Oh no - so sorry - stay safe!

I was just invited to the Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Sounds fun but I think I’ll pass.

Sounds exhausting. ☹ And frustrating too. Sorry you are going through this.

My neighbor and I both had our cars parked on the street and, as we both had car troubles, we chatted as we worked. He said, "It's a good thing we're finally coming out of this pandemic." I laughed out loud at the joke. Turns out he was serious. He thinks we are putting coronavirus behind us. I backed a few feet farther away, thinking about all the exposures he has in his job teaching dance at the performing arts high school.

About once a week I check my city's covid stats. Schools started last Tuesday, so it is possible for increases from that to show up quite soon. The city does not seem to have done any updates over the weekend.

"We had a clear path out of this mess ..." If only that were fact and the Science could definitively stand behind it. Too many pivots, too many Oh no it's not spread that way but THIS way...Too many people not understanding some things take time and time alone to KNOW what course they will take and how to fight, too many MY CHOICE attitudes in our world today. God Bless, stay diligent, be wise in your dealings.

I personally know of more breakthrough cases now than I did of covid cases last year. This delta variant is really spreading. Our gym is going back to masking indoors and our library is going back to programs on line only.

Not surprising in that case rates in KY are higher than they were in mid-winter in January and less than half of the state's population is fully vaxed.

Yesterday a family member had an accident that required stitches. The staff at the walk in clinic was delighted for something other than a covid related problem!

Yes, it was a horrible weekend. Learned that my ex - hospitalized with Covid 7 days ago - was moved overnight to the ICU and placed on a ventilator. The prognosis is not great. I spent much of my weekend trying to calm down his daughter (the stepdaughter I raised), who is naturally distraught. Much of it is just a feeling of frustration....not being able to do anything more than wait and see. She can't see him, now she can't talk to him. She feels helpless.

And no, he had not yet been vaxxed. Not that he was opposed to it....he was just taking a wait and see attitude. Why, I have no idea as the rest of his immediate family, including current spouse, have all been vaxxed.

This is my first actual encounter with someone I know contracting Covid. I do have a extended family member who developed a breakthrough case in early July but it developed into nothing more than like a mild case of flu. She was up and about and felt fine in just a couple of days although tested positive for a good two weeks.

gardengal....I'm sending positive thoughts your way...for your ex. Hope he pulls through with no lasting effects.

It just feels like it should be over by now. The idea it will be with us forever hasn't sunken in ....yet. I'm sure Kath sees/hears about it at work, so it's more of a reality for her. Thanks for being there for so many people Kathleen. ♥

gardengal, so sorry to hear about your ex....sending thoughts of comfort and healing your way.

Gardengal, I am so sorry about your ex and your daughter as well. So stressful for everyone

Kathsgarden, i hope you can stay away from the infected people. i just don’t understand why people are choosing to take the risk of suffering or possibly dying.

Just as I read this I got an email from my hospital system saying that cases of covid, especially the ”highly contagious” Delta variant, are on the rise here. I live in an area where many people are vaccinated. Booster shots will be available soon, depending on your situation. I will get one at my first opportunity.

On my FB page someone posted a picture of his girlfriend out and about when she was supposed to be in quarantine. No jabs, of course. They thought it was hilarious.

I work in telephone care so that's good. I do work with one nurse who has chosen not to get the vaccine. She and her husband both got covid in the Winter. Now that there is an apparent outbreak in the daytime telephone group, they are working in our area (the ones exposed but not sick?!) so we cross paths with them for about a half hour when we come in the afternoon. They haven't been wearing masks but then one of us asked them to and the last day I worked last week they had them on.

All of my computer equipment to work from home is set up now. Just waiting for approval for us all to go home. I can't wait! I feel bad for those nurses, nursing assistants, doctors, food service workers, etc...still working in the hospital. I couldn't do it.

""We had a clear path out of this mess ..." If only that were fact and the Science could definitively stand behind it."

I think the originally quoted comment about a clear path out is quite true, there's complete agreement among all the scientific experts and no controversy at all about the science and what needs to be done.

The problem is all the deniers and the shocklingly widespread incidence of non-compliers.

Gardengal I am so sorry! Sending good thoughts that your ex will pull through and that your step daughter will not lose her father.

I agree that people are distrustful, but sorting through the lies is part of getting to the "truth" in todays mire of fake news. I think the difficulty level has grown.

"if only that were fact and the Science could definitively stand behind it. Too many pivots, too many Oh no it's not spread that way but THIS way...Too many people not understanding some things take time and time alone to KNOW what course they will take and how to fight, too many MY CHOICE attitudes in our world today. God Bless, stay diligent, be wise in your dealings."

Good advice, along with: wear a mask, social distance and GET A VACCINE!

This is a pandemic, not a scripted movie or TV series. This virus has no 'history' and science has had to learn from a moving target. IMO there have been very few confusing statements from the scientific community. The difficulty has been from the people who wanted to insert their political beliefs into the mix as a new means of dividing the public. (Think for a moment what enemies of the US might be interested in doing that.)

From the first, the scientists have told Americans: a) We're at risk of all kinds of health issues due to epidemic Obesity; b) Covid-19 is a Virus and can only be wiped out by widespread use of Vaccines; c) Failure to vaccinate allows the virus to mutate, which it has done with Delta and Theta variants and continues to do as it improves itself at human expense. There's no mystery here unless you're looking to sow doubt.

Get vaccinated. Wear a mask in public places -- because people can be infected and spreading virus without exhibiting symptoms, vaxxed or not. Self quarantine if you test positive.

Without widespread vaccinations, we'd still be fighting smallpox, polio, measles, diptheria...and on and on. Now we must join together to eliminate Covid-19. Can't we at least think about our *children*? (Covid's Delta variant 'improvement' has proven disastrous for young people. It's not just 'an old people's' problem now.)

DH and I have gotten our third shots. I don't think it's difficult to get one at any pharmacy.

i have on employee who had not yet been injected. he returned to working back with us in june long after I’d given everone else the big talk about why this is so important. ive been mentioning something maybe each week. i didn’t want to give an ultimatum because this is his 2nd job and we want to retain him. today he walked 3 doors away to the pharmacy and got the first pfiizer shot. YAY! he did this while on the clock—- and that is fine with me. i offered to buy him a balloon for his bravery. i think he did fear this and thats what took so long. I’m very happy.

DH and I have gotten our third shots. I don't think it's difficult to get one at any pharmacy.

Is that because you both have a condition that warrants the 3rd shot right now?

Kathsgarden,

I hope youve had time for a breather. i am exhausted for you. i hope you can wear a headset that allows for your mask if you’re around others. Thanks for all you do.

Gardengal — I wish the best for your ex and daughter. You must be on pins and needles.

Chisue — well said.

Chisue I’m glad you’ve gotten that 3rd shot. My sister is an at risk person and I’m hoping she’s gotten hers as well.

Yes, *I* am 'compromised' by treatment for a blood cancer, but DH is not...just 'old'. Anyway, the pharmacy didn't seem to care. It appeared to me that they are giving the vaccine to pretty much anyone over 12 who shows up -- other than people who identify as having probable allergic responses. It's the same shot for everyone, whether first, second, or third. (They're reimbursed, you know...) We were jabbed by a pharmacist, no involvement with the in-store minute clinic.

Guess I stepped on somebody's toes. My post got deleted. Funny.

Anneliese32, I really hate when people flag someone's post. Sorry. I hate it even worse when the whole thing goes away because someone gets upset about what someone wrote in a post here.