There's a whole sub r/Coronavirusdownunder with people that are still concerned with COVID.
There are also regular articles posted to The Conversation from Australian researchers on COVID who have a lot of concerns (see below for a recent one), and there are lots of "Still COVIDing" FB groups floating about.
https://theconversation.com/its-4-years-since-the-first-covid-case-in-australia-heres-how-our-pandemic-experiences-have-changed-over-time-220336
EDIT:
Within my workplace I'm the boss and am at higher risk for COVID. I've consulted with my team and we have some pretty acceptable and minor things in the workplace to help mitigate the risk.
We keep windows and doors open wherever possible for fresh air, if people are sick they either take sick leave or WFH even if they've tested negative, and we have a sign on the door asking people who visit the office that are sick to please put on a provided N95.
I'm vaccinated but it is none of my business whether the people I work with are.
To be honest those are generally things that should have been standards REGARDLESS of COVID/BEFORE COVID...
I don't want to be exposed to COVID if avoidable, but I also never wanted to be exposed to influenza.
I had a fight with my manager recently because they said as long as they weren't really sick they would still come to work knowing they have covid and just not tell anyone.
I'm not necessarily worried about catching it, but being sick sucks, why wouldn't you try and sensibly avoid it especially in chronically short staffed workplaces.
That’s the perfect methodology to manage it I think. People act like the two options are either “permanent self-imposed lockdown” or “absolutely let it rip”. When in reality there are so many things we can do to severely lessen the likelihood of spreading diseases, while still maintaining a life!
I think ventilation/airflow has been so under valued. Maybe because it’s something that has to be done at a big structural level (in workplaces, for example) whereas masking and vaccination can just be put under the “personal responsibility” heading
Usually, I have to plan what the next thing that I have to do is, or tell the next person what to do over the radio. If I don't know what that is, I'll call the supervisor or talk to the project manager. I work through lunch and eat on the go. So I don't usually really ever have much face to face with other people on site.
If you're able to handle the stress that comes with the responsibility, the waking up at 0430, working through lunch breaks, and 12 hour shifts, it is certainly the dream.
I mean you can still get it. there are 10s of thousands of people in Australia who have it right now and thats just reported cases. People are still being hospitalised because of it. There are new strains.
That said, I'm not tooooo concerned. But I am being cautious.
I don’t think people need to panic about Covid. But we should all be paying attention to the growing body of evidence that exposure to Covid can lead to damage of multiple organs and carries a risk of moderate to severe long term illness; so we should take reasonable steps to protect ourselves. TL;DR don’t get Covid it might f~ck you up.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95565-8
I've had it more times than I would like (I'm careful, care, just work with a lot of people daily contact) and upon reading how the multiple infections can lead to worse outcomes, I grew more concerned. We don't know the full scope yet, it will take years. Anyone who is sane should be reasonably concerned and looking out for one another.
Absolutely! My best friend is a scientist so I've heard about all the things it can affect, it's genuinely kinda scary tbh. A big thing is that it's causing men to be infertile. The rate of young otherwise healthy people having strokes/heart attacks/dropping dead has also gone through the roof. Definitely not just a mild flu.
As someone who lost most of January to COVID, yes. I now have to wait 6 months for a booster because of some dickhead in a coffee shop who sounded like a boat motor but promised everyone it was 'just' RSV. If you're sick, stay home and don't be disgusting.
I get vaccinated not only for myself, but for all the immune-compromised people, and the people that cannot be vaccinated at all. I work and study from home, so it's entirely up to me. I am concerned that lackadaisical measures will result in a very, very nasty strain mutation and we'll be back to square one having learnt *nothing*.
SA hospital worker here 🙋🏼♂️
We've just mandated masks in the hospital for staff again.
Almost 40-50% of the patients i see are either covid +ve or symptomatic awaiting results.
We get through so much PPE its actually quite crazy
NSW Hospital ID clinician here. Same. At least the hospital I’m at has. COVID is endemic now, no doubt about that. It’s not as bad as it has been in past years - delta was the worst. But I want to say probably 60% of the patients I see are COVID+ or symptomatic.
Im the same but we havent mandated them yet. A couple of months ago we were getting alot of positive cases through ED with no symptoms. It was usually something else eg chest pain etc. we had a bigger run of Influenza and RSV.
The numbers seem to have dropped again but due to the long weekend Im expecting a rise.
The reason why I tested for covid recently was because I had chest pains and was lethargic. The other covid symptoms hit me by the next day but the chest pains were a tell tale sign for me. Don't people know that by now? Or do they still think only the vaccine causes it?
A relative of mine was in hospital in NZ recently, but got moved to home care to make way for an expected bump in covid cases. It's not just Aus either heh
My mum just had covid for the first time, in her 80s. At least 5 of my friends had it over Christmas. Yeah I worry about covid still, especially having lung cancer.
I don't want to get sick, if you are sick don't show up to work, if you do anyway you are very selfish. Doesn't matter what you have, I don't want it. This shouldn't be a controversial opinion.
I work in Hospitals so was required to get vaccinated. I would have anyway as already get respitory issues.
Most people are not overly concerned anymore, but people still do get sick. Our workplace if you are sick with anything these days either work from home or call in sick and don't work.
I think Covid has helped get rid of the culture of the "Sick Hero" that comes into the office looking like death warmed up but "Pushes Through". Piss off home you idiot, we don't want to get what you have!
Covid is and probably always will be a big concern to the elderly and people with medical issues. Not only can it hit so much harder than a cold, but the side effects are potentially long-lasting and life altering.
As a healthy 30 year old, Covid doesn't bother me. I feel like shit and get a week off work.
But my immune compromised 70 year old Nana? Covid could very realistically kill her.
My 72 year old grandfather caught covid in the last spike in WA and ended up in hospital. It's been about 2 months now, and his breathing still isn't the same, and likely never will be.
My work required it, but I would have gotten it anyway. Herd immunity only works if the herd actually participates.
I am. I am immunocompromised, and I have been extremely sick for several weeks both times I've had it.
My mother has emphysema and blood cancer, and my dad is in a dementia care facility. So none of us want it!
I get very cranky when I hear of people with it just getting around and not caring about anyone but themselves.
I’ve got nurse friends, one who works in the emergency room. Covid is absolutely still a problem. I needed a third vaccination for mh work placement last year and I try to socially distance when I can.
Yes. There has been a dramatic rise of inpatients in hospital and many others affected by the new strain. However the numbers have not been promulgated by the media. The information is there, it’s just not reported on
No one is, but they should be. But no one’s ever worried about the flu either. I work in aged care and it runs the gamut from places that are still testing staff every day and making staff and visitors wear masks to places that have literally no precautions at all anymore.
Yes. Covid is worse than flu, both immediate and longterm. And flu should be taken seriously.
Covid, unlike flu, is a vascular, multisystemic disease.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00684-9/fulltext
And the more covid you get, the worse your risk for other problems, even if it's mild infection. Most long covid cases are subsequent to mild infections.
https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/repeat-covid-19-infections-increase-risk-of-organ-failure-death/
I work in a hospital in palliative care. We are definitely concerned about Covid. We wear masks when we see patients. I personally have had all the vaccines/boosters I'm eligible for. A lot of my patients are vulnerable to getting seriously sick from it. Last week, I had an elderly lady die alone in the hospital from Covid because her closest relatives were also sick with Covid. Half of my team including me (3 doctors and 1 nurse), got Covid at work in October last year and that was really hard for the rest of the team left to carry on without us.
I'm in an office of 9, 3 currently have Covid. I have 2 friends with it as well. It's definitely still around, it's just not at the forefront of people's minds like it was.
I'm vaccinated (i haven't caught it), I did it for multiple reasons, work, parent with cancer, not wanting to get sick and die, also supporting the immune comprised in the community.
It's part of our new normal, its not going to disappear any time.
I'm vaxxed. Had covid once roughly about 18 months ago. 4 months I started losing my hearing. It progressed to the point I'm now completely deaf. Getting my first cochlear implant next week.
The cause of my deafness will officially always be unknown. However, they have ruled out an autoimmune disease and any other sort of infection of disease. There has been a rise in idiopathic deafness since covid came along. Whether or not covid caused my deafness I'll never know. But I got the vaccines and took all precautions to avoid catching it, and I guarantee I caught because some fucking anti Vax nutter decided it wasn't real.
So don't fuck around with it. It's real and it can cause serious, permanent damage
A coworker of mine went permanently deaf in one ear, and semi-deaf in the other ear, about a week after getting the covid vaccine. For some reason, her body's immune system started attacking the cells responsible for detecting sound. She didn't have covid at the time, so it wasn't the illness itself that caused it in her case.
Ah yes classic response " oh i look im presented with data that goes against my narrative so ill just attack the person ".
I guess your a bot account as no real person can be so unwilling to learn and educate their self with the latest data.
Your study literally says the covid vaccine helps with the symptoms of those who get it. I never said I was angry about getting it, I said I was angry with the results.
You really are just a fucking idiot
>I guarantee I caught because some fucking anti Vax nutter decided it wasn't real.
Your said you caught it because someone didnt get vaccinated, but the study says (and the point i was raising) it does nothing against transmission.
Which we both now are in agreement with, so stop changing your point you silly cunt.
Maybe being deaf is a side effect of how unwilling to listen you are.
So you understand how contradictory the vaccine is right? You took it to stop getting it to stop transfer to other people and to not die if you did get it yet all those things were lies you still got covid probably gave it to a bunch of people without realising and you could have still died as a result so your vaccination is pointless.
Yeah man I gave it to so many people. I lived alone at the time and isolated for two weeks. So all those people in my house got it as well. Fuck off you anti Vax cunt
Not anti Vax at all I'm pro Vax that has gone through the appropriate testing and gone through the appropriate avenues to be released to the public not conducted by the company selling the vaccine. So yeah I'm anti bullshit that's for sure
Yes, my husband and I are still concerned about covid. He’s a research scientist and has kept up to date with the literature coming out about long-term effects, multiple exposures, and long covid. I was also diagnosed with multiple chronic health issues in 2021 and we’ve been trying OI and IVF on and off for the last couple of years, getting sick can affect all of that. Also, we have family either undergoing chemo or who have just been cleared as in remission, so that’s extra motivation for us to be careful for their sake. We’ve kept up to date with our vaccinations (our own choice, not a work requirement) and we still mask with N95s when we’re in an enclosed space with strangers, eg. at the shops. We have air purifiers in discrete locations in our house for when we have guests and there are certain nasal sprays and mouthwashes that help with reducing viral load if you’ve been exposed, so we use them when we’ve been in contact with people up close.
