Coronavirus ~ COVID-19

[homoe]

The omicron variant has turned a season of joy into one of weariness and resentment amid a new coronavirus surge.

With days to go before Christmas, Americans are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Of reworking plans to adapt to the latest virus risks. Of searching for at-home tests and not finding them. Of wondering whether, after two years of avoiding COVID-19, or surviving it, or getting vaccinated and maybe even boosted, omicron is the variant they inevitably catch.

A sense of dread about omicron’s rapid spread — the fastest of any variant yet — has swept through the Northeast and Upper Midwest, which were already swamped with delta variant cases and hospitalizations. And unease has burgeoned even in states and territories like Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico that had moved past a terrible summer of delta and, until recently, experienced a relative virus lull.

IMO, it's better to be unconvinced for a while instead of DEAD forever!

[homoe]

NIAID director Anthony Fauci warned Wednesday that large gatherings this holiday season are unsafe even for fully vaccinated people who've had a COVID-19 booster shot, as the Omicron variant surges across the U.S.

What he's saying: "There are many of these parties that have 30, 40, 50 people in which you do not know the vaccination status of individuals," Fauci said at a briefing. "Those are the kind of functions in the context of Omicron that you do not want to go to."

I wish he would say the same about sporting events!


https://www.yahoo.com/news/fauci-say...060720435.html

[homoe]

At the White House COVID-19 response team briefing Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci responded to a question whether the hypercontagious Omicron variant’s lower rate of severe disease is a sign that the pandemic is nearing an end. Fauci called the assumption “dangerous business.” “You can’t count on anything when you’re dealing with a virus that has fooled us so many times before,” he said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fauci-dan...213749957.html

[Orema]

https://www.covidtests.gov/

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — In an effort to increase access and testing supplies, the Biden administration launched a new website for people to order free at-home COVID-19 tests.

Tests are in high demand and have been increasingly difficult to find.

"There’s a consensus that the United States could and should have invested more in rapid testing and testing in general for COVID-19," said Dr. William Nettleton, the medical director at the Kalamazoo County Health Department.

Covidtests.gov officially went live Wednesday.


In an effort to increase access and testing supply, the Biden administration launched a new website for people to order free at home COVID-19 tests. (WWMT/Courtesy covidtests.gov)

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four rapid at-home COVID-19 tests.

Launch: White House soft-launches COVID-19 test request website
The tests are completely free. You can order by filling out the form on the site with your contact information and shipping address.

There is a limit of one order per residential address.

The website states orders usually ship in 7 to 12 days and will be delivered by the United States Postal Service.

As of last Saturday, insurance companies and health plans are now required to cover eight free over-the-counter, at-home tests per covered individual, per month.

Insurance coverage: Insurance now covers at-home COVID-19 tests
As cases of the omicron variant rise, health officials say testing is crucial to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"We all need to make testing more routine in our lives right now," said Nettleton. "It helps reduce the spread. If I know I’m positive, I can isolate and protect those around me from getting COVID."

Tests can be ordered on covidtests.gov.

To find a free testing site near you in the mitten, visit Michigan.gov.

https://wwmt.com/news/local/white-ho...covid-19-tests
______________________

Just ordered my tests without any problems. Website was running smoothly without any hiccups.

[homoe]

Fauci: Worst case scenario for 2022 is variant that eludes vaccine protection.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/f...194015191.html

[easygoingfemme]

Originally Posted by homoe

Fauci: Worst case scenario for 2022 is variant that eludes vaccine protection.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/f...194015191.html

Yup. I'm drowning in Omicron but fearing the next variant.

COVID ripped through my job over the last month, staff and residents. Knock on wood, as far as I know, I haven't had it. It's wearing us all down. At least they started giving us a little bit of hazard pay when there is an outbreak.