all came back negative. So, it looks like I actually had a cold. Symptoms are resolving themselves. There was a time not long ago, before Covid, that we worked through colds. Those days are gone! So it looks like I have escaped Covid once again. Still don't know how?!

Indoor mask mandates for those vaccinated will be lifted on February 15, tomorrow. All unvaccinated need to still wear their masks while indoors. Here's the catch, that's pretty much everyone, except children under five. This is on the honor system, which never works! Those vaccinated or not, will go unmasked if they choose to. No one will be checking, no one will be asking. So it goes.

As far as the schools, CA is continuing it's mask mandates/Covid protocols until at least February 28th. At that time it will be revisited depending on case numbers, hospitalizations/etc. As much as wearing a mask is challenging for me, it does help me feel a little safer when everyone is masked. Getting coughed and sneezed on in the classroom, is a certainty. Masks do curtail that to some degree. I will be continuing to wear my mask regardless of protocol changes for the forseeable future. With the students unmasked, I will probably wear a shield also while working closely in small groups.

I totally understand that people are sick of Covid. I definitely am! It's been almost 2 years since California shut down and life as we know it changed forever. It looks like it's here to stay and I realize that we all have to find a way to live with it, as safely as possible. That means following the science and changing protocols as variants emerge. So I will have to adapt to unmasked people close to me and I'm not feeling really comfortable with that for now.

I hope that all are well and everyone is coping the best they can. Stay safe!

Kathy, thanks so much for your update! I’m so glad to hear that apparently your cold is really a cold (how crazy does that sound, but here we are!). I think the experience for many of us nationwide is mirroring what you’re describing out there. Many mask mandates are easing, and right where I am, I’m noticing far fewer employees wearing masks inside the stores and offices where they work. Interestingly, many customers (like me!) are still wearing their masks, but not so many workers. I guess that makes sense. It’s far less uncomfortable for me to don a mask for the few minutes I’m inside the building than it is for a worker to be wearing a mask for hours on end. But it definitely is a change that I’m trying to get used to. Personally, I really don’t mind wearing a mask on my errands, so I’m guessing it’ll still be quite a while before I give up that feeling of security.

Ironically, my next step towards normalcy is probably gonna be to go and get my shingles vaccination. Hubby and I got the first version several years ago, but we need to step up for the new vaccine. It fell to a much lower priority in my mind during the pandemic, and I didn’t want to interfere with my COVID series of vaxes by inserting the two shingles jabs, as well. But now I think it would be a good time to head on in. You can tell how boring my life remains at the moment when yet another vaccination is my big news! But as I keep saying, right now “boring” is not such a bad thing ;-).

Take care, Kathy, and stay safe.

Well, California schools unmasked on March 11. That means officially everyone was able to return on Monday the 14th, whether vaccinated or not without a mask. Masks are now highly recommended, instead of required. That means that everyone in my class is now unmasked, except me, who is still wearing one. Cases in my district have dropped dramatically, but are slowly starting to tick up again. I think it's due to everyone being unmasked and a new variant which is emerging. That's where my head is right now. I could be entirely wrong.

I had my fourth Covid shot (Second booster) after work on Friday. I was pretty out of it yesterday, with chills and achiness. I am feeling much better today. Thankfully I didn't get anywhere near as sick as with the last one. I had it done right before my two week spring break, just in case I had another severe reaction. Thankfully that didn't happen this time.

At this point I am sure that Covid will outlive me! Stay as safe as you can and check in when you were able.

Just checking in again with our family. I have no news to report on my end. Miraculously, hubby and I have remained infection free, but we continue to mask and lead very self-contained lives. A number of friends and relatives have recently *finally* tested positive after all these months. They’ve stayed careful, but these newer strains just seem better able to evade vaccination and general protection. Anyway, we’ll surely welcome updates from you all.

Best wishes, as always!
Marianne

So far, so good here. We have managed to dodge this bullet! But Jess, Sigi and the kids are in Germany for 10 days. Hopefully they don't bring anything back with them. I'm picking them up at JFK next Thursday and they have been warned that they will need to wear masks, or pay for a car.

They have become very careless since three of them have already had it. They were in Busch Gardens for a week a couple of weeks ago and we would not let them over here until at least a week went by. Sometimes I just don't understand them...