Covid social protocols ?

[Murphy101]

I’m really frustrated. Sickness and such aside, I have 3 people in my house wi  Ty new jobs that don’t have sick time and for sure not a week plus of it.

3 times in the last week someone point blank said to paraphrase for privacy:

person 1: I was sick with covid last week and 2 kids in house are still sick but I’m clear now so let’s go hang out together.

Me: uh don’t you have to wait until everyone in your house is at the very least not actively sick with covid?!

them: I’m not sick and tested negative for covid today. 
 

person 2: after spending 45 minutes with me at a conference table in an enclosed room: “oh yeah I’m only wearing a mask because half my household tested positive for covid but I didn’t, so don’t worry.  Proceeds to start prayer for 3 people recently dead or on vents from covid. ((Bangs head))

me: *that’s not how any viruses work but I can tell already that sound science is not welcome with this crowd sooo* moves as far away as possible.

Person 3: I am spending 24/7 with 2 people literally dying of covid and 2 other people who lives with them and refuse to get tested.  But the doctor in the covid floor said my coming over to see you is no greater covid risk than you going to Walmart.

me: 1) I avoid Walmart and shopping in general like the plague even before the plague. 2) that can’t be accurate? I mean contemplate the 5 second dropped cookie rule theory. Sure it hit the floor so it will absolutely have picked up germs. So similar to me going in to a store that isn’t crowded with a mask on and grabbing some milk real quick.  But then there’s the cookie that we found in the sofa cushion that one time.  That cookie was loved on, cuddled and absolutely has more germs than the fresh 5 second cookie. So you just spent a lot of time raising your viral load as high as you could and then you want to come sit with me for hours, stay the night, have a meal, share hugs…. And you want to do this repeatedly for the next few weeks? 

I’m just gobsmacked.  Am I out of line here? Is covid now treated just like mild flu? As long as you personally aren’t obviously sick, then go about life like normal?  Never mind that I think it’s a dumb social policy in general for colds and flu, but has everyone just tossed all efforts to reduce even the most obvious of transmission now?  

 

[prairiewindmomma]

You are not out of line.

Also, in some circles, people are absolutely treating covid as less serious than a cold and are acting as if their choices have no impact on others.

 

[busymama7]

I don't think you are out of line.  The first one though? I mean if they quarantined for their 10 days and were no longer feverish etc then just because others are shouldn't matter.  In fact that person is safer to be around than a LOT of others because recovery has at least a 3 month protection from infection.  I can see you not being comfortable if it had only been 10 days although that is the requirement. I isolated for 13 as I was just too worried.  But in general a newly recovered is as safe as you can get regardless of if others in the house are sick. 

[KSera]

None of those would be normal among the people I know, except maybe the first. I wouldn’t  be comfortable quite yet with exposure to that person either, but it’s not egregious and clearly thoughtless like the other two. I would be very upset to be put in either of those situations. I’m sorry. 

[Ausmumof3]

Nope.  Here your friend visit would be close contact requiring you to then isolate and test whereas a Walmart contact would be low risk contact meaning you just have to monitor for symptoms and test if they develop.  Definitely not the same situation.

[regentrude]

I wouldn't want to be around any of those people either, and in my circle of friends peoplewouldbe as carefulas you.  ( in the larger community,  however, people are very cavalier about Covid which is why I avoid all public places besides work)

[Carrie12345]

I’m so sorry. I do not, to the best of my knowledge, know people who are flouting actual virus protocols. TONS ignoring prevention protocols, but not, again, to the best of my knowledge, positive case protocols.

They obviously do exist. When dd made an appointment to get cleared for work, the NP sincerely thanked her for waiting until she was past the isolation period and symptom free rather than going in early to try to cut her time.

[Elizabeth86]

Yeah, I only a few people that are still taking it seriously. I am so sorry you are dealing with people like this.

[LifeLovePassion]

Here's my contribution...

Them : we are  spending the weekend with two people who are sick.  We don't know what they're sick with because they won't get tested ( but all signs point to COVID).   We also stayed with them last weekend and we'll stay with them again next weekend . Say when do you want to have a Christmas get together?

Me: um,  I'll pass on that. Thanks!

[Katy]

You’re not out of line, you’re surrounded by idiots. I’m sorry. 

PS) transmission might be mostly airborne, and they might be immune, but they could still be breathing other people’s viruses snd they could still be covered in them too.  The virus may not live long on surfaces, but it lasts at least 2 hours. 

Edited December 4, 2021 by Katy

[Bambam]

We have plenty of idiots here too.

Folks to go Walgreens to get tested and walk in. They are re-routed to the drive thru. They get tested in drive thru. Then they go INto Walmart to get some necessary things. Or they go to closest restaurant to get some dinner - eating in, of course.  I've also heard of folks stopping to eat in a restaurant on the way to Urgent care to get tested. Because ?? 

I feel like I should quiz folks before I hang out with them. Just like I learned to do when a neighbor child would come over and want to play. How did school go today (I got send home because I have lice) Where all have you been lately? (To the doctor, I have strep. My mom sent me over here because I was bothering her).  Yep, go home, we can't play today. 

[HomeAgain]

Oh, gosh.  People are crazy.

Team quarantine because of a positive case and only one kid wears a mask/takes precautions.  The rules are:
-if testing, test on the 5th day.  May resume activities on the 8th day if test was negative.

-if not testing, may resume activities on the 10th day.

-team may not congregate with other teams until that point

The rules are not enough, imo, but neither here nor there.  There is an outdoor event with all teams that happens on the 7th day of a team's quarantine.  THE TEAM IS PLANNING TO GO.  Like, wtf?  Pointing it out to them is met with:

"but it's outdoors!"

Their logic was not received too kindly.

[Spryte]

Wow.

 

Yeh, umm … Nope!

[Longtime Lurker]

I would be concerned about all of those, but person 1 should actually be fine. School rules in our county are less stringent for vaccinated people this year, so anyone who is fully vaccinated does not need to quarantine unless they themselves have symptoms (or test positive), even if they have a positive family member. This is somewhat disturbing to me as it means that, on any given day, I probably have a few students who have a positive family member at home. But this is why I mask and got my booster. The policy does serve to incentivize vaccination, which is a very good side effect.

[happi duck]

Prior to covid our culture was already big on "powering through" or not letting illness "hold us back".  It's so frustrating.

People are most contagious before they have symptoms so if exposed then take as many precautions as you can to not pass it along and definitely inform the people around you!

This bothers me with flu, stomach bugs, chicken pox etc but especially covid!

At the beginning there was a strong message about being prepared if someone in your household gets sick but now it seems people are going to stores to get supplies after someone is sick, so exposed and possibly in the contagious but no symptoms phase.