This is so rough. My parents got Covid again earlier in the summer right before they were supposed to come visit. Obviously they rescheduled but it was still disappointing that they missed out on time with baby. We’re going on our first plane ride in a while tomorrow and will definitely be masking though it does make me nervous that baby can’t mask.
I mask when I’m going into anywhere I can’t easily move away from people (tight crowds, getting my nails done, planes) but also know there are lots of situations when I’m not careful but I do try to make risk assessments because who wants to be sick?
It is hard --- and it's a "new normal" that seemingly has no end. But I've found that just being aware and doing my own personal risk assessment and realizing that there are certain things within my control does help me feel empowered and more at ease ♥
I just added Covid tests to my pharmacy cart this morning. A coworker tested positive over the weekend from their adult kid who’d just returned from Ireland. Thought it would be good to have a supply of tests again. I got it last summer at a work conference in Scotland and don’t want it again if I can avoid it. Conferences regularly seem to be spreader events. And I agree that the KF masks fit better. I have a big work event in Australia in October. Jet lag hits me hard. So I will definitely be masking knowing that my sleep will highly interrupted and I’ll be around so many people from around the world at our event.
FWIW, I know it can be hard to find tests in-person around town, but I've had the best luck at Normal. They seem to always have a pretty big supply in most locations. But sounds like you also have a good online pharmacy solution! That Instagram post that I link to above also provides some testing tips --- but the big takeaway is that false negatives aren't uncommon, and it states that taking 3 tests 48 hours apart catch 94% of cases --- which I think is great to know.
Hope you have a good trip to Australia! That sounds nice --- even if it will be a bit exhausting. If possible, you could try to arrange your schedule so that you have time to adjust your sleep and get at least one full night's rest ahead of the event, and after returning to Denmark before going back into the office. That could help your immune system ramp up ahead of the exposure.
I’ve had good luck with med24.DK buying tests and masks. Also with Apopro.DK for prescriptions. I’m thankful we have as many delivery options as possible here in DK. Apopro has same or next day bike delivery services with Burd. (I kind of miss drive thru pharmacies in the US, I hate going in).
I will have two full nights in Australia before I have to be “on” for six days. But I should plan an extra day on the coming back side.
Thanks, Laura! That's helpful. I haven't used any online pharmacies but this could also be a good solution for Walter's meds. He's on a lot of them and it's rather inconvenient to always be going to pick them up.
I have never tested positive but I don’t take that to mean I have never had it. We masked religiously in 2021 and then did more selective masking in 2022 but have frankly been really lax this year. This post was honestly just what I needed -- the kick in the pants to mask again while traveling (I was doing this into early 2023 but then forgot a mask one trip and just... stopped? But it’s such an easy thing to do), and be more thoughtful about other contexts in which to wear a mask. I really like your point about grocery shopping. We mostly go at non-peak times but when I do stop by on a sat/sun, wearing a mask is the least I can do. Thanks so much for this, Dani 🙏🏻
Thanks, Meaghan! I feel like once in a while I have to give myself a pep talk about why I want to continue being safe and why I want to avoid repeated infections. While it's nice to feel like we can go out and do most things again, it's also not that hard for me to make a few choices each day that reduce my exposure and risk. ♥
This is so interesting and informative! I recently got COVID (my second time) on a family vacation and it SUCKED!! I will be better about masking on my flights now. I am currently on day 8 and had one of the worst headaches of my life last night. I’m guessing it was COVID related but it’s hard to tell. I also haven’t been sleeping well so could be that too!?! Thank you for this latest post.
Sorry to hear that, Diane! But glad it was relatively mild and hope it didn't put too much of a damper on your vacation. While it's promising that we are on the "backend" of COVID as a global pandemic (feels like such a relief most days!) there's still so much we can do to prevent subsequent infections , which I think is really important given how little we know about the long-term impacts. Hope this helps you assess your own personal risk moving forward and perhaps make decisions that can reduce your exposure moving forward. Hope you continue to recover from this latest bout!
