General Coronavirus (COVID-19) chat

[Cloo]

I tested + on Monday, having a mild bout. To my pleasant surprise, much line paler test today, which is day 5, although possibly it's 6, as I didn't test the day before my +, so may be freeeee on Monday. Son has his second jab today and luckily he remains negative, which I'm very relieved about as I have a slight paranoia that holiday destinations might start insisting on '2 vaccinations' proof for everyone again and we this weekend is pretty much our last chance to get that done in time for our break in a month's time, so really didn't want him to miss it. Also makes it less likely he'll catch it in the meantime of course.

 

[LDC]

Just heading home from a week seeing friends in Berlin. The difference between there and the UK is shocking.

Everyone wears FFP2 or 3 masks on public transport. People are reminded politely with announcements and by staff and I never saw any moaning, refusals or 'exemptions'. Some friends went out to a nightclub and they said loads of bars etc. have installed (with State grants) really good ventilation systems, to the point where they could be inside with loads of people smoking (as plenty still smoke there) and they could hardly notice it. And you can check if the place you're going has got one, so it's been a way of encouraging people to come to your venue rather than a poorly ventilated one.

Oh, and the German State is doing €9 tickets that give you unlimited use of the metro, local trains, buses and trams. For 3 fucking months. Shit sometimes it is hard not to be depressed about the state of the UK!

 

[BigMoaner]

Oh, and the German State is doing €9 tickets that give you unlimited use of the metro, local trains, buses and trams. For 3 fucking months. Shit sometimes it is hard not to be depressed about the state of the UK!

that's wild. paying 200 a month a the moment.

what does a 3 courrse meal cost out there? just trying to put that ticket price in context

 

[LDC]

that's wild. paying 200 a month a the moment.

what does a 3 courrse meal cost out there? just trying to put that ticket price in context

Other costs seems about the same as any big city tbh, and housing is expensive of course. It's cheap though that €9 ticket, everyone I talked to thinks it's a brilliant deal.

 

[BigMoaner]

Other costs seems about the same as any big city tbh, and housing is expensive of course. It's cheap though that €9 ticket, everyone I talked to thinks it's a brilliant deal.

yes incredible.

 

[ska invita]

Other costs seems about the same as any big city tbh, and housing is expensive of course. .

Heard they have rent caps tho

 

[furluxor]

So an (extended) family member got sick with Covid whilst abroad, flew home sick so as not to lose plane tickets, then once home travelled about by public transport for leisure purposes. FML.

Also, I'm at a mask crossroads. I see pretty much no one masked around, ever, so it feels superfluous, although I still carry them so I can put them on out of solidarity if a masked person is around. If I'm to go back to wearing them regularly, I need to buy more. Those of you in the UK, where are you at with masks? Do you wear them? Do people around you wear them? If you wear them, do you wear simple fabric ones or FFFFFFP2/N95? If the latter, are they at all reusable and where do you source them? Thanks

 

[Cloo]

I'm hearing about a lot of people flying with COVID, especially return journeys. Gsv and I have only just had it, but when we go away at the end of Aug I'm thinking we should still wear masks on both flights as immunity isn't lasting all that long and I have to assume there will be people travelling unknowingly or otherwise with COVID on both flights.

furluxor - I wear N95 ones one tube, I've been taking the opportunity to travel without as I recover from current bout, but given what I'm hearing about reinfection I'm going to start wearing them again. I'd say there's usually 1-2 people per carriage wearing them these days.

 

[existentialist]

So an (extended) family member got sick with Covid whilst abroad, flew home sick so as not to lose plane tickets, then once home travelled about by public transport for leisure purposes. FML.

Also, I'm at a mask crossroads. I see pretty much no one masked around, ever, so it feels superfluous, although I still carry them so I can put them on out of solidarity if a masked person is around. If I'm to go back to wearing them regularly, I need to buy more. Those of you in the UK, where are you at with masks? Do you wear them? Do people around you wear them? If you wear them, do you wear simple fabric ones or FFFFFFP2/N95? If the latter, are they at all reusable and where do you source them? Thanks

I'm using "HARD" (brand name! ) FFP2 masks that I get from (spit) Amazon, and work hard at the "fuck it, I WILL wear a mask attitude". But maybe that's easier for someone who's prepared to wear a funky suit and a purple hat out in public

 

[prunus]

I'm using "HARD" (brand name! ) FFP2 masks that I get from (spit) Amazon, and work hard at the "fuck it, I WILL wear a mask attitude". But maybe that's easier for someone who's prepared to wear a funky suit and a purple hat out in public

Pics please

 

[existentialist]

Pics please

Over on the Ugly Mug thread.

