Tag: omicron

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BIDEN’S MASKS A LITTLE TOO LATE

As Omicron cases skyrocketed throughout the country, we heard that the government would send virus test kits to everyone in the United States. Not sure how they compiled that list, but I applied for ours over the internet.  I think that was a few months back, when our county was in the red. Meaning, we had over 200 cases  per 100,000 residents, each week.  Actually, we had closer to  400 cases . So we needed those tests right away.  But we just got them a couple of weeks ago.  Then, they announced they were going to distribute N95 surgical masks throughout the US via pharmacies and grocery stores.  Unfortunately,  Biden’s masks were a little too late.

Biden's Masks Came a little too late. Nobody needs them now.
BIDEN’S MASKS CAME A LITTLE TOO LATE. Mandates have been lifted, and these free N95 respirators are uncomfortable.

Our county Covid cases have plummeted in the past week or so, and the governor has lifted all mask mandates.  Therefore , when I walked into Walgreens and saw a stacks of N95 “respirators” on a shelf near the door, I assumed they were trying to get rid of them.  Especially since there was a big sign that said “FREE N95 masks.”  There were about 25 respirators/ masks in each package.

I put one package in my cart, figuring there would be some glitch at the checkout.  Do pharmacies ever give anything away?  “As these really free?”  I asked the cashier.  “Yes,” she said proudly, “those are Biden’s masks.”

Ironically, most people have stopped wearing masks while shopping, since the government has told us it’s okay.  However, I decided to try one during my next shopping trip.   And let me tell you, they are not user friendly. Instead of hooking  behind your ear, the two elastic straps must go over your head, and fit tightly. Thereby destroying any carefully blow dried hairdo.  Appearance and comfort must be sacrificed for air tight protection .  Which means you will seldom see anyone wearing them, even though they didn’t cost a penny. However, I would have been more than willing to wear an N95 respirator two years ago.

According to the CDC , we’ re only entitled to 3 free N95  respirators.    But now, nobody wants to wear them at all.    Which may be why the drug stores are giving them away in packs of 25.  Biden’s masks came a little too late.

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HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU COVID PANICKED?

Covid panic attacks were something new to me.   I remember my first one, after a family gathering on a Sunday in March of 2019.  Our county had only a handful of cases then, so there wasn’t a lot to worry about.  And then, the CDC  rang the alarm bells.  I woke up that next morning with a stuffy nose and slightly scratchy throat.  Not at all unusual, because I have year round allergies.  But this time, I felt prickles of alarm under my skin.  The next two days had me in a state of worry.  Was I coming down with Covid? Finally , I calmed down, thinking that was the last time I would have such a scare.  But it wasn’t. How often have you Covid panicked  these past couple of years?

How often have you covid panicked the past two years? And will we ever feel safe again?
How often have you covid-panicked the last couple of years. And will we ever feel safe in public again?

At first, since we had under 10 cases in our city I decided it would be safe to go shopping   Only a few people wore masks.  But I had a box of surgery masks that I began to use immediately.  Along with hand sanitizer and gloves.  As the weeks wore on, panic began to spread in our city as cases rose.

  Once, I was grocery shopping when I heard someone cry out “don’t wear those gloves.”  Startled, I turned to see an angry masked woman standing a few feet away. “Don’t you know those things spread the virus?” She said. “I’m a nurse, and I know.”  She proceeded to show me how you touch everything with your gloves, then your face and skin, etc.”  She said using hand sanitizer was the only safe way to go.

I realized that as a nurse, she was in a heightened state of fear because by now, she had seen people die of Covid.  So I didn’t argue with her.  But I did remove my gloves in the car and apply more hand sanitizer.  I used so much of that stuff in the next year that my fingers began to itch and burn.

Nevertheless, I wasn’t about to give up my shopping trips.  , I only went out once a week ,and came back with a car trunk loaded with bags .Afterwards, , I might have another Covid panic .  I heard rumors of people who had caught the virus on trips to the pharmacy while picking up prescriptions.

It was another year before the vaccine was developed, and we were the first in line to get one.  After our second shot, we thought we were back to normal.  Went out to dinner  Celebrated birthdays.  No more Covid panic attacks. Had a great summer in 2020—even celebrated my birthday with children and grandchildren from afar.  Got a booster shot in the Fall of 2021. Then came omicron, hundreds of cases,  and we were back to masking, staying home, and yes, having covid panic attacks after shopping trips..

The cases are beginning to ebb, and soon, we can stopping wearing masks.  However,  a lot of us will never feel quite so  safe again when shopping.   How often have you Covid panicked in the last two years?