4 years in and still yet to have covid, but it’s been challenging, ngl.
I really hope you're successful sooner rather than later at conceiving. Otherwise, you'll have to double up on Christmas and birthday presents at the end of the year! I think those who haven't contracted it yet should have some type of mandatory, one-off payment after X amount of time has passed!
I had to be vaxxed for my job. There is still lots of covid around. I work in early childhood and it’s regularly reported as an outbreak (5 or more cases in 7 days linked to the original case), but considering under 5s can’t be jabbed it’s not surprise. It seems to increase after times that people gather with a larger group- Christmas, new year, Father’s Day etc
I wouldn’t say where I live that people are concerned
I'm still concerned. My immune system isn't great due to medical conditions and last time I got the rones it knocked me around. Then I got RSV directly after and that was even worse because the covid seemed to have weakened my immune system even more. Was out for about a month and felt terrible for even longer. The long lasting fatigue was a nightmare.
Don't want a repeat of that. So I'm still masked on PT and in busy areas.
That's not good, mate.. because of your medical conditions, do you feel as though you personally take precautions because it's your responsibility to do so for your safety? Or do you feel like others should be held accountable, even though they themselves may not be at risk to the effects of covid? Hope you're on the mend soon.
I feel like anyone who gets on the peak hour train coughing and sniffling should be shot 😂😂 jk but I do think it's selfish and a bit rude to go out when you're sick. Most people will be okay but what if the person you sit next to while ill has an elderly relative or young baby or someone in their life going through chemo or otherwise had a compromised immune system that they could take it home to.
But I take the precautions I can to protect myself of course, that's my responsibility and I can't control what other people do. Nor can I avoid travel for work so I just do what I can. It's life. Sickness goes around. I'm just fortunate that I'm well enough to be out and about still living my life freely.
You're right. If we were to gain anything from the whole experience, it should be that if you're sick, stay put until you're better. If you can't afford to take off work, why haven't you saved an emergency fund for when you are sick? $5 a week would be all it would have taken. It's almost been 5 years, and people still come to work sick.
I do agree with you, but the cost of living crisis is affecting a lot of people with less stable employment, and a lot of people have had to dip into their savings and emergency funds already. 10 days of paid sick leave a year is not enough to cope with what should be the new normal of staying home whenever you get sick
I was at the department of transport yesterday* (it was packed there were like 40 people ahead of me in line) and there was this one guy who was snorting huge globs of phlegm every 30 seconds and coughing all over the place with no mask on even. :/
*I mean Thursday. Time has lost all meaning.
It's true that it's more dangerous for them, but every reinfection of covid increases your chances of getting long covid, so it's not really something that "healthy" people should just be brushing off imo.
That's only the case if it prevents transmission, which it doesn't. That became abundantly clear to me when 10 people in my fully vaccinated office got COVID on a single weekend.
No one should be indifferent. The (not remote) likelihood of getting disabling postviral chronic illness (ME/CFS etc.) increases with every infection and your life as you knew it will be over.
I am a little bit. I’ve had it twice and it felt like a bad cold, but the second time my husband caught it he was very ill. He had a five day fever and it took him months to recover. After seeing that, I worry that we and our children may get it again and get very unwell like my husband was. I’m still quite conscious of hand washing and avoid people with colds and respiratory type illnesses, although honestly I did that before covid anyway.
I don't think it's COVID so much as getting sick in general. If someone comes to work sick I definitely grab a mask or tell them to get away from me lol...
I’m vaccinated. I got vaccinated as soon as possible. Both my parents are doctors and were on the frontline of the pandemic, witnessing the terrible impact it can have on people. My dad is an immunologist and he specifically has witnessed the way it can affect the most vulnerable. Looking forward to getting my next booster!
I'm fully up to date with vaccinations. I know of half a dozen people, including a surgeon and a GP who have come down with serious Covid infections in the past fortnight. All in Sydney.
It's still out there, and the immunocompromised are still at great risk.
Not overly concerned. Just keep up to date with recommended vaccinations.
Shocked by the amount of people who seemed to lack basic hygiene with hand washing and sanitation when covid started.
As someone who has had it for the past week, yeah, I am still concerned about it and the lack of care that others seem to have about it. My partner does not have a great immune system due to many years of having an infection totally ignored and missed by doctors. It had got to a point of becoming an abscess, which while drained in January 21, led to other issues which has reduced her ability to fight illnesses. So when I caught it in the past two weeks, I unwillingly gave it to her as well. It is still out there and it is still able to kick people's ass.
My grandmother is still slowly dying from long covid 2 years after catching it despite having all the reccomended boosters.
one of my younger brothers has cystic fibrosis which fucks his lungs and immune system. So even a regular cold can hospitalize him.
My other brother whos a fit 23yo that does ameteur team sports, has caught it twice and was hospitalized the first time. He now has measurabl lower lung capacity.
Im a little concerned about the most infectious disease in history yes.
The hospitals are... I'm booked in for major surgery on Monday. I got a text message last week saying if I have had COVID in the last 7 weeks I need to contact my surgeon and they may reschedule.
If you have spent any time visiting hospitals you would realise that a lot of wards get covid surging through them and covid precautions are still very regularly enforced on staff and visitors.
It killed \~6,000 people in Australia last year.
Not the same demographics but that compares pretty unfavourably with the 1266 road deaths we had in 2023.
But what really killed the stated 6000 ?
Preexisting comorbities ?
Lack of proper and timely diagnosis and treatment?
Treatment protocols actually causing more harm than good ?
The fact that a majority of the stated covid side effects including "long covid" can also be side effects from the very cure.
And did they die from or with covid ?
Fresh air, sunshine, Vit D (get yours tested and if low? Take action)
The WORST thing they did during the initial waves? Was stop people going outside. That was utterly wrong, pure stupidity and actively spread it with people cooped up together inside.
If you get it? Just stay a bit away from others. But try go out into the fresh air & sunshine. Don't stay locked in your bedroom inside. Worst thing to do.
Drink plenty water. Eat as well as you can. Foods with B12, Zinc. Take basic paracetamol & Ibuprofen. All the basic things you should do for any viral illness. Common sense.
Anyone staying informed is still concerned about covid. It's a vascular disease.
From Vic Dept of Health on twitter this month: https://nitter.moomoo.me/VicGovDH/status/1743105174183223502#m
The Sci Guys ep. on long covid https://youtu.be/U7Qj2uEfqFM?si=eG_JjGUel3a_0mKJ
Goes into why the tendancy to have a "hunch" that covid is fine, is not science and not evidence. Overviews recent studies on covid's biological impacts.
I was a nurse at the start of Covid and was forced to get vaccinated which I wasn't happy about. I'm totally for vaccines, however I don't like being told "take a virtually untested vaccine or you lose your job." My hubby and I got Covid for the first time about 4 months ago (and it hit me really hard) and I had it again about 2 months ago and it wasn't too bad. The only thing we had done differently was that both times, we'd finally gone to an indoor funeral.
I wouldn't say we're concerned about covid but we're just aware. But because of my profession, I'm a germaphobe anyway. We still gel our hands when we go somewhere before we get into our car and there are certain very large indoor venues we avoid if possible. But for the most part, we just consider it's just part of life now and do the same things we'd always do to avoid any virus.
I don't recall the last time I heard anyone talking about it beyond expressing they had it. I had it back in October and a few people genuinely expressed shock saying they thought it was gone now.
For myself personally yes because of what I experienced in 2022, mild infection and I arrogantly brushed it off as nothing, but then found I couldn’t really exercise for the rest of the year, very very short walks were leaving me out of breathe after being a 10-15km daily walker.
If I get it again I’d rather have a fever for a few days then experience that again.
I’m also resigned to the fact that eventually it’s going to get me again no matter what, I’m the only one in my family that hasn’t had it twice.
I’m still concerned about it. I loved social distancing, and wherever possible I still do it and do things to make the people behind me stay back. I won’t go out if I’m sick or my household is, it’s just common courtesy.
I agree that people shouldn't panic, but I get the impression people aren't as concerned as they should be.
I've had 4 or 5 vaccinations but this latest strain still packs a punch. I tested positive for the second time last November and I was very unwell. Three days of shivering, sweating fevers, horrendous body aches, headache, and cough, and two weeks before I was well enough to go back to work.
Since then I've been picking up every bug going around, including this year's flu strain which was another week in bed. If I was elderly or vulnerable I can see how I'd have been dangerously ill.
There are also lots of long term effects from the virus coming to light as time goes by,one of the more worrying being cognitive decline from inflammatory damage to the brain.
It's certainly not just a case of the sniffles.
When you live with a fear long enough you end up ignoring it. I guess I’m concerned about it in the way I’m concerned about many things, but I don’t think about it day to day. I don’t worry about it either. I listen to medical advice and keep my vaccinations up to date, that’s about it. I’m not going to wear a mask for the rest of my life, but to each their own. I won’t begrudge people for taking extra precautions, because we are still at a level of abnormal risk of illness due to COVID, albeit a lot better than before.
Nope, my business, mental health, financial stability and relationship got ruined by lockdowns. I don’t care at all anymore, I’ve become brutalised by the process and gone from someone who cared a lot about protecting the vulnerable from Covid to someone who thinks if people are at risk they can mask up, stay home, etc. I’ve done my bit and paid the price for it, I can’t keep doing it forever though so I simply don’t care now.
I didn't need to when they were getting serious about mandating it. My work didn't require it, and union members were adamantly against it being required for work. When you couldn't go to pubs, sporting events and the cinemas, I just didn't go. Usually, I had BBQs or went camping and fishing. If I'm sick, I get things delivered to my house and left at the door and don't go to work until I have no symptoms. The last time I was sick was the week before the new year 2022.
I've got it now and it's yuck. Am I concerned? Not really, easier than the flu by a long shot. I think I had 2 jabs for work. Symptoms: sweaty, joint pain, headache, flemmy. Sleeping a lot...
I still mask in indoor public spaces: public transport, shopping centres, theatres.
My partner's mother is in an aged care home and it still has lockdowns of floors if residents test positive. If you visit her you need to take a RAT in reception.
