Just when you thought it was safe . . .

[Polly]

Here in the UK I see some people wearing masks when I shop at our little M&S food store and when I had to go into Reading for health reasons last week a few people wearing masks were getting off buses as I walked past.

There seems to be quite a lot more discussion about the new variant of Covid recently.

My husband and I have had 6 jabs, with the 7th due with the flu jab in October.

[DaveW]

I managed to get it in Cyprus about 5 weeks ago, it was clear how it progressed - kid in the same car as myself and SIL’s mother with a sore throat, headache and sneezes. Next thing we both went down with Covid after testing positive, the kid was never tested or any of the family as they are Swiss and it’s just a cold, why worry. My daughter then came down with it and two other adult members of they family. Luckily nothing serious, I was over it in three days (5 jabs) and the rest were the same. It was a first time for me, but as soon as I tested positive I isolated and wore a mask out of consideration for others.

The only downside for me was loss of smell, which is coming back slowly.

[Pathca]

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/ ... 9-vaccine/

[Wilbro]

Having got through everything and been careful all the time since covid came on the scene we were invited to friend's house a week ago Saturday. They had just arrived by ferry from the UK. He was quite ill, but not his wife, and had all the symptoms. He tested negative so we thought we'll be ok sat out in their garden and having a drink or two. Oh no! Within Two days we were all ill with coughs, sneezes, fatigue, aching joints, loss of appetite and in my wife's case a loss of taste and smell.
The doctor prescribed 1000mg Dolypran 3 times a day, a nasal spray and a cough linctus.
Now just getting over it and I managed to water the garden for an hour this morning although my wife is still struggling.
The test kit our friend used was out of date. My wife and I tested with kits just out of date, hers was positive and mine was negative. The doc soon confirmed otherwise with an up to date kit. The moral is obvious.
Presumably Eris, we sat outside in the garden, well spaced and with our poorly friend keeping his distance so it confirms it's highly contagious and easily caught.
Be wary especially in the presence of new arrivals!

[Bayleaf]

Be wary especially in the presence of new arrivals!

Hoping for a full recovery for you, Wilbro. Your final sentence rings the bells! A good excuse to duck out of a Birthday invite in late September, where I know others attending will be "people en route", and goodness knows who else. Even outside it would be a small courtyard situation, and I can't afford to get ill at that time of year. I have no desire anymore to be in groups of people - been there, done it, over it! Even shopping in the supermarket is the quiet lunch times.

[Blaze]

Apparently the new variant is highly contagious, with similar symptoms to Omicron which for most people should be fairly mild ... Auto testing will not determine the variant and even PCR testing did not always go that far.

According to TF1 news and other sources, the Ministre de la Santé et de la Prévention, Aurélien Rousseau, recommends mask wearing as soon as you have any symptoms, or if in contact with someone who is vulnerable. There are no plans to make it obligatory for the moment.

[Polly]

Wilbro, good to read that you’re on the mend, but don’t rush things; the same for your wife - friends who didn’t seem to have it badly both relapsed after trying hard to get back to normal. It seems to leave people very weak.

Wearing masks if amongst others, particularly when in a social group, makes very good sense. Do people faire la bise now where you are?

[Wilbro]

Polly there is no faire le bise here. We both have had 5 anti covid vaccinations and the irony is that we had been to the pharmacie only the day before to ask about our sixth.
I am feeling pretty much better this morning but very tired. My wife is still hacking away unfortunately. Masks are obligatory for at least 10 days after we test negative.

[Lori]

I have no desire anymore to be in groups of people - been there, done it, over it! Even shopping in the supermarket is the quiet lunch times.

I have to admit, I feel the same way. And I too choose to shop during the lunch time when the store is quieter (although July and August have had more people).

Sorry to hear about your illness Wilbro. Glad to hear you are on the mend. Hopefully your wife will be soon. It really does take its toll on you.

Daughter has traveled to the U.S. to visit her Gramma (83 years of age) and I was really worried she would pick it up on the travels over. She's been there for a week now and so far so good. So, I'm hoping she didn't pick it up.

[Blaze]

Masks are obligatory for at least 10 days after we test negative.

I'm surprised at that, Wilbro, because you stop being infectious after 5 days (taken from the day of testing positive). You could still test positive for longer but will not pass the virus on. This was the information from the Health Ministry that we were told to pass on when I worked at the Vaccination/PCR centre.
Perhaps things have changed though I doubt it.

Good to hear you're on the mend and hope your wife gets better soon.
OH has a sore throat so will purchase an auto test ....