This post was a really good reminder. My wife and I were recently infected after one of my coworkers got it—and then the whole staff was sick. We were able to get paxlovid (antivirals are a great option & easy to get if you meet the criteria!) and are on the mend, but I'm definitely going to be more careful going forward. Thank you for sharing your perspective & these resources, Dani!
Ugh, Jaimie! Boooooo. That's a bummer but I hope you are both on the mend and SO happy to hear you had access to paxlovid. That really can make a huge difference for people. It's hard when we're as careful as we can be, but get it anyway. A good reminder that we can't avoid it 100%, but we can make choices that reduce our risk and also choices that reduce our risk.
I feel pretty confident if I wasn't masking 100% at workouts, I would have gotten COVID again at some point. It's just a numbers game. Until we know more or have better vaccine + treatments I'll be doing what I can to limit my number of infections. Hope it's clear sailing for you both! ♥
My family went to Ireland this summer and 3 of the 7 came back testing positive. This is my sister's third time with Covid since the fall of 2020. She has yet to get her sense of taste or smell back. I had it twice last July as Paxlovid did not help me the first time around. A few co-workers have also gone on trips and returned testing positive. Definitely worried for the upcoming fall season as I work at a university library with a lot of international students. I greatly appreciate the info. you've shared and look forward to listening to The Osterholm Update.
I feel like SO many people contract it from traveling. Not just on airplanes, necessarily, but I think people tend to let their guard down and go into more places where exposure risk is high when they are on vacation. Vacation mode! And all that. 🙃 Hard not to!
My niece is arriving in Denmark later today. She's 15 and I don't think she was *thrilled* when I told her she had to wear a KF94 while traveling 🤣 But dang, child...you're only here for 8 days, lets not spend them snotting on each other. I'd also like to take her to the Barbie movie, but if we do, I think we'll mask unless we can find a matinee that is nearly empty. I don't want to send her home with COVID, either.
Hope everyone in your family makes a full recovery and that you sister is tasting and smelling soon! Also...a family trip to Ireland?! What a dream 🍀
This is so rough. My parents got Covid again earlier in the summer right before they were supposed to come visit. Obviously they rescheduled but it was still disappointing that they missed out on time with baby. We’re going on our first plane ride in a while tomorrow and will definitely be masking though it does make me nervous that baby can’t mask.
I mask when I’m going into anywhere I can’t easily move away from people (tight crowds, getting my nails done, planes) but also know there are lots of situations when I’m not careful but I do try to make risk assessments because who wants to be sick?
It is hard --- and it's a "new normal" that seemingly has no end. But I've found that just being aware and doing my own personal risk assessment and realizing that there are certain things within my control does help me feel empowered and more at ease ♥
I just added Covid tests to my pharmacy cart this morning. A coworker tested positive over the weekend from their adult kid who’d just returned from Ireland. Thought it would be good to have a supply of tests again. I got it last summer at a work conference in Scotland and don’t want it again if I can avoid it. Conferences regularly seem to be spreader events. And I agree that the KF masks fit better. I have a big work event in Australia in October. Jet lag hits me hard. So I will definitely be masking knowing that my sleep will highly interrupted and I’ll be around so many people from around the world at our event.
FWIW, I know it can be hard to find tests in-person around town, but I've had the best luck at Normal. They seem to always have a pretty big supply in most locations. But sounds like you also have a good online pharmacy solution! That Instagram post that I link to above also provides some testing tips --- but the big takeaway is that false negatives aren't uncommon, and it states that taking 3 tests 48 hours apart catch 94% of cases --- which I think is great to know.
Hope you have a good trip to Australia! That sounds nice --- even if it will be a bit exhausting. If possible, you could try to arrange your schedule so that you have time to adjust your sleep and get at least one full night's rest ahead of the event, and after returning to Denmark before going back into the office. That could help your immune system ramp up ahead of the exposure.
I’ve had good luck with med24.DK buying tests and masks. Also with Apopro.DK for prescriptions. I’m thankful we have as many delivery options as possible here in DK. Apopro has same or next day bike delivery services with Burd. (I kind of miss drive thru pharmacies in the US, I hate going in).
