How did you catch it?

Tim Robbins · 30-01-2021 11:03pm #1

Hi,
since the outbreak started I have been taking extra precautions as am asthmatic and prone to bad chest infections. So naturally nervous.

One thing I find puzzling how are 1,000+ people getting infected every day. The schools are closed, the pubs are closed and most people are working from home. Most people seem to making a really good effort compared to last March. You hear these anecdotes of people getting it by just going out for their walk which I find hard to believe.

So my question is if you got it, do you know how? (no judging obviously).

tdf7187 · 30-01-2021 11:04pm

Office workers are working from home. Plenty of people still have to work.

Beasty · 30-01-2021 11:47pm

1,000+ cases a day means at any one time we have perhaps 10,000 recorded cases. Add to that all the asymptomatic non-tested cases and we are talking maybe 20k or more. Every one of those cases come into contact with others. It may be in a shop, it may be family members. It may be when the person transmitting it has no symptoms and no idea they have it.

And that's ignoring the cases transmitted in hospitals. The cases involving healthcare workers. Then there are the care homes

It's a pandemic. It's doing what viruses do. And it's doing it everywhere

John_Rambo · 30-01-2021 11:56pm

I don't know anyone that caught it except my neighbour and her family at the very start. She's a doctor and caught it very early on treating C-10 patients.

The recent surge of infections are from xmas where people unbelievably, incredibly, inexplicably, astoundingly and incomprehensibly decided to meet up with friends to socialise, go for pints and then spend xmas day with family including elderly people. A classic GUBU case turned to GUBS situation Grotesque, Unbelievable, Bizarre and Stupid situation that led to Ireland being the best to the worst in Europe regardng covid infections.

The vaccination on the horizon may have helped the rate of infections for simpletons that don't understand basic logistics, supply and production.

The Belmullet story is indicative of this GUBS carry on. And it has to be noted that a lot of innocent, careful people were infected by the GUBS folk.

green123 · 31-01-2021 12:29am

What percentage of people are catching it from touching surfaces?

And what percentage of people are catching it from airborne transmission?

agoodpunt · 31-01-2021 12:29pm

With no cold or flu for over one year from the extra attension to hygiene is noticeable

Its just 15mins + getherings in badly ventilated indoor enclosed settings homes, factories and hospitals imo

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00251-4

biko · 31-01-2021 12:59pm

green123 wrote: »

What percentage of people are catching it from touching surfaces?
And what percentage of people are catching it from airborne transmission?

Close range droplets are the new leading theory

Supporting this theory, most people catch the virus from someone they live with and presumably are in frequent close contact with.

In one study from China an infected person had a 17.2% chance of spreading the virus to a family member who lived with them, but just a 2.6% chance of giving it to someone outside the home.

That said, an uncle of mine got the virus but did not pass it on to anyone in his family.

https://elemental.medium.com/the-most-likely-way-youll-get-infected-with-covid-19-30430384e5a5

Away With The Fairies · 31-01-2021 1:00pm

agoodpunt wrote: »

With no cold or flu for over one year from the extra attension to hygiene is noticeable

Its just 15mins + getherings in badly ventilated indoor enclosed settings homes, factories and hospitals imo

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00251-4

HSE would want to update their website. Apparently surface spread is greater than airborne spread.

is_that_so · 31-01-2021 1:45pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

HSE would want to update their website. Apparently surface spread is greater than airborne spread.

Only if a whole load of things turn out to be true at the same time but it's still not a big risk.