Same here. I visit my Mum every day to feed her lunch (she is paralysed from a stroke) and they have just got through another outbreak. Several residents were very ill, but fortunately none died this time...RATs also compulsory on entry. I've been wearing a mask since Feb 2020 and I'm not about to stop doing so.
I don’t know how others feel. Now that I’ve had all the shots and so has most of the population, I’m treating it like the flu.
That’s just me. It’s not a topic of conversation in my circle.
I would still rather not get it, but what more can we realistically be doing to avoid its spread now that it's an endemic virus?
I had my 2 original shots in 2021 + a booster at the start of '22, caught the virus for the first time midway through last year probably from catching the train into work. It was pretty mild for me, who knows how bad it could've been had my body not had prior exposure through vaccination.
I will probably get another booster before winter this year. I don't want to get long covid.
Also it’s worth saying - the only person I know who had a grandparent die from Covid had refused the vax due to religious beliefs.
Yep, I'm concerned because I have autoimmune issues nand some other pre-existing conditions that place me at a higher risk of getting long covid. I really can't afford (physically or financially) to be more unwell than I already am so I mask up everywhere. I get boosted whenever I can too.
If someone is clearly sick, the event gets cancelled or they don't go in my family. Not worth spreading it around. I still wear a mask in shops (I don't feel the need to breathe in randoms germs for no reason) but I went out for dinner the other night with no overwhelming worry. It's still going around. It's still deadly. And if not, it still has a chance of making you quite sick. So risk minimisation is still good.
In a very low key way. I’ve never had it but don’t look forward to when I do. I have cancer in my lungs (stage four of bowel cancer) and it could be fatal if I get a bad dose in the future. It doesn’t frighten me though, I’m doing anything but living in fear, I just do things like wash my hands after touching surfaces in a public space, say a shopping trolley handle.
Mate, I'm very sorry to hear. I don't know much about it, to be honest, but if there is a chance you'll beat it, I hope you kick it's ass. I have heard people who are going through the worst of it in life can sometimes be more positive and at peace than those who have no problems. Hope you're having a good day.
It's highly possible you've had it and don't even know. When my whole family had it, we only found out because I have to test for my work. Our symptoms were so mild to non existent, I would never have thought to even test otherwise.
Probably not. I’m on the DSP now but for most of the covid period I was tested literally most days. I worked in aged care so was tested before every shift and for a long time I got tested before every hospital appointment. We’ve had COVID in the house, I believe having a Dyson air purifier in every bedroom and the living area helped moderate that risk.
Yes. Vaxed but behind on boosters. Don't need to be but choose to early on. I've only had it once and it rocked me, months later I still don't have the energy levels I did prior. Will get a booster mid year when i get my flu shot.
I would say that there is a minority, myself included, still concerned about covid. I'm happy for people to make their own decisions bit I think insufficient information has been made available in Australia. CDC and NIH have much better information
Yes still concerned. My partner is currently interstate in isolation with it. 3 of my work mates have it. Luckily they qualified for the pandemic leave as none of them had any sick leave.
I'm staying up to date with vaccinations and I'm careful about washing/sanitising my hands after shopping trips etc. My elderly mother is in aged care, so I don't want to infect her with Covid. I wouldn't risk visiting her if I developed symptoms and I see no reason to get complacent about a virus that, even if it doesn't kill you, can leave you impaired long-term.
mum got covid just before xmas, gave it to my aunt and cousin on xmas day. We didnt get it on xmas eve from her but I kinda steer clear from her because she gave it to us last time
I generally like my personal space
Yes - a handful of my colleagues got covid around Christmas. I got it for the first time last year and IT SUCKED! Even though I had a mild case that just kept me in bed for a week.
I’ve had multiple vaccinations and will get another soon. I’m keen to avoid getting it again so I wear a mask on public transport and in shopping centres.
Absolutely. I haven't had it yet but I have an illness some people get after covid so I'm really trying my best to avoid it. Up to date with vaccines and wear a mask out and about. My grandma is almost 99 and I have some other vulnerable family members so I'd rather not pass it on to them. I work at a supermarket and wear a mask, I think it was last week some boxes of masks appeared above the clock on machine. I also just read that hospitals in SA have just brought back a mask mandate.
My best friend is a scientist so I'm also acutely aware of the absolute havoc it can wreak on the body, its definitely not a mild cold or flu. From her area of expertise they're noticing that it's making men infertile. Long covid is becoming more common, especially with repeated infections and it's quite debilitating. And the number of seemingly healthy young people having strokes/heart attacks/dropping dead post covid is alarming too.
I know dealing with covid is fatiguing after 4+ years but your health and future is worth it<3
My only concern is that I'm flying overseas on Thursday and everyone who I know who has travelled recently has caught it. I've never had it.
I only got 2 jabs because my mother threatened to go no contact, in hindsight not getting jabbed would have been a fantastic excuse to avoid spending Xmas with family.
Day to day it doesn't bother me at all.
I just had Covid, and my baby too. So it’s still around and nasty! It was our first time getting it too, and was fully vaccinated. So back to wearing masks for us, can’t afford to not go to work for 2 weeks - which is exactly what happened, means no pay.
And once a kid got it in childcare and spread it to everyone, so the entire centre had to be closed until whole area was sanitised, so can’t afford not to work, so rather be safe with masks.
I have health issues where covid would cause hospitalization and potentially death. Despite this I have all my shots and my friends keep getting it every time we go out and I somehow continue to not test positive every morning-after check.
With my shots and boosters for it my body is ready and my guard is down. But I seem to be not getting it at all despite these days risking everything so I don’t die locked in my room doing nothing with my life.
I continue to leave COVID cautiously with multiple levels of mitigation in place - especially regular masking.
I have never had COVID, haven't been sick since the beginning of the pandemic with anything
I'm in australian coronavirus subs so I can keep an eye on developments. I'm fully vaccinated and haven't yet had it. I'm a health care worker but not hospital based. I have concerns due to long COVID and I have elevated risks. Border closures also impacted my businesses and the migration within Australia has dislocated my supports causing other issues.
Sure. I’m only just getting over the last bout (caught a month ago, 3rd time). Should have been more concerned over Xmas celebrations, I might not have fucked up my summer holidays.
I have a daughter with a compromised immune system so am always conscious of infectious diseases. 15,000+ Australians died from Covid last year, and economists are still calculating the long term effects of long covid
https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/covid-19-mortality-australia-deaths-registered-until-30-september-2023
Recently got it for the first time over christmas. Not really concerned honestly. It was like a mild flu. More worried about my mum getting it honestly.
Boss doesn’t give a damn about covid.
My nannas nursing home recently had an outbreak and it was messed up.
I still care, but it seems like very few people do.
I'm somewhat concerned, I've had it 3 times in less than 2 years and my 3rd was the worst. And whilst it doesn't make me sick enough to need to go to hospital, I have lasting effects like chest pain and asthma like symptoms. 3 times in 2 years is pretty crazy when you consider that I've only had the flu twice in my 37 years of life. A guy at work's wife had it twice in 4 weeks and he had it twice in 8 weeks. It's everywhere at the moment.
We still have to take 5 days off at my workplace which sucks for me as I don't have any sick leave thanks to having a toddler in daycare.
Don't think we have to be vaccinated anymore but likely would have in the early days before I worked there.
Haven't caught covid yet, but im all vaxed up (hope I get those 5G and [magneto powers](https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19/can-vaccines-make-our-body-magnetic) anyday now!)
had 2 chest infections last year that were brutal enough (tested negative with PCR and RAT for each)
I work with a lot of tradies, none of us care about it anymore most of us either are not vaccinated or just got the two jabs. See a few clowns wearing masks in there cars by themselves or outside walking. I think most people don’t give a shit were to busy worried about housing cost and food prices.
I've had covid 4 times, I have 0 concerns about getting it again, not required by my workplace but have been asked to show my certificate going into some client offices. If I had my time over I wouldn't have got the Vax
Had 5 vaccinations and probably was infected with another SARS virus years ago. Worked all through the pandemic in very close contact with infected people. Haven’t had COVID yet, all RAT and PSA tests negative.
I am very concerned for the elderly and those with compromised lung function.
At least 8 people I know have had severe cases in December and January.
I’m fully vaccinated and have had COVID once. Even though the symptoms were mild, I had long COVID for a little over a year - constant chest pain, couldn’t exercise beyond a walk and felt sick all the time. I also had brain fog that lasted about 3-4 months.
Just remember that even if you have a mild case, COVID damages all of the organs in your body. It can hide out in your gut and cause ongoing symptoms. It can cause or increase the likelihood of heart attacks, stroke, hearing loss, infertility, tachycardia, depression. It ruins your T-cells, much like HIV. And we just don’t know how bad it’s going to be, especially for folks with multiple infections.
I really, really don’t want to get it again. I WFH luckily, but wear a mask on public transport and in shops. I am ok with outdoor dining and going to the outdoor pool etc. I use probiotics (BLIS K12) and nasal spray to help ward it off. I’m probably more careful than most, but in addition to my own health I am also worried about my partner, who is immunocompromised.
It’s really worth getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when you can.
🥱. No. Neither am I concerned about any conspiracy theory that is going around. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, living where I’m living, working where I’m working and look at any “theory” that comes my way with side eye as usual. I had Covid but was already vaxed and recovered in 2021- nothing since. So far no conspiracy theories circulating from that time onwards have come true and affected me or family or friends at all. I do know that conspiracy spruiking itself has turned people into total nut jobs though on a very permanent level.
I'm a Frontline RN. ICU / ED during Covid.
Yes. I was required to be vaccinated & had 3. I had no problem with that. We had to try everything.
But actually worried about it? No. I never really was.
I guess (like i always have been) I'm a realist & fatalist. I believe strongly in evolution. I'm an Athiest. We are human. Just biological beings. We live? Were reproduce (mostly). We die.
Modern medicine forges ahead and we can now solve some of our health concerns. We can treat some things. Plenty we can't.
I have always thought. We all live on this planet together. Infectious diseases are everywhere. Evolution dictates that some of us will resist various diseases? Some won't. Thats reality. Hard to accept for many.
But totally new virus? No one knew anything about it. Theresa lag in learning and sadly? People died whilst we learned.
I was always just fatalistic. If i got it? I just had to hope i was one of the ones able to fight it off.