I will have two full nights in Australia before I have to be “on” for six days. But I should plan an extra day on the coming back side.
Thanks, Laura! That's helpful. I haven't used any online pharmacies but this could also be a good solution for Walter's meds. He's on a lot of them and it's rather inconvenient to always be going to pick them up.
Order before noon if you need prescriptions same day. 😁
I have never tested positive but I don’t take that to mean I have never had it. We masked religiously in 2021 and then did more selective masking in 2022 but have frankly been really lax this year. This post was honestly just what I needed -- the kick in the pants to mask again while traveling (I was doing this into early 2023 but then forgot a mask one trip and just... stopped? But it’s such an easy thing to do), and be more thoughtful about other contexts in which to wear a mask. I really like your point about grocery shopping. We mostly go at non-peak times but when I do stop by on a sat/sun, wearing a mask is the least I can do. Thanks so much for this, Dani 🙏🏻
Thanks, Meaghan! I feel like once in a while I have to give myself a pep talk about why I want to continue being safe and why I want to avoid repeated infections. While it's nice to feel like we can go out and do most things again, it's also not that hard for me to make a few choices each day that reduce my exposure and risk. ♥
This is so interesting and informative! I recently got COVID (my second time) on a family vacation and it SUCKED!! I will be better about masking on my flights now. I am currently on day 8 and had one of the worst headaches of my life last night. I’m guessing it was COVID related but it’s hard to tell. I also haven’t been sleeping well so could be that too!?! Thank you for this latest post.
Sorry to hear that, Diane! But glad it was relatively mild and hope it didn't put too much of a damper on your vacation. While it's promising that we are on the "backend" of COVID as a global pandemic (feels like such a relief most days!) there's still so much we can do to prevent subsequent infections , which I think is really important given how little we know about the long-term impacts. Hope this helps you assess your own personal risk moving forward and perhaps make decisions that can reduce your exposure moving forward. Hope you continue to recover from this latest bout!
This post was a really good reminder. My wife and I were recently infected after one of my coworkers got it—and then the whole staff was sick. We were able to get paxlovid (antivirals are a great option & easy to get if you meet the criteria!) and are on the mend, but I'm definitely going to be more careful going forward. Thank you for sharing your perspective & these resources, Dani!
Ugh, Jaimie! Boooooo. That's a bummer but I hope you are both on the mend and SO happy to hear you had access to paxlovid. That really can make a huge difference for people. It's hard when we're as careful as we can be, but get it anyway. A good reminder that we can't avoid it 100%, but we can make choices that reduce our risk and also choices that reduce our risk.
I feel pretty confident if I wasn't masking 100% at workouts, I would have gotten COVID again at some point. It's just a numbers game. Until we know more or have better vaccine + treatments I'll be doing what I can to limit my number of infections. Hope it's clear sailing for you both! ♥
My family went to Ireland this summer and 3 of the 7 came back testing positive. This is my sister's third time with Covid since the fall of 2020. She has yet to get her sense of taste or smell back. I had it twice last July as Paxlovid did not help me the first time around. A few co-workers have also gone on trips and returned testing positive. Definitely worried for the upcoming fall season as I work at a university library with a lot of international students. I greatly appreciate the info. you've shared and look forward to listening to The Osterholm Update.
I feel like SO many people contract it from traveling. Not just on airplanes, necessarily, but I think people tend to let their guard down and go into more places where exposure risk is high when they are on vacation. Vacation mode! And all that. 🙃 Hard not to!
My niece is arriving in Denmark later today. She's 15 and I don't think she was *thrilled* when I told her she had to wear a KF94 while traveling 🤣 But dang, child...you're only here for 8 days, lets not spend them snotting on each other. I'd also like to take her to the Barbie movie, but if we do, I think we'll mask unless we can find a matinee that is nearly empty. I don't want to send her home with COVID, either.
Hope everyone in your family makes a full recovery and that you sister is tasting and smelling soon! Also...a family trip to Ireland?! What a dream 🍀