Meh (126579776) wrote:So I met someone this week that has placed their hope in the possibility that covid will eventually disappear. I just don't see this as realistic at all. Viruses are survivors. They mutate and spread and lie dormant. They can even find hosts to co exist with as an active virus without harming the host, using it as a super spreader. But I'm always willing to learn.

Do you guys think covid will ever disappear?

Fazer (126579776) wrote:So I met someone this week that has placed their hope in the possibility that covid will eventually disappear. I just don't see this as realistic at all. Viruses are survivors. They mutate and spread and lie dormant. They can even find hosts to co exist with as an active virus without harming the host, using it as a super spreader. But I'm always willing to learn.

Do you guys think covid will ever disappear?

Gracie (127997951) wrote:

Fazer (126579776) wrote:So I met someone this week that has placed their hope in the possibility that covid will eventually disappear. I just don't see this as realistic at all. Viruses are survivors. They mutate and spread and lie dormant. They can even find hosts to co exist with as an active virus without harming the host, using it as a super spreader. But I'm always willing to learn.

Do you guys think covid will ever disappear?

As an RN in a LTC Nursing home, I truly believe we will be dealing with some form of this COVID for many years. There could be super spreaders in the future, but it remains to be seen. As a nurse in a nursing home that has the care of 30 patients, I get tested at the minimum now, once a week. I've been negative since it started back in March. My unit had the 3rd, 4th and 5th patients get sick. They went to a COVID isolation unit in our building, all survived. I was reassigned to the COVID unit as none of the other nurses wanted to take it on. I have not been vaccinated and do not plan to, however if it is added to the seasonal flu shot this fall, I will take it then. I am actually more afraid of the influenza that the pharmaceutical doctors use each year against the flu for this winter. They are pretty much right on the spot with their predictions. I will continue to use my mask and gloves and hand cleaner to keep myself and patients safe. I am still self isolating, only go for groceries. I'm sad of the isolation, but it's worked for me and my beloved residents. It's been tough on my family, too.

Undecided (185859185) wrote:

Gracie (127997951) wrote:

Fazer (126579776) wrote:So I met someone this week that has placed their hope in the possibility that covid will eventually disappear. I just don't see this as realistic at all. Viruses are survivors. They mutate and spread and lie dormant. They can even find hosts to co exist with as an active virus without harming the host, using it as a super spreader. But I'm always willing to learn.

Do you guys think covid will ever disappear?

As an RN in a LTC Nursing home, I truly believe we will be dealing with some form of this COVID for many years. There could be super spreaders in the future, but it remains to be seen. As a nurse in a nursing home that has the care of 30 patients, I get tested at the minimum now, once a week. I've been negative since it started back in March. My unit had the 3rd, 4th and 5th patients get sick. They went to a COVID isolation unit in our building, all survived. I was reassigned to the COVID unit as none of the other nurses wanted to take it on. I have not been vaccinated and do not plan to, however if it is added to the seasonal flu shot this fall, I will take it then. I am actually more afraid of the influenza that the pharmaceutical doctors use each year against the flu for this winter. They are pretty much right on the spot with their predictions. I will continue to use my mask and gloves and hand cleaner to keep myself and patients safe. I am still self isolating, only go for groceries. I'm sad of the isolation, but it's worked for me and my beloved residents. It's been tough on my family, too.

I too work in a nursing home looking after the elderly mainly, we have been extremely lucky and only had 3 residents actually have full blown covid all but 1 survived, the one who passed had a lot of other issues and illnesses
I myself have been extremely lucky not having had the vaccine, covid or symptoms and worked through it all and am still doing so.
Different shift pattern and longer days plus trying to keep family and friends safe. Trying to juggle all this is tiring in itself sometimes.
Luckily where I am now (Manchester UK) it's slowly getting to some kind of normal life, whatever normal is but I think this too raises anxiety levels in a lot of us, I know it does me at times, mainly when on public transport, more so when there's always those who think it's ok not to wear a face mask

No I don't ever think it'll totally disappear.
I personally think it'll be here for the rest of my life just hopefully not as bad as it has been this past year