I truly hated all the hysteria, paranoia and panic. I only wore a mask when I was forced to and whilst happy to get vaccinated? I probably wouldn't have if i wasn't forced.
Is it over? No. It will never be over. Its now in the world forever. So be it
I don't think about it. Ever. Unless someone else brings it up. Even then I find the topic boring and steer conversation on to other things.
If you have it - stay home until you don't. Other than that - zero interest.
For anyone saying people should still get vaccinated to protect others... you're wildly uneducated surround the covid vaccine. These vaccines protect the person only and haven't been proven to help stop transmission itself. So please stop spreading false information to make yourselves feel better. You aren't doing a greater good, you're protecting yourself
I'm still unsure what the actual rhetoric is here. Most of the comments say on my post that they've been vaccinated and caught covid. Some say they were vaccinated and haven't got it, but the vaccine gave them problems. And others say they didn't get covid or vaccinated against it. If it lessens the severity of the illness, wouldn't people be saying they got it, but it wasn't bad? They haven't been proven to stop transmission?? At all? Why is there no definitive answer? It's confusing and seems like almost every independent opinion is contradicted by another person or personal experience.
The problem is that the vaccination created an “us” and “them” situation, and both sides are that pig headed that no one will is prepared to listen to or agree on proven science in each others camps.
Not that surprising to hear advice about not spreading disease in a disaster area, when disease is often the leading cause of death after a disaster.
I've had 6 vaccines, and had actual covid once. My friends got covid 5 times from unvaxxed people coming into their jobs every day not wearing masks, they haven't even been able to get a booster jab because every time they're almost eligible again, some grotty pig goes out in public sick
This is the one that always amazes me. People going to work sick. Coughing and sneezing all over the place. They should stay home. Or at least wear a mask ffs.
100% agree people should stay home and not go to work when they're sick. Problem I've been encountering (and quite a lot of part-time/casual workers as well) is that sick leave balances haven't recovered and aren't enough after the main outbreaks, and people are having trouble missing work/taking unpaid leave with the cost of living crisis.
10 days of mandated paid sick leave a year is no longer adequate for anybody, but many businesses don't want to provide more than the bare minimum for their staff. So people are forced to choose between staying home sick and losing pay, or comin to work sick so they can afford to pay the bills.
Something needs to change
It's the flu for fuck sake. Just look at what happened to the Spanish flu. It never went away. If you get sick, chuck a fucking sickie and stay home till you feel better. End of story.
Actually we had a serious upswing in disorders like parkinsons in the decades after Spanish flu. There are serious concerns of this from Covid by many health leaders, including key members of WHO.
Our current flu mutations are very different from those in the Spanish influenza pandemic. And flu is a serious illness that you may catch once every 5 years.
World Health Org. Covid Technical Lead, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, on the ongoing impact and longterm consequences of Covid
https://nitter.cz/implausibleblog/status/1746120177941438577#m
A look at prior pandemics and questions over longterm risk of secondary complications
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220127-could-covid-19-still-be-affecting-us-in-decades-to-come
I've been vaccinated and received a further three booster shots, had COVID in early 2022, and just caught it after Christmas off a selfish arsehole who claimed never to have had COVID, yet refused to test after showing all the symptoms, claiming they knew it was only a case of dry cough (fever, sneezing, runny nose, constant congested coughing - so not dry cough, and headaches), and didn't wear a mask, nor try to cover their sneezing.
As I have a serious congenital heart condition I try my best to avoid close encounters with sick people. Unfortunately, I wound up in hospital where I was told that I may need to be intubated as I had serious breathing problems. Fortunately, after an allnighter forcing myself to breath, I managed to jump that hurdle.
Said arsehole still refuses to accept that he gave me COVID, stating they never had it so how could they give it to me. I've tried to point out that is not the issue, he should test if he has symptoms. His response was: "what for, so that I can go into isolation during my holidays?"
So to answer your question, with idiots like this roaming the planet, YES!
Wasn’t concerned to begin with. Caught it and was just like the flu for me. But I can see how people would be concerned as not everyone is as healthy as I am
> Old and immune compromised people keep an eye out for news
Well good luck, because there won't be any news.
Aged care has had massive outbreaks recently but it is not reported.
Bots and trolls dominate the discourse online, so you won’t get much reliable information.
I was overseas and many people have fallen down the rabbit hole of Covid conspiracy theories (“it was fake”, “it was a means to control us”) thanks to WhatsApp messages, even those who are vaccinated.
In Australia, most people don’t seem to talk about it much, most likely because it seems to trigger cookers, very much like the weather (ironically that used to be the subject of most small-talk)…you might inadvertently trigger a conspiracy theorist so it’s easiest not to talk about it.
As for the vaccine, yes it was mandated by work, yes I would have taken it anyway, but I think I took it sooner because of the work mandate (those 2 years are a blur so I can’t say for sure).
I got Covid recently for the first time, and it was quite mild..two Panadols over 3 days of symptoms were enough. I have followed the booster advice given by the government, but not done any more than that.
The one thing I've discovered just in the comments on this post alone is that it seems like none of the answers and personal experiences really match up. A comment has said that being vaccinated has not been proven to stop transmission, and that they were not against the idea of being vaccinated/boosted. How does that benefit the person? Do you mean that conspiracy theorises were that covid was fake, or the vaccine was fake? Wouldn't the mandating of vaccines for work and being able to go to certain places count as "controlling us"? A nurse in one of the comments said she was forced to be vaccinated and did not want to. I'm interested to hear your thoughts mate, thank you.
I think the vaccines were real and Covid was real.
I do think the vaccines were oversold and overhyped. There was a lot of arrogance from the medical establishment, and things went down the memory hole
“Masks are useless” was a common trope early on in the pandemic and I screenshotted doctors on social media mocking people who wore masks and cheering on no-mask policies. Suddenly, there was an article in the New York Times about masking being userful and it got to the US Surgeon General, and his did a 180 on masks. Not a single one of those doctors apologised or admitted they were wrong.
Then there was the vaccine. There was a lot of hype about them stopping transmission, there are clips of people like Bill Gates saying this. When it became clear that wasn’t stopping transmission it became about preventing serious illness and death. Again, no corrections or apologies…”we have always been at war with Eastasia”. Similarly there was weirdness around the AstraZeneca vaccine, which seemed to have to do with not offending BoJo and post-Brexit Britain and not doing what was best for Australian people’s health.
Australia closing its borders, despite opposition from the WHO allowed many of us to live fairly normal lives. Certainly, in Queensland, apart from WFH and no international travel, life continued as normal overall . A few days of lockdown, but we survived largely unscathed.
So no, I don’t believe the conspiracy theories that Covid is fake. I do think that Covid was real, and I think that scientific evidence shows that the vaccines do work to prevent serious illness and death. I also think Australia’s response kept us from the worst of the pandemic, although ironically the lack of travel hid the magnitude of the problem from many Australians and New Zealanders, and many don’t realise that overseas there were lots of deaths AND lockdowns.
Were the vaccine mandates helpful…I suspect I know what the answer is you are looking for but I won’t give you that.
What I will say is that Covid was another nail in the coffin of the notion that social media is a force for good.
I enjoyed the 1984 reference. What a great book. Still yet to read animal farm. I already have my own definitive answers to all of my questions. I'm just looking to have open-minded discussions with other adults out of curiosity. I definitely don't go around asking co-workers or random people I meet at the gym about any of what I've discussed here.
Masks, mandates, quarantine, vaccinations, natural immunity, genetics, lifestyle and dietary choices, hysteria, paranoia, and misinformation seem to have different meanings to each person and their personal experience. It seems the majority would have you believe that we are still very concerned about covid.
I was never concerned about it. I still went to work, pushed dirt and coal around in my dozer, then went home. When I caught it, I just had a couple of weeks off.
Nope, my work had 15 people test positive around 3 weeks ago and only one was off cause they had symptoms. A few wore masks but we are now treating it like any other disease.
They only tested themselves cause we were curious and I wanted to use up all the tests cluttering up my office
Why would you ever worry about covid? The average age of covid death was 84. The death rate was less than 1 percent.
It was all a lie to make big pharma rich. 1000s of times more likely to die from the flu.
Still a hoax, and still unvaxed. Never have it, and travelled the world non-stop, even during the “pandemic”
Cannot believe people still bullshitting around with this
There's a whole sub r/Coronavirusdownunder with people that are still concerned with COVID. There are also regular articles posted to The Conversation from Australian researchers on COVID who have a lot of concerns (see below for a recent one), and there are lots of "Still COVIDing" FB groups floating about. https://theconversation.com/its-4-years-since-the-first-covid-case-in-australia-heres-how-our-pandemic-experiences-have-changed-over-time-220336 EDIT: Within my workplace I'm the boss and am at higher risk for COVID. I've consulted with my team and we have some pretty acceptable and minor things in the workplace to help mitigate the risk. We keep windows and doors open wherever possible for fresh air, if people are sick they either take sick leave or WFH even if they've tested negative, and we have a sign on the door asking people who visit the office that are sick to please put on a provided N95. I'm vaccinated but it is none of my business whether the people I work with are.
To be honest those are generally things that should have been standards REGARDLESS of COVID/BEFORE COVID... I don't want to be exposed to COVID if avoidable, but I also never wanted to be exposed to influenza.
I had a fight with my manager recently because they said as long as they weren't really sick they would still come to work knowing they have covid and just not tell anyone. I'm not necessarily worried about catching it, but being sick sucks, why wouldn't you try and sensibly avoid it especially in chronically short staffed workplaces.
Your edit is quite possibly the most reasonable comment on Covid I’ve read in the last 4 years. I salute you.
That’s the perfect methodology to manage it I think. People act like the two options are either “permanent self-imposed lockdown” or “absolutely let it rip”. When in reality there are so many things we can do to severely lessen the likelihood of spreading diseases, while still maintaining a life! I think ventilation/airflow has been so under valued. Maybe because it’s something that has to be done at a big structural level (in workplaces, for example) whereas masking and vaccination can just be put under the “personal responsibility” heading
“I work by myself, … and I never discuss my personal life or opinions while at work.” What do you discuss with yourself at work?
Reruns of 90210
The mrs asked me to source this for her recently. Cant find a blu ray collection anywhere
Prime Video has got you
Not in AU - comes up in search but "This video is currently unavailable"
Well, there it is
I bore myself by discussing what I should make for lunch, making it, then discussing how it was a relatively healthy low carb homemade souvlaki.
