i can't imagine taking a covid test at this point in time ..

My kids had to have them before they could go back to daycare was the only reason. At this point the doctors seem to just be ruling things out more than diagnosing things. Last time they were like well it isn't Covid and it's not Strep, so drink fluids and if you have a fever take something.

Why no vaccine guidance update? We need to get ahead of this.

This is what I'm wondering about. I got a COVID booster along with my flu shot at the end of last September...would be nice to know by then if I should do that again, or if I'm good to just keep rolling with the booster I got last year.

My girlfriend told me she has seen a few cases in Love County but the current strains aren't generally any more deadly than the flu unless you have other underlying medical conditions that Covid could exacerbate.

Why no vaccine guidance update? We need to get ahead of this.

is this a serious question?

is this a serious question?

I figured they were trolling cause I thought the same thing. Surely if people had a medical concern they'd speak with their doctor about it.

I'm curious if you actually thought it ever went away? I mean my kids daycare just had an outbreak in June. Like others have mentioned due to almost everybody having either had it or the vaccine, it's fairly benign now for most people. When I had it a month ago it was just like a 2 day common cold. But at this point for most people Covid is not remotely the concern it was in the beginning.

I wouldn't say I never thought it went away but I never thought about after I had it in March and it was so mild. Media hasn't mentioned it at all until recently . I would think there are probably people out there that have thought it has gone away. I was just wanting to know if Oklahoma had any new numbers or if there has been an increase in hospitals.

I think Pfizer has come out with some new vaccine they want out by the end of August.

I wouldn't say I never thought it went away but I never thought about after I had it in March and it was so mild. Media hasn't mentioned it at all until recently . I would think there are probably people out there that have thought it has gone away. I was just wanting to know if Oklahoma had any new numbers or if there has been an increase in hospitals.

I think once the pandemic status officially went away, the media stopped prioritizing it. My guess is they've always collected the numbers, similar to how they do for flu and whatnot, it's just typically these are noted on the news.

I'm sure the stats are interesting for some, but for most people they've not been something the average person has needed to concern themselves for awhile.

^

The Oklahoma Dept of Health stopped issuing press releases about covid some time ago and whatever numbers they collect are not readily available.

The media didn't just stop covering this out of the blue.

I figured they were trolling cause I thought the same thing. Surely if people had a medical concern they'd speak with their doctor about it.

Geez people, have a heart. Sure, vaccines have helped with spread and severity and there are better treatments than we had previously so I get why people aren't as concerned, but we're not that far removed from this virus causing serious illness and killing people not irregularly. It was a global level traumatic event and maybe you fellas are cool and macho enough to move on, but I think a certain level of anxiety is perfectly normal and god forbid someone choose to express that on a discussion forum.

COVID-19 might just be like the flu now where most people maybe just get a bit sick and get better, but people die from the flu sometimes and people still die from COVID sometimes. I think its perfectly reasonable to wonder what steps a person should take to protect themselves.

Geez people, have a heart. Sure, vaccines have helped with spread and severity and there are better treatments than we had previously so I get why people aren't as concerned, but we're not that far removed from this virus causing serious illness and killing people not irregularly. It was a global level traumatic event and maybe you fellas are cool and macho enough to move on, but I think a certain level of anxiety is perfectly normal and god forbid someone choose to express that on a discussion forum.

COVID-19 might just be like the flu now where most people maybe just get a bit sick and get better, but people die from the flu sometimes and people still die from COVID sometimes. I think its perfectly reasonable to wonder what steps a person should take to protect themselves.

Stop virtue signaling. I lost 2 family members to Covid. It's not a joke, but I've definitely heard people say exactly what Sean said in person and it was trolling and sarcastic. It's impossible to read tone on the internet, so when Boulder made the comment I couldn't help but think clearly I wasn't alone in that thought process.

Geez people, have a heart. Sure, vaccines have helped with spread and severity and there are better treatments than we had previously so I get why people aren't as concerned, but we're not that far removed from this virus causing serious illness and killing people not irregularly. It was a global level traumatic event and maybe you fellas are cool and macho enough to move on, but I think a certain level of anxiety is perfectly normal and god forbid someone choose to express that on a discussion forum.

COVID-19 might just be like the flu now where most people maybe just get a bit sick and get better, but people die from the flu sometimes and people still die from COVID sometimes. I think its perfectly reasonable to wonder what steps a person should take to protect themselves.

Um, first priority is probably to make sure you're vaccinated (and yes, aware that not everybody can be)? We still see customers and employees at Sprouts and a few other places wearing masks, so that too if you feel the need to.