EDIT: Nature article on it.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00251-4

cheezums · 31-01-2021 1:47pm

plenty of people are not working from home.

hurikane · 31-01-2021 1:51pm

Sister in law tested positive. The rest of the house are waiting for tests. What does this mean regards isolating? I presume they all have to isolate but say if the rest of the family are negative, how long do they isolate for? What If they pick it up from her in a week or two? Surely they should all be isolating for a month at least?

pottokblue · 31-01-2021 1:56pm

How have I not caught it yet??? I'm a frontline worker in an on/off covid enivroment and shielding a vunerable family member at home. I work with people afflicted by covid with aerosolgenerating proceedures, I take publictransport and see family and friends indoors, pubs, restaurants, cinema depending on current restrictions. Colleagues, friends and family have all got it so I have been routinely screened negative. I think maybe the reason I havent got it yet is an ok bodyweight and good immune system supported by codliveroil, vitamins B,C,D, Magnsium, Whisky and Zinc. My covid anxieties lie not in catching it myself but in transmitting it to a vulnerable family, friend, patient or stranger. My anxieties are somewhat eased after recieving 2nd jab last week no extreme sideeffect expect exhaustion! If/when I catch I'll spend the 10days selfisolating. There should be less stigmatising in catching/transmitting the virus due to its unpredictable nature....

TP_CM · 31-01-2021 1:56pm

I'm not sure how anyone aged 60+ is getting it. I understand how 100s of under 30 year olds are getting it. The reason we're all here is because of mankind's undying need to get the shift in their late teens and 20s. Even through the black plague there were teenagers and young people dry humping each other behind whatever shed was available to them. When it comes to procreation, logic rarely prevails. Our ancestors courted through a lot worse than pandemics.

31-01-2021 3:03pm

TP_CM wrote: »

I'm not sure how anyone aged 60+ is getting it. I understand how 100s of under 30 year olds are getting it. .

Plenty of 30 somethings still living at home with 60+ parents.

Beasty · 31-01-2021 3:05pm

green123 wrote: »

What percentage of people are catching it from touching surfaces?

And what percentage of people are catching it from airborne transmission?

I really do not know how anyone can have a clue about whether it was airborne or on a surface. You won't know you have it for a few days minimum, and possibly never. Trying to pinpoint exactly how and when you got it would be pretty much impossible.

31-01-2021 3:44pm

I became ill whilst on a trip to Namibia last March with Covid-like symptoms, especially breathing difficulty which was remarkable on some days and out of proportion to other symptoms. However I never got tested due to the prevailing criteria when I returned to Ireland. I had been put on a list by FP practice for testing and taken off it by HSE next day due to a change in the criteria as testing capacity was below the growing demand for it. Had some prolonged health consequences mainly because of some other coexisting factors rather than the virus itself, but nothing that wasn't eventually easily remedied after a lot of "nuisance" investigation and concern. The virus, I think, may have brought underlying thing to attention in a few cases like mine, rather than bring a major cause.

It was viewed by the doctors I encountered that I most likely had Covid last March, most likely caught whilst travelling to Namibia through busy airports and crowded planes, and there was notably a share of general coughing going on. Namibia itself is a country that places high store on hygiene and cleanliness and were busily concentrating on cleansing every surface they could find, eg restaurant seats would typically be cleansed before after after you would sit down to a meal, and toilets always cleaned after each use. However, social distancing had not become a thing there, like with most of the world, but I believe they caught up with that not long after. And when I reported on a social media health support group that I had experienced recent symptoms a person in charge of public health in the country made direct contact with me to try and trace where I had been. As an impoverished but reasonably functional country, they were taking every step they could to keep Covid levels down where public health resources are very poor indeed.

The current prevalent strains, I think, are much more contagious and probably are spreading quite easily by airborne droplet and contact means. Apart from work, grocery shopping is probably posing a level of hazard way beyond going out for a walk in the fresh air. I did notice yesterday that there was a considerable amount of traffic in the area I shop, Churchtown/Dundrum/Nutgrove, so much so that I had to wait quite a bit to join traffic on busier roads. I get the feeling that people are making a lot of little journeys just to get out of the house, but don't know if there is any significant amount of meeting up of other households involved.

31-01-2021 3:49pm

My wife is a health care worker. She caught it and passed it to me.

I ended up spending a week in ICU, came out of nowhere. I'm 30 with no previous health conditions minus a few chest infections in the past. I'm out of ICU now and hoping to be allowed home next week

31-01-2021 6:30pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

My wife is a health care worker. She caught it and passed it to me.