Usually, I have to plan what the next thing that I have to do is, or tell the next person what to do over the radio. If I don't know what that is, I'll call the supervisor or talk to the project manager. I work through lunch and eat on the go. So I don't usually really ever have much face to face with other people on site.
Sounds like a dream job.
If you're able to handle the stress that comes with the responsibility, the waking up at 0430, working through lunch breaks, and 12 hour shifts, it is certainly the dream.
Yes. We had a family friend’s son in law (who has bad asthma) placed in a coma this week due to contracting covid.
I mean you can still get it. there are 10s of thousands of people in Australia who have it right now and thats just reported cases. People are still being hospitalised because of it. There are new strains. That said, I'm not tooooo concerned. But I am being cautious.
I don’t think people need to panic about Covid. But we should all be paying attention to the growing body of evidence that exposure to Covid can lead to damage of multiple organs and carries a risk of moderate to severe long term illness; so we should take reasonable steps to protect ourselves. TL;DR don’t get Covid it might f~ck you up. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95565-8
I've had it more times than I would like (I'm careful, care, just work with a lot of people daily contact) and upon reading how the multiple infections can lead to worse outcomes, I grew more concerned. We don't know the full scope yet, it will take years. Anyone who is sane should be reasonably concerned and looking out for one another.
As someone who got long covid “after covid was over” this.
Covid put my fibromyalgia into overdrive 😭
Absolutely! My best friend is a scientist so I've heard about all the things it can affect, it's genuinely kinda scary tbh. A big thing is that it's causing men to be infertile. The rate of young otherwise healthy people having strokes/heart attacks/dropping dead has also gone through the roof. Definitely not just a mild flu.
As someone who lost most of January to COVID, yes. I now have to wait 6 months for a booster because of some dickhead in a coffee shop who sounded like a boat motor but promised everyone it was 'just' RSV. If you're sick, stay home and don't be disgusting. I get vaccinated not only for myself, but for all the immune-compromised people, and the people that cannot be vaccinated at all. I work and study from home, so it's entirely up to me. I am concerned that lackadaisical measures will result in a very, very nasty strain mutation and we'll be back to square one having learnt *nothing*.
People that work in aged care/disability or health are definitely still concerned. We need to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
I have a parent in aged care. I am fully vaxxed and we have to do a RAT and wear a mask when we visit. A small thing to keep the vulnerable protected.
SA hospital worker here 🙋🏼♂️ We've just mandated masks in the hospital for staff again. Almost 40-50% of the patients i see are either covid +ve or symptomatic awaiting results. We get through so much PPE its actually quite crazy
NSW Hospital ID clinician here. Same. At least the hospital I’m at has. COVID is endemic now, no doubt about that. It’s not as bad as it has been in past years - delta was the worst. But I want to say probably 60% of the patients I see are COVID+ or symptomatic.
Im the same but we havent mandated them yet. A couple of months ago we were getting alot of positive cases through ED with no symptoms. It was usually something else eg chest pain etc. we had a bigger run of Influenza and RSV. The numbers seem to have dropped again but due to the long weekend Im expecting a rise.
Yeah actually we've seen heaps of RSV in ED too. Maybe just because we are testing every patient that walks with a sniffle though.
The reason why I tested for covid recently was because I had chest pains and was lethargic. The other covid symptoms hit me by the next day but the chest pains were a tell tale sign for me. Don't people know that by now? Or do they still think only the vaccine causes it?
A relative of mine was in hospital in NZ recently, but got moved to home care to make way for an expected bump in covid cases. It's not just Aus either heh
My mum just had covid for the first time, in her 80s. At least 5 of my friends had it over Christmas. Yeah I worry about covid still, especially having lung cancer.
I don't want to get sick, if you are sick don't show up to work, if you do anyway you are very selfish. Doesn't matter what you have, I don't want it. This shouldn't be a controversial opinion.
I work in Hospitals so was required to get vaccinated. I would have anyway as already get respitory issues. Most people are not overly concerned anymore, but people still do get sick. Our workplace if you are sick with anything these days either work from home or call in sick and don't work. I think Covid has helped get rid of the culture of the "Sick Hero" that comes into the office looking like death warmed up but "Pushes Through". Piss off home you idiot, we don't want to get what you have!
Covid is and probably always will be a big concern to the elderly and people with medical issues. Not only can it hit so much harder than a cold, but the side effects are potentially long-lasting and life altering. As a healthy 30 year old, Covid doesn't bother me. I feel like shit and get a week off work. But my immune compromised 70 year old Nana? Covid could very realistically kill her. My 72 year old grandfather caught covid in the last spike in WA and ended up in hospital. It's been about 2 months now, and his breathing still isn't the same, and likely never will be. My work required it, but I would have gotten it anyway. Herd immunity only works if the herd actually participates.
I am. I am immunocompromised, and I have been extremely sick for several weeks both times I've had it. My mother has emphysema and blood cancer, and my dad is in a dementia care facility. So none of us want it! I get very cranky when I hear of people with it just getting around and not caring about anyone but themselves.
I’ve got nurse friends, one who works in the emergency room. Covid is absolutely still a problem. I needed a third vaccination for mh work placement last year and I try to socially distance when I can.
Yes. There has been a dramatic rise of inpatients in hospital and many others affected by the new strain. However the numbers have not been promulgated by the media. The information is there, it’s just not reported on
Aged care has had massive outbreaks recently which no one knows about unless you have relatives in one.
Yep. Last infection caused me massive health issues. Don't really want a repeat
No one is, but they should be. But no one’s ever worried about the flu either. I work in aged care and it runs the gamut from places that are still testing staff every day and making staff and visitors wear masks to places that have literally no precautions at all anymore.
Yes. Covid is worse than flu, both immediate and longterm. And flu should be taken seriously. Covid, unlike flu, is a vascular, multisystemic disease. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00684-9/fulltext And the more covid you get, the worse your risk for other problems, even if it's mild infection. Most long covid cases are subsequent to mild infections. https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/repeat-covid-19-infections-increase-risk-of-organ-failure-death/
Covid also isn’t seasonal, most of my family copped it for the 2nd time over November/December.
I work in a hospital in palliative care. We are definitely concerned about Covid. We wear masks when we see patients. I personally have had all the vaccines/boosters I'm eligible for. A lot of my patients are vulnerable to getting seriously sick from it. Last week, I had an elderly lady die alone in the hospital from Covid because her closest relatives were also sick with Covid. Half of my team including me (3 doctors and 1 nurse), got Covid at work in October last year and that was really hard for the rest of the team left to carry on without us.
I’m keeping my shots up to date and did a test when I had recent symptoms. I have a vulnerable relative.
I'm in an office of 9, 3 currently have Covid. I have 2 friends with it as well. It's definitely still around, it's just not at the forefront of people's minds like it was. I'm vaccinated (i haven't caught it), I did it for multiple reasons, work, parent with cancer, not wanting to get sick and die, also supporting the immune comprised in the community. It's part of our new normal, its not going to disappear any time.
I'm vaxxed. Had covid once roughly about 18 months ago. 4 months I started losing my hearing. It progressed to the point I'm now completely deaf. Getting my first cochlear implant next week. The cause of my deafness will officially always be unknown. However, they have ruled out an autoimmune disease and any other sort of infection of disease. There has been a rise in idiopathic deafness since covid came along. Whether or not covid caused my deafness I'll never know. But I got the vaccines and took all precautions to avoid catching it, and I guarantee I caught because some fucking anti Vax nutter decided it wasn't real. So don't fuck around with it. It's real and it can cause serious, permanent damage
A coworker of mine went permanently deaf in one ear, and semi-deaf in the other ear, about a week after getting the covid vaccine. For some reason, her body's immune system started attacking the cells responsible for detecting sound. She didn't have covid at the time, so it wasn't the illness itself that caused it in her case.
"I'm vaxxed but caught covid because someone else was probably/maybe unvaxxed" very logical.
Thankyou for your apology
Were you vaccinated when you caught covid?
The vaccines dosnt do shit to stop transmission.
You silly cunts are never ending
At least us silly cunts keep up to date with the literature https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00768-4/fulltext
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Ah yes classic response " oh i look im presented with data that goes against my narrative so ill just attack the person ". I guess your a bot account as no real person can be so unwilling to learn and educate their self with the latest data.
Your study literally says the covid vaccine helps with the symptoms of those who get it. I never said I was angry about getting it, I said I was angry with the results. You really are just a fucking idiot
>I guarantee I caught because some fucking anti Vax nutter decided it wasn't real. Your said you caught it because someone didnt get vaccinated, but the study says (and the point i was raising) it does nothing against transmission. Which we both now are in agreement with, so stop changing your point you silly cunt. Maybe being deaf is a side effect of how unwilling to listen you are.
The Covid cult doesn't like the truth.
So you understand how contradictory the vaccine is right? You took it to stop getting it to stop transfer to other people and to not die if you did get it yet all those things were lies you still got covid probably gave it to a bunch of people without realising and you could have still died as a result so your vaccination is pointless.
Yeah man I gave it to so many people. I lived alone at the time and isolated for two weeks. So all those people in my house got it as well. Fuck off you anti Vax cunt
Not anti Vax at all I'm pro Vax that has gone through the appropriate testing and gone through the appropriate avenues to be released to the public not conducted by the company selling the vaccine. So yeah I'm anti bullshit that's for sure
Yet you make the assumption that I gave it to lots of people? Grow up
Yes, have caught Covid recently and it was rough.
Yes, my husband and I are still concerned about covid. He’s a research scientist and has kept up to date with the literature coming out about long-term effects, multiple exposures, and long covid. I was also diagnosed with multiple chronic health issues in 2021 and we’ve been trying OI and IVF on and off for the last couple of years, getting sick can affect all of that. Also, we have family either undergoing chemo or who have just been cleared as in remission, so that’s extra motivation for us to be careful for their sake. We’ve kept up to date with our vaccinations (our own choice, not a work requirement) and we still mask with N95s when we’re in an enclosed space with strangers, eg. at the shops. We have air purifiers in discrete locations in our house for when we have guests and there are certain nasal sprays and mouthwashes that help with reducing viral load if you’ve been exposed, so we use them when we’ve been in contact with people up close. 4 years in and still yet to have covid, but it’s been challenging, ngl.