We are NOT going to restart debates about vaccines and masks.

Um, first priority is probably to make sure you're vaccinated (and yes, aware that not everybody can be)? We still see customers and employees at Sprouts and a few other places wearing masks, so that too if you feel the need to.

To be clear, I'm good with all of that. I was mainly referencing Sean21 asking for "vaccine guidance". I think the main question for me at least would be if there's benefit on getting another booster, if there's something new out, or if we need to start thinking of it like getting a flu shot every year kind of thing.

We are NOT going to restart debates about vaccines and masks.

Is that why my post was deleted? Just stating what I personally experienced.

Is that why my post was deleted? Just stating what I personally experienced.

We have never allowed anecdotal posts on this subject and we're not going to start.

There will be a new vaccine soon that will address the latest variants; probably in the Sep/Oct timeframe:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/13/health/covid-19-vaccines-hhs-letter/index.html

Stop virtue signaling. I lost 2 family members to Covid. It's not a joke, but I've definitely heard people say exactly what Sean said in person and it was trolling and sarcastic. It's impossible to read tone on the internet, so when Boulder made the comment I couldn't help but think clearly I wasn't alone in that thought process.

LOL I'm not "virtue signaling" I'm advocating for my fellow human. Or am I only allowed to comment when my "virtue" agrees with yours?

As far as reading tone goes, yeah that's hard on the internet. Maybe he was trolling, I guess, but I haven't had that experience as you so I took it at face value.

... or if we need to start thinking of it like getting a flu shot every year kind of thing.

I'm guessing that's probably close to what it will be for the rest of our lives, depending on Big Pharma's whims. My doc's office asks if I want the flu and pneumonia shots each year when I go, so they'll probably just add the COVID one to those.

Like always the immune compromised need to take notice.

LOL I'm not "virtue signaling" I'm advocating for my fellow human. Or am I only allowed to comment when my "virtue" agrees with yours?

As far as reading tone goes, yeah that's hard on the internet. Maybe he was trolling, I guess, but I haven't had that experience as you so I took it at face value.

virtue signaling - the public expression of opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or social conscience or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.

This is exactly what you did. You even did it again in your reply, "I'm just advocating for my fellow man." Give me a break you used that as an opportunity to make me into some bad guy because I told someone on the internet I happened to have the same thought as them.

^

The Oklahoma Dept of Health stopped issuing press releases about covid some time ago and whatever numbers they collect are not readily available.

The media didn't just stop covering this out of the blue.

That was all I was wanting to know. That and if there is a big uptick do you think they will go back to reporting the numbers?

virtue signaling - the public expression of opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or social conscience or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.

This is exactly what you did. You even did it again in your reply, "I'm just advocating for my fellow man." Give me a break you used that as an opportunity to make me into some bad guy because I told someone on the internet I happened to have the same thought as them.

This seems like a zero sum game. For the sake of argument let's accept that virtue signaling is a thing and what I'm doing intentionally or otherwise. How are your posts any different? Someone called a post into question and you just had to stand up and let everyone know that you also thought it was trolling. You weren't taken in by that post's false call for concern; no sir, you're smarter than that! Were you not also signaling your virtue in that instance? And by now calling me out for this same offense you're making sure everyone else knows that you don't jive with that virtue signaling business.

Its a discussion board! We're here to talk about things and our opinions and positions on those things are going to come up! Sure, maybe I "signaled my virtue" by speaking up when I did and saying what I said, but this wasn't some cynical attempt to gain internet points or political office or social standing. And if I'm doing it again now, its only because you've called me out and are trying to hold me to account for my positions. If we can't talk about this stuff, if we can't stand by our own virtues on a public discussion forum than what are we even here for?

And, again, I don't see what's so different about you posting your position on this topic versus me doing so. I'm guessing that you really only are opposed to "virtue signaling" when the "virtue being signaled" is opposed to you.

virtue signaling - the public expression of opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or social conscience or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.

This is exactly what you did. You even did it again in your reply, "I'm just advocating for my fellow man." Give me a break you used that as an opportunity to make me into some bad guy because I told someone on the internet I happened to have the same thought as them.

It can be hard to identify virtue signaling without being the person virtue signaling or being very, very familiar with the “signaler’s” character. The term “virtue signal” in common use is more of a mudslinging defense meant to reverse the charge when acknowledging error and a reasonable response aren’t desirable. Otherwise it becomes cynical pretty quickly since any stance advocating for or against something could be called virtue signaling.