Hope all of you are safe and well

Gracie (127997951) wrote:Good to hear that someone overseas has had the same experience and survived it. My Nursing facility has almost 200 beds. We lost, in total, 17 residents who were extremely ill in hospital. Most of them were obese, diabetic or dialysis patients. I was working the 3 to 11 shift, but I was begged to switch to a different floor for the COVID patients on the 11 to 7 shift and here I remain. There have been 3 Sundays I have had to cover both units for a total of 58 patients. I work my butt off on those days, I do rounds every 2 hours and still have time to help change patients who have been incontinent of both urine and bowel movements and still do my 2 med passes. I am exhausted after those Sundays and sleep almost 22 hours afterwards. My shoulders and lower back are killing as these people need constant position and incontinent changes and my CNA's need help. I am always available to help and they are good employees who love the residents as much as I do. My family loves and supports me in my job. I have not taken a vacation in close to 3 years. I only took off one day for a wedding. I love nursing.

Ringer (126579776) wrote:It's been a year since we've chatted about the pandemic. We've seen way too many people die. We've seen way too many people have their lives upended. And hopefully, we've learned some things.

I don't know anyone personally who died. I know of 2 people in my circle who had family who died, and one person who spent 3 weeks in the hospital. And I think about a third of my family and friends have tested positive at some point on the path, including my parents. I have 2 friends who lost their businesses. I have another 3 who were close. I also have 3 who have seen their businesses flourish. And I have one friend who got into the covid cleaning business and made a good living. Most of the people I know who lost jobs or got temp furloughed got their jobs back with one exception. And personally, I got the stupid bug on a trip to NYC back in Feb 2020. It gave me the sniffles for a day.

My husband lost one of his best friends to covid. I lost some very good FB friends to it, as well. I'm one of the people that would probably die if I were to catch it as I have asthma and COPD/emphysema. So, while our mask mandates have been lifted in this state and my husband and I are fully vaccinated for covid, we still mask up if we go inside anywhere.

So it's been a tough teacher in some ways. But has society learned anything? Have you learned anything? Has science/medicine impressed you? Did the use of the pandemic as a political weapon bother you? Is your life the same? Better? There's so many interesting topics about it.


Science has impressed me. They already had the technology to put this vaccine out quickly from when they dealt with SARS. They only needed to, in essence, change the code. I'm friends with a virologist on FB and it's a fascinating subject that I could gloss over, but I can't get into the technicality of it. I can simply admire the efficiency. The use of this virus as a political weapon is ri-damn-diculous. A virus doesn't care which type of politics you identify with. It will infect anyone. My life is not the same. We no longer go on our customary summer campouts.


And before we get going, there's no right or wrong here. We may all have different opinions, and most likely do. I hope we can all respect that. I'll ask a Vike to close the thread if it gets anywhere close to what it became when we tried this last year.

Erwyle (187240896) wrote:So, I am almost 62 and started out Republican then switched to Democrat in the early 90's primarily because my two biggest issues are human rights and environment, and for both issues, the D's are superior by far imo. Just wanted to get that out of the way.

I originally sided with Trump because I could see how the impact of lockdowns could lead to social collapse. I also didn't like the new idea that I was responsible for someone else's health and well being. I felt that it was up to each person to protect himself. I bought the idea that this was no worse than a flu, and people die of that every year. Why make such a fuss about this?

Well, I've shifted a bit since then. Now, I feel like if everyone planet wide had taken this seriously, and banded together in common cause for the greater good, we might have more people living now and the extent of the disease might have been contained. Too late for that now. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

My wife's father and brother died, not from Covid, but there were no funerals or memorials for them, and they were cremated against their wishes. The idea that the kids who really thrive on interaction and need instruction were not getting any of that bothers me a lot. Businesses failed, museums and concerts cancelled. On and on.

I built up a great deal of anger, not at anyone in particular, just at the situation. I thought, geez, this is some sh*t. Why can't we as a modern culture do better? And it seems like the rules made on the fly, without any form of democratic process, are now becoming permanent. The world has changed forever.

It's not just Covid, nor its delta variant, but the one that's coming after those I fear. Caught between a rock and a hard place we are. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I think that's what bugs me the most. The idea that this is the new normal and yesterday is gone forever. I guess I'll have to deal. It's better than being dead I guess. But I never had anxiety about the future before. Don't like it.