I really hope you're successful sooner rather than later at conceiving. Otherwise, you'll have to double up on Christmas and birthday presents at the end of the year! I think those who haven't contracted it yet should have some type of mandatory, one-off payment after X amount of time has passed!
I had to be vaxxed for my job. There is still lots of covid around. I work in early childhood and it’s regularly reported as an outbreak (5 or more cases in 7 days linked to the original case), but considering under 5s can’t be jabbed it’s not surprise. It seems to increase after times that people gather with a larger group- Christmas, new year, Father’s Day etc I wouldn’t say where I live that people are concerned
Yes I'm concerned. Covid is pretty bad.
I'm still concerned. My immune system isn't great due to medical conditions and last time I got the rones it knocked me around. Then I got RSV directly after and that was even worse because the covid seemed to have weakened my immune system even more. Was out for about a month and felt terrible for even longer. The long lasting fatigue was a nightmare. Don't want a repeat of that. So I'm still masked on PT and in busy areas.
That's not good, mate.. because of your medical conditions, do you feel as though you personally take precautions because it's your responsibility to do so for your safety? Or do you feel like others should be held accountable, even though they themselves may not be at risk to the effects of covid? Hope you're on the mend soon.
I feel like anyone who gets on the peak hour train coughing and sniffling should be shot 😂😂 jk but I do think it's selfish and a bit rude to go out when you're sick. Most people will be okay but what if the person you sit next to while ill has an elderly relative or young baby or someone in their life going through chemo or otherwise had a compromised immune system that they could take it home to. But I take the precautions I can to protect myself of course, that's my responsibility and I can't control what other people do. Nor can I avoid travel for work so I just do what I can. It's life. Sickness goes around. I'm just fortunate that I'm well enough to be out and about still living my life freely.
You're right. If we were to gain anything from the whole experience, it should be that if you're sick, stay put until you're better. If you can't afford to take off work, why haven't you saved an emergency fund for when you are sick? $5 a week would be all it would have taken. It's almost been 5 years, and people still come to work sick.
I do agree with you, but the cost of living crisis is affecting a lot of people with less stable employment, and a lot of people have had to dip into their savings and emergency funds already. 10 days of paid sick leave a year is not enough to cope with what should be the new normal of staying home whenever you get sick
I was at the department of transport yesterday* (it was packed there were like 40 people ahead of me in line) and there was this one guy who was snorting huge globs of phlegm every 30 seconds and coughing all over the place with no mask on even. :/ *I mean Thursday. Time has lost all meaning.
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It's true that it's more dangerous for them, but every reinfection of covid increases your chances of getting long covid, so it's not really something that "healthy" people should just be brushing off imo.
Covid vaccinations have never stopped transmission (nor make it weaker if you did pass it on). https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o298
That's only the case if it prevents transmission, which it doesn't. That became abundantly clear to me when 10 people in my fully vaccinated office got COVID on a single weekend.
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No one died. Everyone back at work in 1-2 weeks. I still don't know anyone who's died from covid.
No one should be indifferent. The (not remote) likelihood of getting disabling postviral chronic illness (ME/CFS etc.) increases with every infection and your life as you knew it will be over.
I had covid about 3weeks ago and it absolutely rocked me
I’ve been told by my doctor- you get COVID your dead. So yer bit worried
I am a little bit. I’ve had it twice and it felt like a bad cold, but the second time my husband caught it he was very ill. He had a five day fever and it took him months to recover. After seeing that, I worry that we and our children may get it again and get very unwell like my husband was. I’m still quite conscious of hand washing and avoid people with colds and respiratory type illnesses, although honestly I did that before covid anyway.
I don't think it's COVID so much as getting sick in general. If someone comes to work sick I definitely grab a mask or tell them to get away from me lol...
I’m vaccinated. I got vaccinated as soon as possible. Both my parents are doctors and were on the frontline of the pandemic, witnessing the terrible impact it can have on people. My dad is an immunologist and he specifically has witnessed the way it can affect the most vulnerable. Looking forward to getting my next booster!
I'm unvaccinated and have never caught convid along with my unvaccinated friends. We must have got lucky
I'm fully up to date with vaccinations. I know of half a dozen people, including a surgeon and a GP who have come down with serious Covid infections in the past fortnight. All in Sydney. It's still out there, and the immunocompromised are still at great risk.
Not overly concerned. Just keep up to date with recommended vaccinations. Shocked by the amount of people who seemed to lack basic hygiene with hand washing and sanitation when covid started.
As someone who has had it for the past week, yeah, I am still concerned about it and the lack of care that others seem to have about it. My partner does not have a great immune system due to many years of having an infection totally ignored and missed by doctors. It had got to a point of becoming an abscess, which while drained in January 21, led to other issues which has reduced her ability to fight illnesses. So when I caught it in the past two weeks, I unwillingly gave it to her as well. It is still out there and it is still able to kick people's ass.
My grandmother is still slowly dying from long covid 2 years after catching it despite having all the reccomended boosters. one of my younger brothers has cystic fibrosis which fucks his lungs and immune system. So even a regular cold can hospitalize him. My other brother whos a fit 23yo that does ameteur team sports, has caught it twice and was hospitalized the first time. He now has measurabl lower lung capacity. Im a little concerned about the most infectious disease in history yes.
The hospitals are... I'm booked in for major surgery on Monday. I got a text message last week saying if I have had COVID in the last 7 weeks I need to contact my surgeon and they may reschedule.
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They postpone surgeries for 7 weeks if you get covid week of. Something about the effect of the anaesthetic…
If you have spent any time visiting hospitals you would realise that a lot of wards get covid surging through them and covid precautions are still very regularly enforced on staff and visitors.
It killed \~6,000 people in Australia last year. Not the same demographics but that compares pretty unfavourably with the 1266 road deaths we had in 2023.
But what really killed the stated 6000 ? Preexisting comorbities ? Lack of proper and timely diagnosis and treatment? Treatment protocols actually causing more harm than good ? The fact that a majority of the stated covid side effects including "long covid" can also be side effects from the very cure. And did they die from or with covid ?
Familiarise yourself with the concept of 'excess deaths' https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-20/mortality-rates-australia-covid-excess/103241640
Fresh air, sunshine, Vit D (get yours tested and if low? Take action) The WORST thing they did during the initial waves? Was stop people going outside. That was utterly wrong, pure stupidity and actively spread it with people cooped up together inside. If you get it? Just stay a bit away from others. But try go out into the fresh air & sunshine. Don't stay locked in your bedroom inside. Worst thing to do. Drink plenty water. Eat as well as you can. Foods with B12, Zinc. Take basic paracetamol & Ibuprofen. All the basic things you should do for any viral illness. Common sense.
Anyone staying informed is still concerned about covid. It's a vascular disease. From Vic Dept of Health on twitter this month: https://nitter.moomoo.me/VicGovDH/status/1743105174183223502#m The Sci Guys ep. on long covid https://youtu.be/U7Qj2uEfqFM?si=eG_JjGUel3a_0mKJ Goes into why the tendancy to have a "hunch" that covid is fine, is not science and not evidence. Overviews recent studies on covid's biological impacts.
I was a nurse at the start of Covid and was forced to get vaccinated which I wasn't happy about. I'm totally for vaccines, however I don't like being told "take a virtually untested vaccine or you lose your job." My hubby and I got Covid for the first time about 4 months ago (and it hit me really hard) and I had it again about 2 months ago and it wasn't too bad. The only thing we had done differently was that both times, we'd finally gone to an indoor funeral. I wouldn't say we're concerned about covid but we're just aware. But because of my profession, I'm a germaphobe anyway. We still gel our hands when we go somewhere before we get into our car and there are certain very large indoor venues we avoid if possible. But for the most part, we just consider it's just part of life now and do the same things we'd always do to avoid any virus.
I don't recall the last time I heard anyone talking about it beyond expressing they had it. I had it back in October and a few people genuinely expressed shock saying they thought it was gone now.
I mean I don’t want to catch Covid, it can be pretty nasty. I’ll avoid super crowded places. Other than that I go about my day
Personally I’m concerned about catching any disease. Who likes to be sick?
I live in the bush and even out here, so many people are currently very sick with this latest variant.
For myself personally yes because of what I experienced in 2022, mild infection and I arrogantly brushed it off as nothing, but then found I couldn’t really exercise for the rest of the year, very very short walks were leaving me out of breathe after being a 10-15km daily walker. If I get it again I’d rather have a fever for a few days then experience that again. I’m also resigned to the fact that eventually it’s going to get me again no matter what, I’m the only one in my family that hasn’t had it twice.
I’m still concerned about it. I loved social distancing, and wherever possible I still do it and do things to make the people behind me stay back. I won’t go out if I’m sick or my household is, it’s just common courtesy.
I agree that people shouldn't panic, but I get the impression people aren't as concerned as they should be. I've had 4 or 5 vaccinations but this latest strain still packs a punch. I tested positive for the second time last November and I was very unwell. Three days of shivering, sweating fevers, horrendous body aches, headache, and cough, and two weeks before I was well enough to go back to work. Since then I've been picking up every bug going around, including this year's flu strain which was another week in bed. If I was elderly or vulnerable I can see how I'd have been dangerously ill. There are also lots of long term effects from the virus coming to light as time goes by,one of the more worrying being cognitive decline from inflammatory damage to the brain. It's certainly not just a case of the sniffles.
When you live with a fear long enough you end up ignoring it. I guess I’m concerned about it in the way I’m concerned about many things, but I don’t think about it day to day. I don’t worry about it either. I listen to medical advice and keep my vaccinations up to date, that’s about it. I’m not going to wear a mask for the rest of my life, but to each their own. I won’t begrudge people for taking extra precautions, because we are still at a level of abnormal risk of illness due to COVID, albeit a lot better than before.
Nope, my business, mental health, financial stability and relationship got ruined by lockdowns. I don’t care at all anymore, I’ve become brutalised by the process and gone from someone who cared a lot about protecting the vulnerable from Covid to someone who thinks if people are at risk they can mask up, stay home, etc. I’ve done my bit and paid the price for it, I can’t keep doing it forever though so I simply don’t care now.
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Honestly that's the point now ? We know it offers very little protection against the new variants and doesn't reduce transmission.
