Covid Support Thread
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I did read that there appears to still be some kind of immune system response if you come in contact again even if you don’t test positive for antibodies. I went to Labcorp, but I don’t know which version of the antibody test they use. They did say the results don’t mean that I didn’t have it. I believe I had Covid. I guess testing negative has just made me feel like maybe I should start being hyper vigilant again. And it’s made school decisions more fraught. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things at all.
I thought this was very interesting, in the NYTimes today in, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/26/world/coronavirus-live-updates.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage#link-49f19d9e:
“One of the great mysteries of the coronavirus pandemic has been the fact that many stricken people have later discovered that they don’t seem to have antibodies, the protective proteins generated in response to an infection.
[…]
But the volume of coronavirus antibodies is known to drop sharply once the acute illness ends, and it has become increasingly clear that tests may miss antibodies that are present at low levels.Moreover, some tests — including those made by Abbott and Roche and offered by Quest Labs and LabCorp — are designed to detect a subtype of antibodies that doesn’t confer immunity and may wane even faster than the kind that can destroy the virus.
But the declining antibodies indicated by commercial tests don’t necessarily mean declining immunity, several experts said.
“Whatever your level is today, if you get infected, your antibody titers are going to go way up,’ said Dr. Michael Mina, an immunologist at Harvard University, referring to the levels of antibodies in the blood. ‘The virus will never even have a chance the second time around.'”
This echoes what you’re saying, Anonymousse. Like you, I do think I had covid back in April. As Ron said, people were still getting the flu, but Drew and I both got flu shots, and while some of the symptoms were similar to influenza, some – like chest pains and shortness of breath – were not/ were much more consistent with covid. Too bad we couldn’t get tests back when we were actually sick…
I read that, too! I had two different versions of the flu (even with getting the vaccine) in the winter, so I definitely don’t think what I had was the flu.
The antibody test I had was one this article mentions – created by Abbott – that detects a subtype of an antibody that wanes very quickly after the initial illness. I had had a chest x-ray at that appointment after the nurse heard something suspicion-sounding with the stethoscope. The x-ray showed marks in my lungs that suggested a recent infection. It really seems likely it was covid, but I guess I’ll never know, and it doesn’t matter much anyway since we don’t know the extent and duration of immunity. At one point, I hoped a positive antibody test would give us the protection we’d need to go visit my parents, but I think it will likely be another year before that happens. I also hoped having antibodies would make us feel more confident sending the kids back to school. The decision is fraught, as you say, A.
I’m most concerned about my kids’ psychological well-being. I don’t worry so much about covid, although it’s certainly not a non-issue; I think we’ve likely had it already but even if we haven’t, I think the kids would be fine and drew and I would likely be ok too if they brought it home. But I think I worry that being in school with all the changes and precautions and then seeing it shut down when the first positive case is announced, which will happen quickly, will be scary for them and potentially psychologically damaging. Jackson is still experiencing a lot of anxiety from our intense march and April and still talks about the teacher at his school who died. So, I worry about putting him right back into that environment. Joanie is so young she really doesn’t understand things the same way; it probably wouldn’t be as intense for her, but I think wearing a mask all day and being constantly reminded to stay away from her friends will get annoying. At the same time, all this isolation is not good for them and I worry about what it does to their emotional and social development. Also, remote learning is fucking awful.
So… I don’t know. I suspect here in New York, the decision might be made for us. I would be surprised if, after seeing what happens when schools re-open in the rest of the country, that we continue with in-person classes.
My county is 7 days away from schools opening for face to face & distance learning. I chose DL for my 1st grader. I think its likely I’ll switch to homeschooling, but I’ll give DL a shot. I’m predicting the schools will close within 2 to 3 weeks. Cases are rising around here and hospital critical care beds are almost full. Not that that’s changed anyone’s behavior. Restaurants are packed, high school football practice has started, & everyone just got back from their FL beach vacation.
I’m extremely grateful my oldest graduated high school in ’19 & my other son is only in the 1st grade. I’d be freaking out if I had to teach him how to multiple fractions. He misses his friends & teachers, but he has me & his little sister to play with. Really glad we decided to have that 3rd baby & that they like to play together!
