Covid 19 Part XXXV-956,720 ROI (5,952 deaths) 452,946 NI (3,002 deaths) (08/01) Read OP

I definitely agree with the poster who said that 99% of people have moved back to normal. I got on the Luas last Wednesday at 5pm, and it was wedged. Not one person was wearing a mask. I did consider that it would be good time to put one on, but I didn't have one with me and I reasoned with myself that I can't be whipping a mask on in crowded areas for the rest of my life.

I'm not worried about long Covid personally. I've had covid twice, mild both times. My husband and kids have had it once, and recovered fine, even in circumstances where three out of four of them have asthma.

My father-in-law may have long Covid. He caught pneumonia in March 2020 and was told that it wasn't covid, but he wasn't actually tested. He took antibiotics but it still took him weeks to recover. He now only has two or three hours of energy a day. That said, he is obese, has type 2 diabetes and is in his 70's, so if anyone was going to get long covid I wasn't surprised it would be him.

I'm not worried about some hidden effects in five years either. If that was the case, there could be hidden effects in every common cough and cold you get over every winter. My cousin has ME, which resulted from a random winter virus she got 10 years ago.

I'm sorry to hear your niece has a lingering cough....I don't understand how this means I'm living under a rock. I'm well aware there's some nasty side effects from acquiring covid. In the grand scheme of things serious illness is very unlikely for someone of my age and health. Everything comes with risk, it's up to everyone to assess their own level of risk. I do things in my life with far higher risk attached and don't bat an eyelid like!! I had a brush with cancer a few years ago. It has taught me that life is too short not for living. If you keep the body as healthy as you can then there's not much else you can do. It's up to chance! A mask isn't going to do much in a big crowd at this stage. I'm afraid to tell you as well that the likelihood is you're going to get it sometime. Hopefully like the majority who get it and other viruses etc it won't be too serious

It's probably as much down to antivirals as the virus itself.

This phenomenon was picked up during trials:

A brief return of symptoms may be part of the natural history of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in some persons, independent of treatment with Paxlovid and regardless of vaccination status

It is curious no doubt, but what I mean is the article explains it is not a big concern, as the article mentions:

though he “continues to feel quite well,” his White House doctor said today.

Maybe it's a dead cat bounce on the part of the virus...

Is it some quirk of covid? Or Paxlovid? Or mis-match between Paxlovid and Omicron.

I wonder if we were antigen testing patients with other respiratory viruses who are on antivirals would we see the same.

I had already edited my post before you replied - as can be seen in the reply you quoted.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119409581/#Comment_119409581

It's paxlovid. It just 'pauses' viral reproduction and if your immune system hasn't cleared the virus by the time the course finishes, it just starts right back up again. Although according to pfizer, rebounds only happen in around 1% of people, clearly this isn't the case. Probably they can quote this figure because the trial excluded vaccinated people ( after they were originally included. Weird,huh?), in which the rebounds seem to be far more common and ties in with a recent study showing that boosted people in particular are taking longer to clear the virus.

Of all the high profile people in the US who have taken it, they pretty much all have had a rebound, including fauci who said his symptoms were worse after the virus returned

I hate to break it to you and to whoever liked your post but it is 2019 i’m afraid. Have you actually looked out your window? . There are no restrictions, pubs, restaurants, concerts, stadiums are all buzzing. Not to mention airports are at full capacity. It seems like 2019 to me.

Unfortunately it won’t be 2019 for a minority who constantly are terrified of covid while hoping that restrictions are reintroduced. I feel sorry for those people.

You do realise that covid is still out there? It's appearing in many different forms(strains) these days

It's clear you don't understand that until such time as we get a proper vaccine or have all the data to know this virus that it's not over.

You are living under a rock denying that there's any risk to anyone. We don't know enough yet about this virus.

As I said, most of what I do is normal but I take precautions in crowds.

Yes the person wearing a mask walking down the street is going way overboard but so is the guy in crowds.

Have you done a bunjee jump? Sky dived? Jumped off a cliff into water? Done white water rafting?

You could die doing any of the above but sure you could die anywhere.

How about running across a motorway?

There are still rules if you contract covid.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/restricted-movements/how-to-self-isolate/#when-you-can-stop-self-isolating

I'm sure you were one of those constantly giving out about Tony all during lockdowns like he was some evil fiend.

We don't need severe restrictions because the majority have been giving a medicine, called a vaccine by most, which alleviates symptoms. We need the economy running too.

We'll just leave it there, its clear you don't understand anything as regards collecting data, developing vaccines, potential long term issues with viruses.

Because it's not normal until we have a proper vaccine and are 100% that this is behind us.

People have had organ issues with this thing. We don't know if that's the end of their problems or if it'll come back at some stage in the next couple of years.

Most of us are living close to normal lives but being a bit careful. Some are still being very restricted in their lives and others are completely careless. I'm in the middle group.

Like the other guy here just said he couldn't care less if he had Covid that he won't self-isolate.

You are arguing that it shouldn’t be normal. But look outside because it is normal. Are you able to tell the difference? It’s normal out there. Everywhere is open and people are living their lives pre 2019. There are no real restrictions that are inconveniencing people much at all anymore . It doesn’t matter what you or i think should be normal or not real life outside of these forums are telling a different story.

If people want to be careful there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. That’s their decision.

So what should people do until this magical vaccine comes along that will put it 100% behind us. What restrictions should be imposed for the years ahead?

Anyways I'm done with this now. I'm going back to watching The Old Man, recommend it to all.