PS, I was among the first to get both shots and I've always worn a mask for my sake. So far so good. But the future? Oy! I guess nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even life itself...

Erwyle (187240896) wrote:So, I am almost 62 and started out Republican then switched to Democrat in the early 90's primarily because my two biggest issues are human rights and environment, and for both issues, the D's are superior by far imo. Just wanted to get that out of the way.

I originally sided with Trump because I could see how the impact of lockdowns could lead to social collapse. I also didn't like the new idea that I was responsible for someone else's health and well being. I felt that it was up to each person to protect himself. I bought the idea that this was no worse than a flu, and people die of that every year. Why make such a fuss about this?

Well, I've shifted a bit since then. Now, I feel like if everyone planet wide had taken this seriously, and banded together in common cause for the greater good, we might have more people living now and the extent of the disease might have been contained. Too late for that now. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

My wife's father and brother died, not from Covid, but there were no funerals or memorials for them, and they were cremated against their wishes. The idea that the kids who really thrive on interaction and need instruction were not getting any of that bothers me a lot. Businesses failed, museums and concerts cancelled. On and on.

I built up a great deal of anger, not at anyone in particular, just at the situation. I thought, geez, this is some sh*t. Why can't we as a modern culture do better? And it seems like the rules made on the fly, without any form of democratic process, are now becoming permanent. The world has changed forever.

It's not just Covid, nor its delta variant, but the one that's coming after those I fear. Caught between a rock and a hard place we are. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I think that's what bugs me the most. The idea that this is the new normal and yesterday is gone forever. I guess I'll have to deal. It's better than being dead I guess. But I never had anxiety about the future before. Don't like it.

PS, I was among the first to get both shots and I've always worn a mask for my sake. So far so good. But the future? Oy! I guess nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even life itself...

DinosaurNerd89 (11877186) wrote:

Erwyle (187240896) wrote:So, I am almost 62 and started out Republican then switched to Democrat in the early 90's primarily because my two biggest issues are human rights and environment, and for both issues, the D's are superior by far imo. Just wanted to get that out of the way.

I originally sided with Trump because I could see how the impact of lockdowns could lead to social collapse. I also didn't like the new idea that I was responsible for someone else's health and well being. I felt that it was up to each person to protect himself. I bought the idea that this was no worse than a flu, and people die of that every year. Why make such a fuss about this?

Well, I've shifted a bit since then. Now, I feel like if everyone planet wide had taken this seriously, and banded together in common cause for the greater good, we might have more people living now and the extent of the disease might have been contained. Too late for that now. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

My wife's father and brother died, not from Covid, but there were no funerals or memorials for them, and they were cremated against their wishes. The idea that the kids who really thrive on interaction and need instruction were not getting any of that bothers me a lot. Businesses failed, museums and concerts cancelled. On and on.

I built up a great deal of anger, not at anyone in particular, just at the situation. I thought, geez, this is some sh*t. Why can't we as a modern culture do better? And it seems like the rules made on the fly, without any form of democratic process, are now becoming permanent. The world has changed forever.

It's not just Covid, nor its delta variant, but the one that's coming after those I fear. Caught between a rock and a hard place we are. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I think that's what bugs me the most. The idea that this is the new normal and yesterday is gone forever. I guess I'll have to deal. It's better than being dead I guess. But I never had anxiety about the future before. Don't like it.

PS, I was among the first to get both shots and I've always worn a mask for my sake. So far so good. But the future? Oy! I guess nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even life itself...

This is a pretty solid take Erwyle. Thank you for sharing.

Mir (102794171) wrote:

Erwyle (187240896) wrote:So, I am almost 62 and started out Republican then switched to Democrat in the early 90's primarily because my two biggest issues are human rights and environment, and for both issues, the D's are superior by far imo. Just wanted to get that out of the way.

I originally sided with Trump because I could see how the impact of lockdowns could lead to social collapse. I also didn't like the new idea that I was responsible for someone else's health and well being. I felt that it was up to each person to protect himself. I bought the idea that this was no worse than a flu, and people die of that every year. Why make such a fuss about this?