ETA: https://www.urban75.net/forums/thre...ur-delectation.274873/page-1145#post-17781720

 

[gentlegreen]

In Aldi I'm often the only one I see wearing one - except for one young staff member supervising the scab tills who is clearly of Asian ethnicity.
People leave me alone - 6 foot 2, built like a shed - buzz-cut hair, giant headphones leaking jazz, grubby from gardening, knackered muddy trainers, but often with two bottles of decent French wine along with a two-Ikea-tote shop of cans of beans and veggies.

Last week I was at my sister's - where my niece and her 8 year old had recently recovered from a bout - and only on the basis of meeting them in the back garden via the back gate - I didn't even use their loo.

I've spent 40 years in the main having a very good core diet, moderate in my habits and until recently taking more than adequate exercise and with plans to up my game in the near future.
I was lucky enough to retire early, so I have no intention of taking risks for fear of feeling embarrassed for twenty minutes in the supermarket.

 

[furluxor]

existentialist gentlegreen Thank you for your input, I also don't have a problem with standing out, my wavering is more along the lines of 'is it still worth it?'. Granted, it's easy to act blase when I'm (relatively) young and healthy. I've seen people here mention that those basic cotton masks don't do much but I'm reluctant to buy FFP2s if I don't need them because it's just more stuff that ends in a landfill. So still very undecided! Wish things were more clear-cut.

As a side note, I really enjoyed descriptions of your appearance -- very cool.

 

[existentialist]

existentialist gentlegreen Thank you for your input, I also don't have a problem with standing out, my wavering is more along the lines of 'is it still worth it?'. Granted, it's easy to act blase when I'm (relatively) young and healthy. I've seen people here mention that those basic cotton masks don't do much but I'm reluctant to buy FFP2s if I don't need them because it's just more stuff that ends in a landfill. So still very undecided! Wish things were more clear-cut.

As a side note, I really enjoyed descriptions of your appearance -- very cool.

What I tell myself is..."what price am I paying to put this mask on?". Apart from the 50p or so the mask costs. The answer, at least for me, is "precious little". The minor discomfort of wearing one is perfectly tolerable, and if I'm honest, I am more (albeit briefly) exercised at walking into a building and noticing that I'm one of a tiny minority wearing one. But I've only had one instance where someone was a bit arsey about that, and that was at the height of the pandemic, when they were required, anyway.

 

[teuchter]

existentialist gentlegreen Thank you for your input, I also don't have a problem with standing out, my wavering is more along the lines of 'is it still worth it?'. Granted, it's easy to act blase when I'm (relatively) young and healthy. I've seen people here mention that those basic cotton masks don't do much but I'm reluctant to buy FFP2s if I don't need them because it's just more stuff that ends in a landfill. So still very undecided! Wish things were more clear-cut.

As a side note, I really enjoyed descriptions of your appearance -- very cool.

My impression is that if you want to wear a mask that has a realistic chance of protecting yourself, use one of the FFP2 ones. Cloth ones have gaps everywhere and may be something approaching useless.

 

[8ball]

NBC suit and full respirator for me.

Esp. now that monkeypox is also on the rampage.

 

[Mr Retro]

I have a look at U-75 every so often to see how the extremely paranoid Covid’s are thinking. So when this time last year when you were all swearing to the effectiveness of masks and how you’d all keep wearing them, what has changed that you don’t wear masks any more?

 

[Sue]

I have a look at U-75 every so often to see how the extremely paranoid Covid’s are thinking. So when this time last year when you were all swearing to the effectiveness of masks and how you’d all keep wearing them, what has changed that you don’t wear masks any more?

Still do. HTH.

 

[l'Otters]

I got some reuseable ffp3 masks that work out at about 75p each. I use those for longer train journeys.

For shorter journeys & for shopping I have some non reuseable ffp2 and ffp3’s that are more like 30p-50p each. I reuse these too, by hanging them up to air out for at least 3 days before wearing again.

I still wear the cloth masks I’ve made for some situations where I care a bit more what I look like. I layered them so they’re not too far off ffp2 level filtration and I made them to fit well.

My reasoning is while a well sealing ffp3 isn’t going to be completely proof against longer exposure to infection it’s still going to reduce the viral load. And of course it’ll still do some source containment in case I was asymptotic and infectious.

I think I’ve noticed more people seeming to do a slight double take which I can only guess is in reaction to seeing a mask/respirator. Bit hard to tell because no one has given me any hassle since this one occasion in summer 2021. Similarly I could be attributing it wrongly but I think some people in ticket offices, shops, etc, might be making more positive reactions in response to the masks. I dunno. I’m mostly wearing them for me at this point. Don’t really have head space to worry about the wider picture on this day to day level.