We’re torn in a bunch of different directions.
On the keep-home side.
1. Obviously we do not wish to contract a serious illness and don’t have faith in the school’s ability to operationally keep a bunch of kids socially distanced for an extended period of time. We also know of plenty of parents that are vacationing in hotspots, having parties, etc.
2. We have just one soon-to-be-ten-year-old child who did really well with remote learning and both have jobs that can be done remotely.
3. My daughter is not unreasonably stressed about having to wear a mask all day and maintain careful social distance all the time.
on the go-to-school side
1. I’m really worried about what the isolation is doing to the kid. She’s become very anti-social and kind of withdrawn. I’m really worried about how another year of this will work out.
2. It’s one thing to be remote when everyone is remote. It’s another thing to be one of a handful of remote kids while everyone is in school. I’m worried about how much attention the remote kids will get if they’re trying to do everything at once.
The school put out its opening “plan” about a week and a half ago which contained very little detail about how they’d operate safely and no mention of how they’d do online (or even committing to it as an option). A bunch of parents pitched a fit (myself included) and supposedly they’re reevaluating.
I think that right now our tentative plan is to keep her home for the first month or two and see how it goes. In the unlikely event it seems to be working everywhere we may then send her in. But everything’s in flux and as others have noted the choice will probably be made for us.
I’m worried about school. I want to send my 1st grader, but I don’t comprehend how they are going to be safe at school, how it’s going to be a fun environment anymore, and I am worried about his health as well. He’s been away from other germs for the most part for a long time. He was out of school sick a lot last year. There’s that little voice in the back of my mind that is terrified of the kid getting sick/dying. That primal parent fear.
I also worry about how all of these precautions/some people choosing a cyber option will affect the school budgets.
I honestly kind of wish they’d just postpone school reopening. Just cancel it all. Pay the teachers, but keep it closed. But it’s easy for me to say that as a stay at home parent without an actual paying job.
@anonymousse funding for public schools is based on enrollment and the official count that goes to the state (at least in Virginia) is 20 school days after the 1st day of school. So as long as your child is enrolled at school whether distance or in-person, the school will still receive their per-pupil funding for your child. I can tell you from working in a school there is no way that attendance in person will not be harmful in some way either physically or mentally. School is fundamentally changed for the moment. When my school was going to do in-person instruction students were pretty much expected to sit in their seats for their entire class period and stay looking forward and this high school. I have no idea what elementary will look like but it won’t be as fun as it was in the past. I can’t believe that requiring students to sit for hours on end in their chair won’t be harmful in some way either or that teachers will be able to do it.
The country is in such a horrible situation and children need to be in school, but I just don’t see how they will be able to stay open. This is such an impossible situation and everyone is suffering for the absolutely horrible lack federal coordination.
It’s not the funding I’m worried about, it’s how the money is being spent. For instance, the school district is buying iPads for every single student. And the safety measures they will have to enact, the supplies will be paid for out of the money that normally goes to extracurricular or art classes, etc. One of the cyber options the school is offering the district has to pay for per student enlisted, it’s not from the teachers at our school. They’re actually asking parents nicely to consider not choosing that because we can’t afford it for every student, basically. I live in a fairly wealthy suburb with a great school district and we’re already stretched thin. We fundraise nonstop through the year. How are schools across the country going to afford to keep all of these kids safe?
My husband works in an environment where if someone tests positive or is suspected of being sick, they have to call in a crew to sterilize the facility overnight. When I think about the money that will need to go into trying to keep elementary, middle and high schools open- it is mind boggling imagining where the money will come from. Schools should not open at the expense of teachers, or students.
@Fyodor – I dont’ have kids – but our district just announced the different ways they will be operating this year. They will be offering both but one thing I saw and thought was interesting was that if a student/parents opts for distance learning and does not do well, they will be required to do in seat learning for the next quarter or semester I think. Meaning if they are not completing assignments, getting poor grades on everything etc.
I think that’s to make sure that kids are in the correct environment but I can also see parents just saying “well I’ll homeschool them and just pull them from the district” which might work for some kids and be disastrous to others.
I do not envy parents having to make these choices right now.