Well, I've shifted a bit since then. Now, I feel like if everyone planet wide had taken this seriously, and banded together in common cause for the greater good, we might have more people living now and the extent of the disease might have been contained. Too late for that now. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

My wife's father and brother died, not from Covid, but there were no funerals or memorials for them, and they were cremated against their wishes. The idea that the kids who really thrive on interaction and need instruction were not getting any of that bothers me a lot. Businesses failed, museums and concerts cancelled. On and on.

I built up a great deal of anger, not at anyone in particular, just at the situation. I thought, geez, this is some sh*t. Why can't we as a modern culture do better? And it seems like the rules made on the fly, without any form of democratic process, are now becoming permanent. The world has changed forever.

It's not just Covid, nor its delta variant, but the one that's coming after those I fear. Caught between a rock and a hard place we are. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I think that's what bugs me the most. The idea that this is the new normal and yesterday is gone forever. I guess I'll have to deal. It's better than being dead I guess. But I never had anxiety about the future before. Don't like it.

PS, I was among the first to get both shots and I've always worn a mask for my sake. So far so good. But the future? Oy! I guess nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even life itself...

I'm sorry for your loss in your family

I think, as humans, we've all taken a little too much for granted and this is our payback.

For me, right from the get go it was all about us doing this as a team. Yes, a lot of that comes from where I live. Yes, our prime minister is loved by the world. PS: she's not as holy as she might look......we've all got good and bad in us.
With or without her, I know, as a country, the majority of us would have done what we did and continue to do because it is and has never been about just yourself. Life is about giving as much as you can, not just taking all you can get.
I know for me personally, the very last thing I want to ever have to live with, is the fact that if I wasn't careful and didn't practice safe distancing, and was carrying the virus and in a round about kind of way it caused the death of someone I knew or even didn't know. I don't know if I could actually live with myself. So I do what I do, not just for me, but for those that I come in contact with.

We need to learn the world doesn't revolve around us.

Erwyle (187240896) wrote:So, I am almost 62 and started out Republican then switched to Democrat in the early 90's primarily because my two biggest issues are human rights and environment, and for both issues, the D's are superior by far imo. Just wanted to get that out of the way.

I originally sided with Trump because I could see how the impact of lockdowns could lead to social collapse. I also didn't like the new idea that I was responsible for someone else's health and well being. I felt that it was up to each person to protect himself. I bought the idea that this was no worse than a flu, and people die of that every year. Why make such a fuss about this?

Well, I've shifted a bit since then. Now, I feel like if everyone planet wide had taken this seriously, and banded together in common cause for the greater good, we might have more people living now and the extent of the disease might have been contained. Too late for that now. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

My wife's father and brother died, not from Covid, but there were no funerals or memorials for them, and they were cremated against their wishes. The idea that the kids who really thrive on interaction and need instruction were not getting any of that bothers me a lot. Businesses failed, museums and concerts cancelled. On and on.

I built up a great deal of anger, not at anyone in particular, just at the situation. I thought, geez, this is some sh*t. Why can't we as a modern culture do better? And it seems like the rules made on the fly, without any form of democratic process, are now becoming permanent. The world has changed forever.

It's not just Covid, nor its delta variant, but the one that's coming after those I fear. Caught between a rock and a hard place we are. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I think that's what bugs me the most. The idea that this is the new normal and yesterday is gone forever. I guess I'll have to deal. It's better than being dead I guess. But I never had anxiety about the future before. Don't like it.

PS, I was among the first to get both shots and I've always worn a mask for my sake. So far so good. But the future? Oy! I guess nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even life itself...

Erwyle (187240896) wrote:So, I am almost 62 and started out Republican then switched to Democrat in the early 90's primarily because my two biggest issues are human rights and environment, and for both issues, the D's are superior by far imo. Just wanted to get that out of the way.

I originally sided with Trump because I could see how the impact of lockdowns could lead to social collapse. I also didn't like the new idea that I was responsible for someone else's health and well being. I felt that it was up to each person to protect himself. I bought the idea that this was no worse than a flu, and people die of that every year. Why make such a fuss about this?

Well, I've shifted a bit since then. Now, I feel like if everyone planet wide had taken this seriously, and banded together in common cause for the greater good, we might have more people living now and the extent of the disease might have been contained. Too late for that now. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

My wife's father and brother died, not from Covid, but there were no funerals or memorials for them, and they were cremated against their wishes. The idea that the kids who really thrive on interaction and need instruction were not getting any of that bothers me a lot. Businesses failed, museums and concerts cancelled. On and on.