OSDH may not be releasing case counts or anything anymore - but various agencies are still monitoring COVID concentrations in wastewater in most parts of the US so you can still get an idea of relative COVID risk. Wastewater monitoring is more accurate and more responsive to increases in community disease burden vs official case counts since you're not relying on individual reports from people seeking testing/treatment. OU Health partners with OSDH, OCCHD, and THD for Oklahoma's statewide surveillance program (https://www.sewagesurveillance.net/); the public dashboard showing current COVID detections is here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589

Although virus concentrations are still quite low overall - averaging 59,400 copies per liter - it's obvious that we ARE in the beginning of a wave right now. The statewide average of virus concentrations have nearly tripled from last week - and for Oklahoma County specifically, the average of all sampling sites has increased over 600% from two weeks ago. Both the Oklahoma County average and the statewide average are the highest they've been in the last 3 months. It'll be important to keep monitoring this increase and start taking precautions if the local average spikes over 100,000 copies per liter.

So is it true it's coming back? What are the current numbers for OKC? The news has been mentioning covid again.

It’s not.

It’s not.

Saw on the news a new wave is coming, due to the heat and more people being inside in close proximity, it is causing a spike higher than anytime this year.

So is it true it's coming back? What are the current numbers for OKC? The news has been mentioning covid again.


Here is real information presented without comment.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589

Here is real information presented without comment.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589

Ohhh that is a fantastic resource, thank you.

And we're definitely seeing an uptick on the coasts, which means we will probably see it kick into gear here in the next month or two.

There will be a new vaccine soon that will address the latest variants; probably in the Sep/Oct timeframe:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/13/health/covid-19-vaccines-hhs-letter/index.html

I am happy that this product exists for those who boost.

OSDH may not be releasing case counts or anything anymore - but various agencies are still monitoring COVID concentrations in wastewater in most parts of the US so you can still get an idea of relative COVID risk. Wastewater monitoring is more accurate and more responsive to increases in community disease burden vs official case counts since you're not relying on individual reports from people seeking testing/treatment. OU Health partners with OSDH, OCCHD, and THD for Oklahoma's statewide surveillance program (https://www.sewagesurveillance.net/); the public dashboard showing current COVID detections is here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/51657c21386d4f1a962b1853c76ec589

Although virus concentrations are still quite low overall - averaging 59,400 copies per liter - it's obvious that we ARE in the beginning of a wave right now. The statewide average of virus concentrations have nearly tripled from last week - and for Oklahoma County specifically, the average of all sampling sites has increased over 600% from two weeks ago. Both the Oklahoma County average and the statewide average are the highest they've been in the last 3 months. It'll be important to keep monitoring this increase and start taking precautions if the local average spikes over 100,000 copies per liter.

Baraheia, sorry i just saw this most. I didn't mean to repost what you already posted.

Baraheia, sorry i just saw this most. I didn't mean to repost what you already posted.

You're good, no worries! The more people sharing that link the better. It's pretty much the only reliable way left nowadays to keep an eye on community transmission of COVID.

Some places in America are bringing back the mask mandates. I have not seen anyone in the Oklahoma City area wearing a mask in public.

https://www.ajc.com/education/atlanta-college-reinstates-covid-19-mask-mandate-as-students-return-to-city/VRAZSDSKJ5B2DG4L7D6I7GCR7I/


Right in time for the current booster shot. I encourage those who boost to boost themselves as soon as the booter is available.

I saw a few masks in Target the other day.

I have never quit wearing an N95. I cannot be vaccinated and no I am not anti vac. I am not sure if my doctors would even approve me for a tetnis shot. Because of severe allergies all season long my respiratory system stays very irritated. I dont want to get a sinus infection let alone covid. I almost have to live in a mask. ugh. The pollen issues for me. So guess you have not seen me. Sorry but there are a few of us that need to continue wearing them. I think I will have to move out of state because of my severe allergy issues.

I see a mask or two in almost every store I go into. Also I see a lot of Doordash, UberEats, etc. drivers wearing masks when they come in to pick up food.

I have never quit wearing an N95. I cannot be vaccinated and no I am not anti vac. I am not sure if my doctors would even approve me for a tetnis shot. Because of severe allergies all season long my respiratory system stays very irritated. I dont want to get a sinus infection let alone covid. I almost have to live in a mask. ugh. The pollen issues for me. So guess you have not seen me. Sorry but there are a few of us that need to continue wearing them. I think I will have to move out of state because of my severe allergy issues.

so are you using about 20 N95's a day .. that seems like it would be really expensive

so are you using about 20 N95's a day .. that seems like it would be really expensive

Why would you think they are using 20x masks a day? Like, do you think they change them out every like 20min or so when they aren't in their house?

