Covid v A Common Head Cold

[BCram]

I wonder if the scientists can destroy our society and economy any more than they already have? I'm sure they'll give it a go.[/QUOTE]

Very interesting critique of how we got into the trouble of covid.
I think you need to be a bit more specific about which scientists. The people who invented the vaccines seem to me to be good guys. Is there any evidence that countries that don't have mass vaccination programmes have a better survival rate?
Genuinely interested as I had not considered what our experience would have been if we had not had scientists to save us.

[Returnofrros]

I wonder if the scientists can destroy our society and economy any more than they already have? I'm sure they'll give it a go.

Very interesting critique of how we got into the trouble of covid.
I think you need to be a bit more specific about which scientists. The people who invented the vaccines seem to me to be good guys. Is there any evidence that countries that don't have mass vaccination programmes have a better survival rate?
Genuinely interested as I had not considered what our experience would have been if we had not had scientists to save us.[/QUOTE]

Neil Oliver reckons that if nobody did anything the outcomes would have been much of a muchness without the financial calamity that's happening now

I agree.

[islaydarkblue]

I have seen references on here to Covid now being "nothing more than a common head cold" some even making out it is a minor/mild head cold. Even although I believe that it is a mild illness in the majority and that only a small minority become seriously ill I think there is still a much larger minority where it is nothing like a head cold. Before I go any further I would point out that I am not in favour of lockdowns except in the most extreme of circumstances e.g. some future doomsday variant, not in favour of wearing masks which give no protection to the wearer and minimal at best protection to others and basically I am in favour of learning to live with Covid. This could be difficult however as current scientific thoughts from the likes of Hugh Pennington etc. who talk more sense than the doom merchants of the early pandemic, reckon that it is now endemic and that we could/will face a couple of major outbreaks a year, not necessarily seasonal, ad infinitum. This of course is similar to the way we live with the common cold but with the cold it is almost impossible to be re-infected by the same virus, the problem of course is that there are hundreds of cold viruses mutating all the time meaning if you are susceptible to colds you will get one or two a year or if you are unlucky more. The current variants of Covid however seem to be able to reinfect folk again with getting a dose at best offering minimal protection against further infections maybe only getting a milder illness though, thankfully.

You may have guessed that I have just gone down with Covid for the first time. Triple vaccinated, no underlying health conditions and in good health overall and I can tell you that my experience (and the experience of a not inconsiderable number of relatives and friends of mine) of Covid cannot be mentioned in the same breath as a common head cold. I have had many a cold some worse than others but I have never, ever felt this bad from a cold. Started four days ago, the day before supposedly setting off for our first holiday in 3 years; did test, positive so holiday cancelled totally pissing me off. Now four days in and only feeling marginally better it was the right decision. Colds have given me runny nose, blocked up feeling occasionally a cough and with the odd nastier bout sinusitus which is unpleasant in the extreme. Covid has given me a very high temperature, extreme headache, muscle and body pain throughout, a nasty cough, sore throat, choked up and all the other symptoms of a cold, nausea, sickness, diarrhea, sweats and chills and a total loss of appetite. To be honest I cannot remember last having the flu and I can't remember ever feeling this bad.

This post is not a call for any more government action, god forbid, and not a call for anything other than getting on with it but to try to point out to those (on here and among folk that I know) who flippantly dismiss Covid as "no worse than a common cold" that there is more to it than that. Whilst I agree that the majority are only mildly affected for a considerable number it is a really nasty experience not helped by reading that it only a minor ailment.

Vaccinations have surely helped in preventing serious illness as they were designed for and much lesser so in preventing folk getting Covid which they were not specifically designed for. It is to be hoped that scientists can close that gap hopefully finding a jag that will prevent getting Covid at all. Failing this I can see this carry on going on for years/ever where holiday plans, entertainment outings etc. will be under threat and then there is the threat to the already difficult economy if folk require time off every time they are markedly affected by a dose or self isolate under guidance rather than laws. Just this weekend in Edinburgh alone two of their main theatres the Kings & Lyceum have cancelled performances and in the case of Sunshine on Leith closed its run completely, early. Entertainments are being cancelled widely at present and I can also see the fitba' continuing to be affected sporadically.

To sum up I don't think there is much more we can do or should do short of trying to find the magic cover all jag and I don't think (despite the way I am still feeling) that we should panic but please don't make the folk who are suffering at present and in the future feel any worse by ill informed statements making out that, apart from a few serious cases, Covid is no worse than a cold. For many it is a damned sight worse than said cold.

I am sorry to hear about your illness.
You will have to drink plenty of fluids, keep warm and let your illness run its course.
Too bad about your holiday but hopefully you will be fit for the league cup game against Hamilton Accies.