I built up a great deal of anger, not at anyone in particular, just at the situation. I thought, geez, this is some sh*t. Why can't we as a modern culture do better? And it seems like the rules made on the fly, without any form of democratic process, are now becoming permanent. The world has changed forever.

It's not just Covid, nor its delta variant, but the one that's coming after those I fear. Caught between a rock and a hard place we are. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I think that's what bugs me the most. The idea that this is the new normal and yesterday is gone forever. I guess I'll have to deal. It's better than being dead I guess. But I never had anxiety about the future before. Don't like it.

PS, I was among the first to get both shots and I've always worn a mask for my sake. So far so good. But the future? Oy! I guess nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even life itself...

Erwyle (187240896) wrote:So, I am almost 62 and started out Republican then switched to Democrat in the early 90's primarily because my two biggest issues are human rights and environment, and for both issues, the D's are superior by far imo. Just wanted to get that out of the way.

I originally sided with Trump because I could see how the impact of lockdowns could lead to social collapse. I also didn't like the new idea that I was responsible for someone else's health and well being. I felt that it was up to each person to protect himself. I bought the idea that this was no worse than a flu, and people die of that every year. Why make such a fuss about this?

Well, I've shifted a bit since then. Now, I feel like if everyone planet wide had taken this seriously, and banded together in common cause for the greater good, we might have more people living now and the extent of the disease might have been contained. Too late for that now. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

My wife's father and brother died, not from Covid, but there were no funerals or memorials for them, and they were cremated against their wishes. The idea that the kids who really thrive on interaction and need instruction were not getting any of that bothers me a lot. Businesses failed, museums and concerts cancelled. On and on.

I built up a great deal of anger, not at anyone in particular, just at the situation. I thought, geez, this is some sh*t. Why can't we as a modern culture do better? And it seems like the rules made on the fly, without any form of democratic process, are now becoming permanent. The world has changed forever.

It's not just Covid, nor its delta variant, but the one that's coming after those I fear. Caught between a rock and a hard place we are. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I think that's what bugs me the most. The idea that this is the new normal and yesterday is gone forever. I guess I'll have to deal. It's better than being dead I guess. But I never had anxiety about the future before. Don't like it.

PS, I was among the first to get both shots and I've always worn a mask for my sake. So far so good. But the future? Oy! I guess nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even life itself...

Cindy (133856555) wrote:

Erwyle (187240896) wrote:So, I am almost 62 and started out Republican then switched to Democrat in the early 90's primarily because my two biggest issues are human rights and environment, and for both issues, the D's are superior by far imo. Just wanted to get that out of the way.

I originally sided with Trump because I could see how the impact of lockdowns could lead to social collapse. I also didn't like the new idea that I was responsible for someone else's health and well being. I felt that it was up to each person to protect himself. I bought the idea that this was no worse than a flu, and people die of that every year. Why make such a fuss about this?

Well, I've shifted a bit since then. Now, I feel like if everyone planet wide had taken this seriously, and banded together in common cause for the greater good, we might have more people living now and the extent of the disease might have been contained. Too late for that now. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

My wife's father and brother died, not from Covid, but there were no funerals or memorials for them, and they were cremated against their wishes. The idea that the kids who really thrive on interaction and need instruction were not getting any of that bothers me a lot. Businesses failed, museums and concerts cancelled. On and on.

I built up a great deal of anger, not at anyone in particular, just at the situation. I thought, geez, this is some sh*t. Why can't we as a modern culture do better? And it seems like the rules made on the fly, without any form of democratic process, are now becoming permanent. The world has changed forever.

It's not just Covid, nor its delta variant, but the one that's coming after those I fear. Caught between a rock and a hard place we are. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. I think that's what bugs me the most. The idea that this is the new normal and yesterday is gone forever. I guess I'll have to deal. It's better than being dead I guess. But I never had anxiety about the future before. Don't like it.

PS, I was among the first to get both shots and I've always worn a mask for my sake. So far so good. But the future? Oy! I guess nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even life itself...

Thank you for sharing.