I ended up spending a week in ICU, came out of nowhere. I'm 30 with no previous health conditions minus a few chest infections in the past. I'm out of ICU now and hoping to be allowed home next week

Very best of luck in your recovery.

31-01-2021 6:44pm

I've posted this in other threads but worthwhile repeating it here as I haven't heard it aired on any Irish media. According to a UK documentary I saw, presented by Dr Ronx Ikharia, men as born with XY chromosomes, irrespective of age or other health issues, are 44% more likely to die than women of Covid. The program says that is to do with the Y chromosome that dictates how the biological gender responds to viruses in first line defence. It holds that the reason XX women are more likely to suffer autoimmune diseases lies in their more efficient immediate response to viruses. COVID takes particular advantage of this. It's a trade off that means women are a bit more likely to survive longer, but maybe with some chronic autoimmune disease.

If this is overall scientifically verified, then it would mean XY males should be prioritised for vaccine. I say this as somebody who would stand to wait behind in the queue.

caveat emptor · 31-01-2021 7:18pm

Deleted User wrote: »

My wife is a health care worker. She caught it and passed it to me.

I ended up spending a week in ICU, came out of nowhere. I'm 30 with no previous health conditions minus a few chest infections in the past. I'm out of ICU now and hoping to be allowed home next week

That's pretty shocking. Hope you are feeling better soon.

odyssey06 · 31-01-2021 7:25pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I've posted this in other threads but worthwhile repeating it here as I haven't heard it aired on any Irish media. According to a UK documentary I saw, presented by Dr Ronx Ikharia, men as born with XY chromosomes, irrespective of age or other health issues, are 44% more likely to die than women of Covid. The program says that is to do with the Y chromosome that dictates how the biological gender responds to viruses in first line defence. It holds that the reason XX women are more likely to suffer autoimmune diseases lies in their more efficient immediate response to viruses. COVID takes particular advantage of this. It's a trade off that means women are a bit more likely to survive longer, but maybe with some chronic autoimmune disease.
If this is overall scientifically verified, then it would mean XY males should be prioritised for vaccine. I say this as somebody who would stand to wait behind in the queue.

Almost all the stories that popped in up in the media about an under 50 with no pre-existing condition who ended up in ICU from covid seem to be male...
I haven't seen a split by gender for ICU admissions for under 65s.

31-01-2021 7:29pm

Deleted User wrote: »

My wife is a health care worker. She caught it and passed it to me.

I ended up spending a week in ICU, came out of nowhere. I'm 30 with no previous health conditions minus a few chest infections in the past. I'm out of ICU now and hoping to be allowed home next week

But did they detect subsequently that you had health conditions that hitherto were asymptomatic?

Also, what is your BMI?

Davauer · 31-01-2021 7:30pm

You don't have to catch it. A lot of people will catch it eating or going into someone's house or going to church or hairdresser any place indoors. If you hear some one cough move away 15 feet. Use hand sanitizer or wash hands when you enter or leave building. Bathrooms are also bad. Shower and change clothes when you come home at night if you have home made mask or cotton wear two
Think of using safety glasses or shield with a mask. Bathrooms with handdryers are dangerous as it spreads virus as are buildings with fans try and get vaccine but a few have died from it. But it's mostly the Chinese one. Don't fly or take public transport
Don't give lifts to friends. Learn not to touch your face

31-01-2021 7:30pm

caveat emptor wrote: »

That's pretty shocking. Hope you are feeling better soon.

I'm out of ICU now and coming off oxygen. Hopefully I can get home next week ðŸ˜¬ it will probably be six months before a full recovery

suicide_circus · 31-01-2021 7:34pm

I know a few people who have had it at this stage.

One caught it from her kid via school.

One caught it from his sister who arrived from London for the xmas.

And a few others who caught it in work.

caveat emptor · 31-01-2021 7:36pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm out of ICU now and coming off oxygen. Hopefully I can get home next week &#55357;&#56876; it will probably be six months before a full recovery

Really sorry to hear that. That's great you are out the other side of it. Take it handy and get well.

dhaughton99 · 31-01-2021 7:41pm

How long before solicitors start pushing out claims against HSE, dept of education etc for workers who caught it?