Why would you think they are using 20x masks a day? Like, do you think they change them out every like 20min or so when they aren't in their house?

It's going to be conspiratorial nonsense, just telling you in advance.

so are you using about 20 N95's a day .. that seems like it would be really expensive

Understand that they can be used for about 40 hrs or at least 20 hrs of wear time with the exception of in a dirty environment. In that case it is a matter of hours. How do I know well first I have my degree in Fire and Industrial Safety, I have worn masks in a medical setting around TB patients and where I had to wear them due to their frail health ie cancer patients with limited immune systems. Also I spent a total of 32 yrs as a firefighter/hazmat/EMT. I have worn different types of respirators in a variety of toxic atmospheres. And dont tell me I dont need SCBA in a structure fire, low 02 or other toxic atmospheres or other proper respirator protection in those environments.

It sounds like some businesses are definitely considering re-instating the mask mandates.

It’s not.

I hope you jest.
While it is not "coming back" like it did in 2020-2021, it never left. My wife works in Respiratory at Ou and the new variant has been rising for the last few weeks. People are still getting it and it does cause issues for some.

Some places in America are bringing back the mask mandates. I have not seen anyone in the Oklahoma City area wearing a mask in public.

https://www.ajc.com/education/atlanta-college-reinstates-covid-19-mask-mandate-as-students-return-to-city/VRAZSDSKJ5B2DG4L7D6I7GCR7I/


Right in time for the current booster shot. I encourage those who boost to boost themselves as soon as the booter is available.

I need to get the newest booster. I have a few of the items covid loves (bad heart, pre-diabetes). Our youngest daughter (11) has not stopped wearing the mask since we started. At her school there a few students and some teachers I have seen wearing them.

It's going to be conspiratorial nonsense, just telling you in advance.

per the FDA n95's are single use disposable devices

per the FDA n95's are single use disposable devices

While you are here, any response to this:


Understand that they can be used for about 40 hrs or at least 20 hrs of wear time with the exception of in a dirty environment. In that case it is a matter of hours. How do I know well first I have my degree in Fire and Industrial Safety, I have worn masks in a medical setting around TB patients and where I had to wear them due to their frail health ie cancer patients with limited immune systems. Also I spent a total of 32 yrs as a firefighter/hazmat/EMT. I have worn different types of respirators in a variety of toxic atmospheres. And dont tell me I dont need SCBA in a structure fire, low 02 or other toxic atmospheres or other proper respirator protection in those environments.

Or maybe explain why you dreamed up a scenario where oklip955 wears an n95 briefly and then throws it away, and does so repeatedly more than a dozen times a day?

Like I said, conspiratorial nonsense.

per the FDA n95's are single use disposable devices

Nobody ever said they were wearing them multiple times. Everybody knows how to use N95, so what's your point?

Everybody knows how to use N95,

clearly not ..

Understand that they can be used for about 40 hrs or at least 20 hrs of wear time with the exception of in a dirty environment. In that case it is a matter of hours. How do I know well first I have my degree in Fire and Industrial Safety, I have worn masks in a medical setting around TB patients and where I had to wear them due to their frail health ie cancer patients with limited immune systems. Also I spent a total of 32 yrs as a firefighter/hazmat/EMT. I have worn different types of respirators in a variety of toxic atmospheres. And dont tell me I dont need SCBA in a structure fire, low 02 or other toxic atmospheres or other proper respirator protection in those environments.

Let me back track a bit on what I said. Ideally yes they should be single use. Wear it for an 8 hr day and throw it away. Now let me say my 40 hrs week is not constant wear. It means that I might wear it for a quick trip into a store and then back home and a few days later go and do a bit more shopping. At the end of the week it gets disposed off. I am retired so the go to town mask is trashed at the end of the week. It is not being worn for the whole week long. Its I use one per week with some of those days at home. Ok mowing, then I use another and at the end of that day mowign it is trashed be cause of the amount of dust it has collected. I am using my valved ones for mowing since its basically a dust mask to prevent me breathing in all the dirt from mowing. I tried using a surgical type mask, well it worked great for channeling in the dust. Nope they dont work well for mowing.

Ill add a bit more. First, if you want to wear a mask then wear it and those that dont, dont Just dont harass those who have to or chose to wear one. Second if you are sick with covid, the flu or anything else that could be contagious, stay home. You might give a cold to someone who is healthy but will not be able to visit their sick family member that is in the hospital or under going serious medical procedures or maybe caring for a critically ill family member. Its called manners.