 

[PR1Berske]

I have a look at U-75 every so often to see how the extremely paranoid Covid’s are thinking. So when this time last year when you were all swearing to the effectiveness of masks and how you’d all keep wearing them, what has changed that you don’t wear masks any more?

I still wear masks in certain circumstances. If a shop or bus is packed, I wear a mask. I'm an admin worker in the NHS so we've hardly stopped needing masks or testing so it's not hard for me to keep wearing them.

 

[existentialist]

I have a look at U-75 every so often to see how the extremely paranoid Covid’s are thinking. So when this time last year when you were all swearing to the effectiveness of masks and how you’d all keep wearing them, what has changed that you don’t wear masks any more?

Definitely one reason for wearing a mask is to get up the noses of people who come out with stuff like this.

 

[gentlegreen]

I don't usually go in for selfies, but up yours Mr Tard.



I still consider the booster programme a bit decadent and "first world" - certainly for people like me who have far more to do with plants than people - but I won't turn them down ... and for those less fortunate than me, hopefully even imperfect masking will mean they get a very light dose and quasi-boosting that way.

 

[xenon]

Have not wore a mask of any kind for months. People giving grief to those who do, are obviously twats.

 

[xenon]

Oh and to answer REtro. What has changed.
Most people who want one have had a vaccine now.
Omnicron is for most people, a less severe illness, largely dependant on the vaccines.
I never liked wearing a mask and once it wasn't mandatory and the above applied was glad to stop.

 

[ska invita]

Oh and to answer REtro. What has changed.
Most people who want one have had a vaccine now.
Omnicron is for most people, a less severe illness, largely dependant on the vaccines.
I never liked wearing a mask and once it wasn't mandatory and the above applied was glad to stop.

also this has changed

 

[LDC]

Mr Retro? Hmmm I can't recall why I have them on ignore. <Takes them off ignore.> Oh yes I remember now. <Back on ignore.>

 

[teuchter]

The main reasons I don't* wear a mask any more, whereas I did a year back:
1. Vaccines and their proven effectiveness
2. Virtually no-one else does, so whether anyone likes it or not, the concept of certain places being relatively "safe" for those at higher risk has been abandoned and I don't see much point in me being the only one in (eg) the supermarket wearing a mask to protect others. Those at high risk now have to take proactively defensive measures and can't rely on other people reducing the risk for them.
3. From the point of view of protecting myself, firstly I've now had covid. Secondly, compared to a year ago I am pretty much back to "normal" actvities which means that I am regularly in crowded places doing social stuff that you can't do with a mask on. So, the situations where I can wear a mask with little impact on what I'm doing constitute a much smaller proportion of stuff I'm doing. In other words, I've given up trying to protect myself, because I feel that if I'm going to get it, I'm going to get it. In fact when I did eventually get covid I'm fairly sure it was after meeting someone for a drink and sitting outside for 99% of that time, rather than from all the times I've sat on trains or buses unmasked.
4. Whatever anyone says, wearing a mask is unpleasant especially in hot weather and for extended periods, say on an 8 hour train journey. Especially if you go for a proper FFP one. It also makes it difficult to communicate with people properly. The balance of benefits vs unpleasantness, due to reasons 1-3 swung to a point where my personal threshold was crossed.

*I do/have done in certain situations still, for example if I go into a small shop and the staff are wearing masks I'll put mine on if I have it with me. If I suspected at all that I might have covid or a cold I'd wear one. And I have worn one a couple of times in the lead-up to visiting someone potentially vulnerable.

 

[iona]

Mr Tard.

Really?

 

[gentlegreen]

Really?

OK, maybe I should qualify it with wilfully-

I think intelligence works on many levels and how you use what you have. I spent my working life around people much more intelligent than me.

Plus I'm 62 and on the spectrum and I've come to realise recently I have no tolerance for "stupidity" - call it my last vestige of intolerance.
The key advantage with doing most of one's social interaction online is there's an iggy button.

In terms of interacting with random humanity, I would need to be amazingly in tune with someone to risk monkeypox or similar and covid has made me realise I am no longer prepared to risk any viruses if I can possibly avoid it. The stench of bathroom products invading my space is bad enough.

 

[iona]

OK, maybe I should qualify it with wilfully-

I think intelligence works on many levels and how you use what you have. I spent my working life around people much more intelligent than me.

Plus I'm 62 and on the spectrum and I've come to realise recently I have no tolerance for "stupidity" - call it my last vestige of intolerance.
The key advantage with doing most of one's social interaction online is there's an iggy button.

In terms of interacting with random humanity, I would need to be amazingly in tune with someone to risk monkeypox or similar and covid has made me realise I am no longer prepared to risk any viruses if I can possibly avoid it. The stench of bathroom products invading my space is bad enough.

Oh well that's fine then, crack on calling people retards if they're being willfully stupid