Mongfinder General · 31-01-2021 7:42pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'm out of ICU now and coming off oxygen. Hopefully I can get home next week ðŸ˜¬ it will probably be six months before a full recovery

30. Jaysus. It must be infuriating reading and seeing stories about every wanker and his dog jetting off on holidays or having house parties.

31-01-2021 7:50pm

dhaughton99 wrote: »

How long before solicitors start pushing out claims against HSE, dept of education etc for workers who caught it?

That happened in Austria near beginning of pandemic.

Edit - although this was a consumer legal issue:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54256463

_Brian · 31-01-2021 7:51pm

tdf7187 wrote: »

Office workers are working from home. Plenty of people still have to work.

People working from home still have to work too, your statement makes no sense.

suicide_circus · 31-01-2021 8:18pm

Deleted User wrote: »

That happened in Austria near beginning of pandemic.

Edit - although this was a consumer legal issue:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54256463

I look forward to class action lawsuits being brought against the CCP....

31-01-2021 8:21pm

Mongfinder General wrote: »

30. Jaysus. It must be infuriating reading and seeing stories about every wanker and his dog jetting off on holidays or having house parties.

Slightly frustrating seen as I'm an IT worker who rarely left this house this year ðŸ˜‚

Homelander · 31-01-2021 8:30pm

_Brian wrote: »

People working from home still have to work too, your statement makes no sense.

That's being a bit petty when it's clear that he means a great many people still have to travel to work, and in an environment shared with other colleagues and possibly members of the public in many cases.

I caught it in my workplace from a colleague who had it. If I was working from home, I wouldn't have gotten it.

Caledonia · 31-01-2021 8:57pm

What kind of work place are you in ?

We are in one to two days a week only, and v well spaced out.
Huge numbers have had to selfisolate but no workplace outbreaks so far.

Away With The Fairies · 31-01-2021 9:10pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

Almost all the stories that popped in up in the media about an under 50 with no pre-existing condition who ended up in ICU from covid seem to be male...
I haven't seen a split by gender for ICU admissions for under 65s.

I hadn't noticed that bit at all. But thinking about it now, I don't think I've heard much stories from young women under 50 in ICU.

Tim Robbins · 31-01-2021 11:58pm

Folks, the idea of this thread was how did you catch it? Not, how could you catch it or why do you think someone got? We are been told 2 metres, clean you hands and social distance - just wondering how then are people actually catching it. The numbers are so high - I am starting to wonder do we need to change the guidelines?

Reason, I am asking is I have always been taking a few extra precautions and I would like to know how people are actually catching this thing. I am at the point now where I am staying in so much I am getting other issues because I am afraid to go out. When I go out for exercise and see someone I know I am basically rude to them and pretty much leg it after 15 seconds not 15 minutes. I avoid shops but when I have to go I try to do it in under 90 seconds. I've been like this since end of March.

So back to the OP - if you caught it how did you catch it?

01-02-2021 12:48am

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Folks, the idea of this thread was how did you catch it? Not, how could you catch it or why do you think someone got? We are been told 2 metres, clean you hands and social distance - just wondering how then are people actually catching it. The numbers are so high - I am starting to wonder do we need to change the guidelines?

Reason, I am asking is I have always been taking a few extra precautions and I would like to know how people are actually catching this thing. I am at the point now where I am staying in so much I am getting other issues because I am afraid to go out. When I go out for exercise and see someone I know I am basically rude to them and pretty much leg it after 15 seconds not 15 minutes. I avoid shops but when I have to go I try to do it in under 90 seconds. I've been like this since end of March.

So back to the OP - if you caught it how did you catch it?

I wound be of same precautionary mode as yourself as I believe the original guidelines are of little meaning now with the variants. However it's very difficult for anybody to be specific about how they caught it. When I became ill with Covid-like virus unknown last March, (travel first aid kit oximeter showed SPO2 82% and lower for several days so would have been hospitalised if not in African wilderness when I was that sick) I do very distinctly recall the spittle of somebody coughing landing on my face. That person was in very bad form and unable to eat much, and like myself, couldn't taste food well.