Let me back track a bit on what I said. Ideally yes they should be single use. Wear it for an 8 hr day and throw it away. Now let me say my 40 hrs week is not constant wear. It means that I might wear it for a quick trip into a store and then back home and a few days later go and do a bit more shopping. At the end of the week it gets disposed off. I am retired so the go to town mask is trashed at the end of the week. It is not being worn for the whole week long. Its I use one per week with some of those days at home. Ok mowing, then I use another and at the end of that day mowign it is trashed be cause of the amount of dust it has collected. I am using my valved ones for mowing since its basically a dust mask to prevent me breathing in all the dirt from mowing. I tried using a surgical type mask, well it worked great for channeling in the dust. Nope they dont work well for mowing.

Really, you didn't even back track or contradict anything the FDA says. The FDA itself puts the term "single-use" in quotation marks on their own website and then speaks to how the environmental conditions in which they're used applies to how it affects proper use (and "re-use"), as you have done from the start. You clearly have a good real world understanding of how to use them that adds way more useful information to the conversation than someone reducing a few hundred word nuanced guideline about face masks and respirators down to two words in quotation marks that are on the packaging label. Hard to say why anyone would do that, but the FDA's actual full guidelines address the environmental variables you've described and might help some seeking actual guidance:

N95 Respirators, Surgical Masks, Face Masks, and Barrier Face Coverings (https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-surgical-masks-face-masks-and-barrier-face-coverings)

Ill add a bit more. First, if you want to wear a mask then wear it and those that dont, dont Just dont harass those who have to or chose to wear one. Second if you are sick with covid, the flu or anything else that could be contagious, stay home. You might give a cold to someone who is healthy but will not be able to visit their sick family member that is in the hospital or under going serious medical procedures or maybe caring for a critically ill family member. Its called manners.

Well said. At the base level, it's just plain ole common sense consideration.

Unfortunately, consideration of others is not something some consider in their daily lives.

Ill add a bit more. First, if you want to wear a mask then wear it and those that dont, dont Just dont harass those who have to or chose to wear one. Second if you are sick with covid, the flu or anything else that could be contagious, stay home. You might give a cold to someone who is healthy but will not be able to visit their sick family member that is in the hospital or under going serious medical procedures or maybe caring for a critically ill family member. Its called manners.

Well said. I’m sorry you have to live as you described and I’m talking about your mindset when I say this, but the world would be considerably better if more folks were like you.

I saw a few masks in Target the other day.

I don't really visit the big box stores like target, so that is probably were the disconnect is located. I am glad the masks make people feel safe. I am curious now, for the people who see masks at their stores, are any of the people doing the double mask set up yet?

I don't really visit the big box stores like target, so that is probably were the disconnect is located. I am glad the masks make people feel safe. I am curious now, for the people who see masks at their stores, are any of the people doing the double mask set up yet?I haven't seen it. Probably 90% of what I see are surgical masks.

I haven't seen it. Probably 90% of what I see are surgical masks.

Not to get everyone fired up again but hasn't it been proven that it really needs to be a surgical mask or and N95 for it to be pretty effective.

Edit: Nevermind found it. Cloth is ok but it has to fit really well, worn at all times, and once you take it off to eat it's pointless at that point.

Good news for all of the people who boost or plan on boosting. It looks like the president has signed off on funding the next booster after this booster to keep the boosters on schedule to protect you from the new COVID-19 variants.

"I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary, that works," Biden, who is vacationing in the Lake Tahoe area, told reporters on Friday.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/president-joe-biden-says-he-will-request-more-funding-for-a-new-covid-19-vaccine

Good news for all of the people who boost or plan on boosting. It looks like the president has signed off on funding the next booster after this booster to keep the boosters on schedule to protect you from the new COVID-19 variants.

"I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary, that works," Biden, who is vacationing in the Lake Tahoe area, told reporters on Friday.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/president-joe-biden-says-he-will-request-more-funding-for-a-new-covid-19-vaccine


What does he mean by ‘that works’?

Good news for all of the people who boost or plan on boosting. It looks like the president has signed off on funding the next booster after this booster to keep the boosters on schedule to protect you from the new COVID-19 variants.

"I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary, that works," Biden, who is vacationing in the Lake Tahoe area, told reporters on Friday.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/president-joe-biden-says-he-will-request-more-funding-for-a-new-covid-19-vaccine

this is unlikely to pass in congress

What does he mean by ‘that works’?

The microchips in the last ones didn't work as expected and no one has turned into a monkey, yet.

so are you using about 20 N95's a day .. that seems like it would be really expensive

Rude