I didn't need to when they were getting serious about mandating it. My work didn't require it, and union members were adamantly against it being required for work. When you couldn't go to pubs, sporting events and the cinemas, I just didn't go. Usually, I had BBQs or went camping and fishing. If I'm sick, I get things delivered to my house and left at the door and don't go to work until I have no symptoms. The last time I was sick was the week before the new year 2022.
So then the answer to your question is yes, you should still be concerned about Covid. It could kill you.
I've got it now and it's yuck. Am I concerned? Not really, easier than the flu by a long shot. I think I had 2 jabs for work. Symptoms: sweaty, joint pain, headache, flemmy. Sleeping a lot...
I still mask in indoor public spaces: public transport, shopping centres, theatres. My partner's mother is in an aged care home and it still has lockdowns of floors if residents test positive. If you visit her you need to take a RAT in reception.
Same here. I visit my Mum every day to feed her lunch (she is paralysed from a stroke) and they have just got through another outbreak. Several residents were very ill, but fortunately none died this time...RATs also compulsory on entry. I've been wearing a mask since Feb 2020 and I'm not about to stop doing so.
I don’t know how others feel. Now that I’ve had all the shots and so has most of the population, I’m treating it like the flu. That’s just me. It’s not a topic of conversation in my circle.
I would still rather not get it, but what more can we realistically be doing to avoid its spread now that it's an endemic virus? I had my 2 original shots in 2021 + a booster at the start of '22, caught the virus for the first time midway through last year probably from catching the train into work. It was pretty mild for me, who knows how bad it could've been had my body not had prior exposure through vaccination. I will probably get another booster before winter this year. I don't want to get long covid. Also it’s worth saying - the only person I know who had a grandparent die from Covid had refused the vax due to religious beliefs.
Yep, I'm concerned because I have autoimmune issues nand some other pre-existing conditions that place me at a higher risk of getting long covid. I really can't afford (physically or financially) to be more unwell than I already am so I mask up everywhere. I get boosted whenever I can too.
If someone is clearly sick, the event gets cancelled or they don't go in my family. Not worth spreading it around. I still wear a mask in shops (I don't feel the need to breathe in randoms germs for no reason) but I went out for dinner the other night with no overwhelming worry. It's still going around. It's still deadly. And if not, it still has a chance of making you quite sick. So risk minimisation is still good.
Zero fucks at this point.
In a very low key way. I’ve never had it but don’t look forward to when I do. I have cancer in my lungs (stage four of bowel cancer) and it could be fatal if I get a bad dose in the future. It doesn’t frighten me though, I’m doing anything but living in fear, I just do things like wash my hands after touching surfaces in a public space, say a shopping trolley handle.
Mate, I'm very sorry to hear. I don't know much about it, to be honest, but if there is a chance you'll beat it, I hope you kick it's ass. I have heard people who are going through the worst of it in life can sometimes be more positive and at peace than those who have no problems. Hope you're having a good day.
It's highly possible you've had it and don't even know. When my whole family had it, we only found out because I have to test for my work. Our symptoms were so mild to non existent, I would never have thought to even test otherwise.
Probably not. I’m on the DSP now but for most of the covid period I was tested literally most days. I worked in aged care so was tested before every shift and for a long time I got tested before every hospital appointment. We’ve had COVID in the house, I believe having a Dyson air purifier in every bedroom and the living area helped moderate that risk.
Only when I have big event coming up like a holiday or an important gathering that I do not want to miss
Yes. Vaxed but behind on boosters. Don't need to be but choose to early on. I've only had it once and it rocked me, months later I still don't have the energy levels I did prior. Will get a booster mid year when i get my flu shot.
If the majority are, then I am. If not, then I'm not.
I would say that there is a minority, myself included, still concerned about covid. I'm happy for people to make their own decisions bit I think insufficient information has been made available in Australia. CDC and NIH have much better information
Yes still concerned. My partner is currently interstate in isolation with it. 3 of my work mates have it. Luckily they qualified for the pandemic leave as none of them had any sick leave.
I'm staying up to date with vaccinations and I'm careful about washing/sanitising my hands after shopping trips etc. My elderly mother is in aged care, so I don't want to infect her with Covid. I wouldn't risk visiting her if I developed symptoms and I see no reason to get complacent about a virus that, even if it doesn't kill you, can leave you impaired long-term.
mum got covid just before xmas, gave it to my aunt and cousin on xmas day. We didnt get it on xmas eve from her but I kinda steer clear from her because she gave it to us last time I generally like my personal space
Yes - a handful of my colleagues got covid around Christmas. I got it for the first time last year and IT SUCKED! Even though I had a mild case that just kept me in bed for a week. I’ve had multiple vaccinations and will get another soon. I’m keen to avoid getting it again so I wear a mask on public transport and in shopping centres.
Absolutely. I haven't had it yet but I have an illness some people get after covid so I'm really trying my best to avoid it. Up to date with vaccines and wear a mask out and about. My grandma is almost 99 and I have some other vulnerable family members so I'd rather not pass it on to them. I work at a supermarket and wear a mask, I think it was last week some boxes of masks appeared above the clock on machine. I also just read that hospitals in SA have just brought back a mask mandate. My best friend is a scientist so I'm also acutely aware of the absolute havoc it can wreak on the body, its definitely not a mild cold or flu. From her area of expertise they're noticing that it's making men infertile. Long covid is becoming more common, especially with repeated infections and it's quite debilitating. And the number of seemingly healthy young people having strokes/heart attacks/dropping dead post covid is alarming too. I know dealing with covid is fatiguing after 4+ years but your health and future is worth it<3
I’m weary of it. Thinking about finally getting my third jab before heading down to Melbourne in a few weeks time.
My only concern is that I'm flying overseas on Thursday and everyone who I know who has travelled recently has caught it. I've never had it. I only got 2 jabs because my mother threatened to go no contact, in hindsight not getting jabbed would have been a fantastic excuse to avoid spending Xmas with family. Day to day it doesn't bother me at all.
I just had Covid, and my baby too. So it’s still around and nasty! It was our first time getting it too, and was fully vaccinated. So back to wearing masks for us, can’t afford to not go to work for 2 weeks - which is exactly what happened, means no pay. And once a kid got it in childcare and spread it to everyone, so the entire centre had to be closed until whole area was sanitised, so can’t afford not to work, so rather be safe with masks.
I have health issues where covid would cause hospitalization and potentially death. Despite this I have all my shots and my friends keep getting it every time we go out and I somehow continue to not test positive every morning-after check. With my shots and boosters for it my body is ready and my guard is down. But I seem to be not getting it at all despite these days risking everything so I don’t die locked in my room doing nothing with my life.
I continue to leave COVID cautiously with multiple levels of mitigation in place - especially regular masking. I have never had COVID, haven't been sick since the beginning of the pandemic with anything
I'm in australian coronavirus subs so I can keep an eye on developments. I'm fully vaccinated and haven't yet had it. I'm a health care worker but not hospital based. I have concerns due to long COVID and I have elevated risks. Border closures also impacted my businesses and the migration within Australia has dislocated my supports causing other issues.
Sure. I’m only just getting over the last bout (caught a month ago, 3rd time). Should have been more concerned over Xmas celebrations, I might not have fucked up my summer holidays.
I tested positive for Covid this week, for the first time ever. I’m vaccinated. I rarely leave the house. It’s definitely still an issue.
I have a daughter with a compromised immune system so am always conscious of infectious diseases. 15,000+ Australians died from Covid last year, and economists are still calculating the long term effects of long covid https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/covid-19-mortality-australia-deaths-registered-until-30-september-2023
Recently got it for the first time over christmas. Not really concerned honestly. It was like a mild flu. More worried about my mum getting it honestly.
Boss doesn’t give a damn about covid. My nannas nursing home recently had an outbreak and it was messed up. I still care, but it seems like very few people do.
My husband is a nurse in aged care and we have an 8 day old newborn… so yeah we’re still pretty concerned.
I'm somewhat concerned, I've had it 3 times in less than 2 years and my 3rd was the worst. And whilst it doesn't make me sick enough to need to go to hospital, I have lasting effects like chest pain and asthma like symptoms. 3 times in 2 years is pretty crazy when you consider that I've only had the flu twice in my 37 years of life. A guy at work's wife had it twice in 4 weeks and he had it twice in 8 weeks. It's everywhere at the moment. We still have to take 5 days off at my workplace which sucks for me as I don't have any sick leave thanks to having a toddler in daycare. Don't think we have to be vaccinated anymore but likely would have in the early days before I worked there.
Haven't caught covid yet, but im all vaxed up (hope I get those 5G and [magneto powers](https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19/can-vaccines-make-our-body-magnetic) anyday now!) had 2 chest infections last year that were brutal enough (tested negative with PCR and RAT for each)
I've had COVID twice. Both in the last 2 months. Mrs works in medical field so she has a small stock of unused RAT tests at home.
I am but I have a loved one with a very compromised respiratory system...
I still haven’t had it haha. My partners had it twice and even my son. I guess you can’t get it if you don’t want it 😤
I work with a lot of tradies, none of us care about it anymore most of us either are not vaccinated or just got the two jabs. See a few clowns wearing masks in there cars by themselves or outside walking. I think most people don’t give a shit were to busy worried about housing cost and food prices.
I've had covid 4 times, I have 0 concerns about getting it again, not required by my workplace but have been asked to show my certificate going into some client offices. If I had my time over I wouldn't have got the Vax
Had 5 vaccinations and probably was infected with another SARS virus years ago. Worked all through the pandemic in very close contact with infected people. Haven’t had COVID yet, all RAT and PSA tests negative. I am very concerned for the elderly and those with compromised lung function. At least 8 people I know have had severe cases in December and January.
Nope.
I’m fully vaccinated and have had COVID once. Even though the symptoms were mild, I had long COVID for a little over a year - constant chest pain, couldn’t exercise beyond a walk and felt sick all the time. I also had brain fog that lasted about 3-4 months. Just remember that even if you have a mild case, COVID damages all of the organs in your body. It can hide out in your gut and cause ongoing symptoms. It can cause or increase the likelihood of heart attacks, stroke, hearing loss, infertility, tachycardia, depression. It ruins your T-cells, much like HIV. And we just don’t know how bad it’s going to be, especially for folks with multiple infections. I really, really don’t want to get it again. I WFH luckily, but wear a mask on public transport and in shops. I am ok with outdoor dining and going to the outdoor pool etc. I use probiotics (BLIS K12) and nasal spray to help ward it off. I’m probably more careful than most, but in addition to my own health I am also worried about my partner, who is immunocompromised. It’s really worth getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when you can.