FrankC21 · 05-02-2021 12:24pm

4 of my family including my 4 month old baby got tested positive 3 weeks ago all of which got mild symptoms thank god. but I was the only one who did not get positive, no symptoms what so ever, i get tested weekly at work like, we breathe same air and baby would kiss and sneeze infront of me face. How on earth I'm still negative?

Away With The Fairies · 05-02-2021 12:34pm

FrankC21 wrote: »

4 of my family including my 4 month old baby got tested positive 3 weeks ago all of which got mild symptoms thank god. but I was the only one who did not get positive, no symptoms what so ever, i get tested weekly at work like, we breathe same air and baby would kiss and sneeze infront of me face. How on earth I was still negative?

Could be similar to a cold. I know with myself, some colds and I'm dying with it and with other colds I wouldn't be affected. Other than that I have no answer.

ShineOn7 · 05-02-2021 7:32pm

FrankC21 wrote: »

4 of my family including my 4 month old baby got tested positive 3 weeks ago all of which got mild symptoms thank god. but I was the only one who did not get positive, no symptoms what so ever, i get tested weekly at work like, we breathe same air and baby would kiss and sneeze infront of me face. How on earth I was still negative?

It's such a strange bástard of a thing

They will be doing studies on the Asymptomatic side of this for years

Bit cynical · 05-02-2021 7:39pm

pottokblue wrote: »

How have I not caught it yet??? I'm a frontline worker in an on/off covid enivroment and shielding a vunerable family member at home. I work with people afflicted by covid with aerosolgenerating proceedures, I take publictransport and see family and friends indoors, pubs, restaurants, cinema depending on current restrictions. Colleagues, friends and family have all got it so I have been routinely screened negative. I think maybe the reason I havent got it yet is an ok bodyweight and good immune system supported by codliveroil, vitamins B,C,D, Magnsium, Whisky and Zinc. My covid anxieties lie not in catching it myself but in transmitting it to a vulnerable family, friend, patient or stranger. My anxieties are somewhat eased after recieving 2nd jab last week no extreme sideeffect expect exhaustion! If/when I catch I'll spend the 10days selfisolating. There should be less stigmatising in catching/transmitting the virus due to its unpredictable nature....

You may have caught it and recovered without knowing early on before regular testing became available.

Warbeastrior · 05-02-2021 8:25pm

pottokblue wrote:

How have I not caught it yet??? I'm a frontline worker in an on/off covid enivroment and shielding a vunerable family member at home. I work with people afflicted by covid with aerosolgenerating proceedures, I take publictransport and see family and friends indoors, pubs, restaurants, cinema depending on current restrictions. Colleagues, friends and family have all got it so I have been routinely screened negative. I think maybe the reason I havent got it yet is an ok bodyweight and good immune system supported by codliveroil, vitamins B,C,D, Magnsium, Whisky and Zinc. My covid anxieties lie not in catching it myself but in transmitting it to a vulnerable family, friend, patient or stranger. My anxieties are somewhat eased after recieving 2nd jab last week no extreme sideeffect expect exhaustion! If/when I catch I'll spend the 10days selfisolating. There should be less stigmatising in catching/transmitting the virus due to its unpredictable nature....

Thank you for your hard work.

Warbeastrior · 05-02-2021 8:28pm

suicide_circus wrote:

One caught it from her kid via school.

"bUt ScHoolS aRe SaFe"

Micky 32 · 05-02-2021 10:11pm

pottokblue wrote: »

How have I not caught it yet??? I'm a frontline worker in an on/off covid enivroment and shielding a vunerable family member at home. I work with people afflicted by covid with aerosolgenerating proceedures, I take publictransport and see family and friends indoors, pubs, restaurants, cinema depending on current restrictions. Colleagues, friends and family have all got it so I have been routinely screened negative. I think maybe the reason I havent got it yet is an ok bodyweight and good immune system supported by codliveroil, vitamins B,C,D, Magnsium, Whisky and Zinc. My covid anxieties lie not in catching it myself but in transmitting it to a vulnerable family, friend, patient or stranger. My anxieties are somewhat eased after recieving 2nd jab last week no extreme sideeffect expect exhaustion! If/when I catch I'll spend the 10days selfisolating. There should be less stigmatising in catching/transmitting the virus due to its unpredictable nature....