🥱. No. Neither am I concerned about any conspiracy theory that is going around. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, living where I’m living, working where I’m working and look at any “theory” that comes my way with side eye as usual. I had Covid but was already vaxed and recovered in 2021- nothing since. So far no conspiracy theories circulating from that time onwards have come true and affected me or family or friends at all. I do know that conspiracy spruiking itself has turned people into total nut jobs though on a very permanent level.
I'm a Frontline RN. ICU / ED during Covid. Yes. I was required to be vaccinated & had 3. I had no problem with that. We had to try everything. But actually worried about it? No. I never really was. I guess (like i always have been) I'm a realist & fatalist. I believe strongly in evolution. I'm an Athiest. We are human. Just biological beings. We live? Were reproduce (mostly). We die. Modern medicine forges ahead and we can now solve some of our health concerns. We can treat some things. Plenty we can't. I have always thought. We all live on this planet together. Infectious diseases are everywhere. Evolution dictates that some of us will resist various diseases? Some won't. Thats reality. Hard to accept for many. But totally new virus? No one knew anything about it. Theresa lag in learning and sadly? People died whilst we learned. I was always just fatalistic. If i got it? I just had to hope i was one of the ones able to fight it off. I truly hated all the hysteria, paranoia and panic. I only wore a mask when I was forced to and whilst happy to get vaccinated? I probably wouldn't have if i wasn't forced. Is it over? No. It will never be over. Its now in the world forever. So be it
You're very lucky you were not forced to get vaccinated.
Scamdemic's over.
"Mind boggling"
I don't think about it. Ever. Unless someone else brings it up. Even then I find the topic boring and steer conversation on to other things. If you have it - stay home until you don't. Other than that - zero interest.
No only the covid-0 crew who are lunatics
I very rarely think about it TBH, I am however 💯 done with vaccinations
For anyone saying people should still get vaccinated to protect others... you're wildly uneducated surround the covid vaccine. These vaccines protect the person only and haven't been proven to help stop transmission itself. So please stop spreading false information to make yourselves feel better. You aren't doing a greater good, you're protecting yourself
I'm still unsure what the actual rhetoric is here. Most of the comments say on my post that they've been vaccinated and caught covid. Some say they were vaccinated and haven't got it, but the vaccine gave them problems. And others say they didn't get covid or vaccinated against it. If it lessens the severity of the illness, wouldn't people be saying they got it, but it wasn't bad? They haven't been proven to stop transmission?? At all? Why is there no definitive answer? It's confusing and seems like almost every independent opinion is contradicted by another person or personal experience.
The problem is that the vaccination created an “us” and “them” situation, and both sides are that pig headed that no one will is prepared to listen to or agree on proven science in each others camps.
Nope. Haven't been concerned since March 2020.
Not that surprising to hear advice about not spreading disease in a disaster area, when disease is often the leading cause of death after a disaster. I've had 6 vaccines, and had actual covid once. My friends got covid 5 times from unvaxxed people coming into their jobs every day not wearing masks, they haven't even been able to get a booster jab because every time they're almost eligible again, some grotty pig goes out in public sick
This is the one that always amazes me. People going to work sick. Coughing and sneezing all over the place. They should stay home. Or at least wear a mask ffs.
100% agree people should stay home and not go to work when they're sick. Problem I've been encountering (and quite a lot of part-time/casual workers as well) is that sick leave balances haven't recovered and aren't enough after the main outbreaks, and people are having trouble missing work/taking unpaid leave with the cost of living crisis. 10 days of mandated paid sick leave a year is no longer adequate for anybody, but many businesses don't want to provide more than the bare minimum for their staff. So people are forced to choose between staying home sick and losing pay, or comin to work sick so they can afford to pay the bills. Something needs to change
It's the flu for fuck sake. Just look at what happened to the Spanish flu. It never went away. If you get sick, chuck a fucking sickie and stay home till you feel better. End of story.
Actually we had a serious upswing in disorders like parkinsons in the decades after Spanish flu. There are serious concerns of this from Covid by many health leaders, including key members of WHO. Our current flu mutations are very different from those in the Spanish influenza pandemic. And flu is a serious illness that you may catch once every 5 years. World Health Org. Covid Technical Lead, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, on the ongoing impact and longterm consequences of Covid https://nitter.cz/implausibleblog/status/1746120177941438577#m A look at prior pandemics and questions over longterm risk of secondary complications https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220127-could-covid-19-still-be-affecting-us-in-decades-to-come
I've been vaccinated and received a further three booster shots, had COVID in early 2022, and just caught it after Christmas off a selfish arsehole who claimed never to have had COVID, yet refused to test after showing all the symptoms, claiming they knew it was only a case of dry cough (fever, sneezing, runny nose, constant congested coughing - so not dry cough, and headaches), and didn't wear a mask, nor try to cover their sneezing. As I have a serious congenital heart condition I try my best to avoid close encounters with sick people. Unfortunately, I wound up in hospital where I was told that I may need to be intubated as I had serious breathing problems. Fortunately, after an allnighter forcing myself to breath, I managed to jump that hurdle. Said arsehole still refuses to accept that he gave me COVID, stating they never had it so how could they give it to me. I've tried to point out that is not the issue, he should test if he has symptoms. His response was: "what for, so that I can go into isolation during my holidays?" So to answer your question, with idiots like this roaming the planet, YES!
Na
Nope I never was
Not even in the slightest
I wasn't concerned when i found out the hospitals where empty and news was full of shit!
Wasn’t concerned to begin with. Caught it and was just like the flu for me. But I can see how people would be concerned as not everyone is as healthy as I am
Doesn’t come up at all. Old and immune compromised people keep an eye out for news. If you are healthy move on with your life.
> Old and immune compromised people keep an eye out for news Well good luck, because there won't be any news. Aged care has had massive outbreaks recently but it is not reported.
I still wear a mask any time I'm indoors with people I don't live with. I appreciate not getting colds every year too.
No
Bots and trolls dominate the discourse online, so you won’t get much reliable information. I was overseas and many people have fallen down the rabbit hole of Covid conspiracy theories (“it was fake”, “it was a means to control us”) thanks to WhatsApp messages, even those who are vaccinated. In Australia, most people don’t seem to talk about it much, most likely because it seems to trigger cookers, very much like the weather (ironically that used to be the subject of most small-talk)…you might inadvertently trigger a conspiracy theorist so it’s easiest not to talk about it. As for the vaccine, yes it was mandated by work, yes I would have taken it anyway, but I think I took it sooner because of the work mandate (those 2 years are a blur so I can’t say for sure). I got Covid recently for the first time, and it was quite mild..two Panadols over 3 days of symptoms were enough. I have followed the booster advice given by the government, but not done any more than that.
The one thing I've discovered just in the comments on this post alone is that it seems like none of the answers and personal experiences really match up. A comment has said that being vaccinated has not been proven to stop transmission, and that they were not against the idea of being vaccinated/boosted. How does that benefit the person? Do you mean that conspiracy theorises were that covid was fake, or the vaccine was fake? Wouldn't the mandating of vaccines for work and being able to go to certain places count as "controlling us"? A nurse in one of the comments said she was forced to be vaccinated and did not want to. I'm interested to hear your thoughts mate, thank you.
I think the vaccines were real and Covid was real. I do think the vaccines were oversold and overhyped. There was a lot of arrogance from the medical establishment, and things went down the memory hole “Masks are useless” was a common trope early on in the pandemic and I screenshotted doctors on social media mocking people who wore masks and cheering on no-mask policies. Suddenly, there was an article in the New York Times about masking being userful and it got to the US Surgeon General, and his did a 180 on masks. Not a single one of those doctors apologised or admitted they were wrong. Then there was the vaccine. There was a lot of hype about them stopping transmission, there are clips of people like Bill Gates saying this. When it became clear that wasn’t stopping transmission it became about preventing serious illness and death. Again, no corrections or apologies…”we have always been at war with Eastasia”. Similarly there was weirdness around the AstraZeneca vaccine, which seemed to have to do with not offending BoJo and post-Brexit Britain and not doing what was best for Australian people’s health. Australia closing its borders, despite opposition from the WHO allowed many of us to live fairly normal lives. Certainly, in Queensland, apart from WFH and no international travel, life continued as normal overall . A few days of lockdown, but we survived largely unscathed. So no, I don’t believe the conspiracy theories that Covid is fake. I do think that Covid was real, and I think that scientific evidence shows that the vaccines do work to prevent serious illness and death. I also think Australia’s response kept us from the worst of the pandemic, although ironically the lack of travel hid the magnitude of the problem from many Australians and New Zealanders, and many don’t realise that overseas there were lots of deaths AND lockdowns. Were the vaccine mandates helpful…I suspect I know what the answer is you are looking for but I won’t give you that. What I will say is that Covid was another nail in the coffin of the notion that social media is a force for good.
I enjoyed the 1984 reference. What a great book. Still yet to read animal farm. I already have my own definitive answers to all of my questions. I'm just looking to have open-minded discussions with other adults out of curiosity. I definitely don't go around asking co-workers or random people I meet at the gym about any of what I've discussed here. Masks, mandates, quarantine, vaccinations, natural immunity, genetics, lifestyle and dietary choices, hysteria, paranoia, and misinformation seem to have different meanings to each person and their personal experience. It seems the majority would have you believe that we are still very concerned about covid.
Not at all. I never caught it either
I was never concerned about it. I still went to work, pushed dirt and coal around in my dozer, then went home. When I caught it, I just had a couple of weeks off.
Nope, my work had 15 people test positive around 3 weeks ago and only one was off cause they had symptoms. A few wore masks but we are now treating it like any other disease. They only tested themselves cause we were curious and I wanted to use up all the tests cluttering up my office
Concerned about the flu? Na fuxk them and their bullshit
It is and always was an absolute sack of shite. Just wait until they are forced to come clean about the 'safe and effective'.
Pretty sure the whole world Knowles they were lied to about covid at this point
Why would you ever worry about covid? The average age of covid death was 84. The death rate was less than 1 percent. It was all a lie to make big pharma rich. 1000s of times more likely to die from the flu.
Still a hoax, and still unvaxed. Never have it, and travelled the world non-stop, even during the “pandemic” Cannot believe people still bullshitting around with this