My work involves being in other peoples houses all day long and by some miracle i have never caught it. These days i wear a mask along with a face shield and gloves. Possibly could be helping.

06-02-2021 7:23pm

Woke up shaky and breathless on Tuesday, tested Negative Wednesday, put on antibiotics, up & down a bit since then but temperature rising now with some burning chest sensation, and the oxygen is dropping at times now down to 90%. GP had urged me to seek X-ray if this happened as it could be false negative or unresponsive/delayed response bacterial infection. Don't really want to be presenting myself for an X-ray in a Covid-filled hospital if I don't have it, but very slightly concerned it's a false negative. Made every precaution not to get it and met nobody I know per se since December and that was out on Clontarf seafront exchanging presents.

Davauer · 06-02-2021 7:35pm

Every one in work caught it not wearing mask or not wearing it at all time or below nose or around neck
Also some used home
Made mask I use medical mask I have worked around these people while they were positive as they did not tell anybody they denied symptoms yet they were coughing. Don't be around people that don't use a mask or wear it under nose or masks that have air outlets. If some one in your house has it isolate them 10-20 days use spray bleach in bathroom use paper plates for food when washing their clothes use mask and face shield and plastic body suit if your old wear mask and face shield going out. Carry hand sanitizer

Davauer · 06-02-2021 7:47pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Woke up shaky and breathless on Tuesday, tested Negative Wednesday, put on antibiotics, up & down a bit since then but temperature rising now with some burning chest sensation, and the oxygen is dropping at times now down to 90%. GL had urged me to seek X-ray if this happened as it could be false negative or unresponsive/delayed response bacterial infection. Don't really want to be presenting myself for an X-ray in a Covid-filled hospital if I don't have it, but very slightly concerned it's a false negative. Made every precaution not to get it and met nobody I know per se since December and that was out on Clontarf seafront exchanging presents.

If you feel it's hard to breath go to the hospital right away under 92 is bad

If your oxegen goes to 88 it's a bad sign go to hospital

06-02-2021 10:16pm

Davauer wrote: »

If you feel it's hard to breath go to the hospital right away under 92 is bad

If your oxegen goes to 88 it's a bad sign go to hospital

Oh I know, have been hospitalised with bacterial pneumonia with oxygen 88% and below before. I'm ok as long as I don't move about too much, but in fact some activity actually Increases my oxygen back up to normal levels

I think I'm most likely gonna weather this out pretty fanned well. Back in March the first aid kit liked oximeter I carried showed SPO2 of 83% find to 72% at times, felt fighgniut of my body as if somebody had injected a general anaesthetic or something, unable to think. I was fasoing so badly everyone kept saying "suffering from a bad panic attack".

sporina · 06-02-2021 10:40pm

mate waiting on results but she thinks she has it..

if so, probably on the bus (gets a bus to and from work every day)..
lots of people not wearing masks correctly - sitting in seats where they shouldn't ect..

not many people where she works and they are all v much spread out - has lunch on her own so doesn't think it was there

Away With The Fairies · 06-02-2021 10:59pm

sporina wrote: »

mate waiting on results but she thinks she has it..

if so, probably on the bus (gets a bus to and from work every day)..
lots of people not wearing masks correctly - sitting in seats where they shouldn't ect..

not many people where she works and they are all v much spread out - has lunch on her own so doesn't think it was there

I don't think it matters if you're spaced out with this virus. It's airborne. If she's working with people, there's always a chance she caught it there. Could also be on the bus as well.

ShineOn7 · 06-02-2021 11:21pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

It's airborne

Have CDC/WHO officially confirmed this?

How did you catch it?

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