Free Covid Home Test program resuming Monday

[sam_gordon]

Exactly. I think they missed the part where no one got really sick for 2 years because so many people were masking.

Yea, had nothing to do with people staying away from each other, it was all masking.

 

[The Mayor]

Not sure why everyone is so worked up about Covid and testing. It’s basically the common cold now. Does everyone run around looking for flu or RSV testing? Both are a lot more dangerous, especially for the elderly, than Covid now.

 

[Christine]

Yea, had nothing to do with people staying away from each other, it was all masking.

Well, let me relate this story again then. I get what you're saying because for a time, we all were staying away from each other. But there were times as it went on that we weren't.

My husband's job site was a good example. For the entirety of the pandemic (2 years) he worked essentially in a SCIF with 25 other guys doing renovation in the deep recesses of the White House. Pretty much same 25 guys because everyone had to get a Top Secret clearance to do it. Everyone was required to mask all day. No one got COVID from work. Two guys who lived well outside the area car pooled together. They lived in an area where bars were open much sooner than the areas where most of the closer in workers lived. "Joe" frequented the bar as soon as it reopened. "Joe" and "Bob" carpooled in together mask free. Joe got a bad cold and feared it was COVID but didn't tell anyone right away and came to work for 2 days in his mask until he could no longer feel well enough to do so. Bob quickly got the same "cold." When caught and trying to hide their illness, both were promptly tested and were positive and sent home. Joe and Bob carpooled without a mask, Joe infected Bob. Whereas no one in the SCIF got it because everyone was masked. Even though they might have been 5 feet away from Joe all day for 2 days.

I know there's a lot of contention about this, but that anecdotal observance was enough to convince me of the value when *everyone" participates. There were also early studies showing how masking on a crowded bus (in Asia where they have enough compliance to study these things), impacted the amount infected in an enclosed area.

 

[Christine]

Not sure why everyone is so worked up about Covid and testing. It’s basically the common cold now. Does everyone run around looking for flu or RSV testing? Both are a lot more dangerous, especially for the elderly, than Covid now.

I would test for flu because you can take an antiviral to ward it off. I would also test for COVID because I work in a crowded office and my coworkers don't want to be sick. COVID is far more transmissable than the common cold so it might make a difference on how much I get around other people. I can go into the office with a common cold and stay in my office with the door closed and not infect anyone. Not so with COVID.

 

[sam_gordon]

Well, let me relate this story again then. I get what you're saying because for a time, we all were staying away from each other. But there were times as it went on that we weren't.

My husband's job site was a good example. For the entirety of the pandemic (2 years) he worked essentially in a SCIF with 25 other guys doing renovation in the deep recesses of the White House. Pretty much same 25 guys because everyone had to get a Top Secret clearance to do it. Everyone was required to mask all day. No one got COVID from work. Two guys who lived well outside the area car pooled together. They lived in an area where bars were open much sooner than the areas where most of the closer in workers lived. "Joe" frequented the bar as soon as it reopened. "Joe" and "Bob" carpooled in together mask free. Joe got a bad cold and feared it was COVID but didn't tell anyone right away and came to work for 2 days in his mask until he could no longer feel well enough to do so. Bob quickly got the same "cold." When caught and trying to hide their illness, both were promptly tested and were positive and sent home. Joe and Bob carpooled without a mask, Joe infected Bob. Whereas no one in the SCIF got it because everyone was masked. Even though they might have been 5 feet away from Joe all day for 2 days.

I know there's a lot of contention about this, but that anecdotal observance was enough to convince me of the value when *everyone" participates. There were also early studies showing how masking on a crowded bus (in Asia where they have enough compliance to study these things), impacted the amount infected in an enclosed area.

I never said masks were no help. I just don't believe they were the ONLY reason "no one really got sick for 2 years" (which is your claim I was replying to).

 

[Christine]

I never said masks were no help. I just don't believe they were the ONLY reason "no one really got sick for 2 years" (which is your claim I was replying to).

Got it. I agree with you. Staying away from people, in general, was a great help. Plus I think more people were thoughtful about going out in public with an illness. That's gone by the wayside now.

 

[gmi3804]

The two I have are out of date, so this is welcome news.

Check yours against THIS LIST, as many have had their expiration dates extended.

 

[lilmc]

Same. I had cold symptoms and tested with a test that was expired that I happened to have at home. I had read that expired tests were still okay to use. I tested negative and assumed I had a cold. Later that week I happened to be at a library a few towns over from me and they had free covid test kits so I grabbed one. Yup, tested positive.

Not necessarily because the test was expired, could just be tested “too soon”

https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/health/covid-19-home-tests-still-work-wellness/index.html

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Check yours against THIS LIST, as many have had their expiration dates extended.

Thanks, I'll do that. I plan on getting the free tests anyway, since I have a family of five (two moved out but still think they live here) who are beginning to test again since Covid is ramping up. I need to have them on hand.

Okay...I checked mine against the PDF provided. They expired in July of this year. So I need the new tests.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Not sure why everyone is so worked up about Covid and testing. It’s basically the common cold now. Does everyone run around looking for flu or RSV testing? Both are a lot more dangerous, especially for the elderly, than Covid now.

OK no, whatever variant I got in July nearly took me out, and I say that having dodged all variants since 2020, I had the special tests for fragments and had zero this whole time.

Everyone is different.

I'm all for live and let live but it is not ok to discourage people who may be different from you just because you have weathered it well so far. I do not bother people who are different from me so I would like the same in return.

Also, it is a cold wrapped around something else just like Trojan Horse, SARS-COV-19 is Frankenvirus of sorts and to just call it a cold is a misnomer. To call SARS-COV-19 a cold is a gross and dangerous oversimplification, like saying a person wearing a Halloween ghost costume is an actual ghost and ignoring the human inside.

 

[disneychrista]

Not sure why everyone is so worked up about Covid and testing. It’s basically the common cold now. Does everyone run around looking for flu or RSV testing? Both are a lot more dangerous, especially for the elderly, than Covid now.

I don't care if it is COVID, a cold, the flu, RSV or any other virus or illness. I DON'T want it. I also don't care if you test negative (for COVID) don't come to work, the grocery store or any other place if you are sick with "just a cold." Again I don't want it.

 

[focusondisney]

Not sure why everyone is so worked up about Covid and testing. It’s basically the common cold now. Does everyone run around looking for flu or RSV testing? Both are a lot more dangerous, especially for the elderly, than Covid now.

I am in my mid 60s, so I’m old & have chronic health issues. I’ve had plenty of colds & flu in my life, had RSV last October. I had Covid for the first time in July. It was NOT a cold. Lucky you that yours was cold like. It’s not the same for everyone. Many people get much sicker, myself included.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

I don't care if it is COVID, a cold, the flu, RSV or any other virus or illness. I DON'T want it. I also don't care if you test negative (for COVID) don't come to work, the grocery store or any other place if you are sick with "just a cold." Again I don't want it.

Great...if you don't want it then I guess don't go out. The rest of us need to live life even if we have a cold. That's just completely absurd. I'm not coughing in anyone's face by any means. But you can't expect people to just hide at home with even a sniffle. That's crazy. I suggest grocery pick up so you don't have to interact with people if you feel this strongly.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Not sure why everyone is so worked up about Covid and testing. It’s basically the common cold now. Does everyone run around looking for flu or RSV testing? Both are a lot more dangerous, especially for the elderly, than Covid now.

I contracted Covid on a cruise in April. I still can't smell anything but onions. I've only been able to smell those for about a month. That was my third time having it. I had different symptoms each time, but they were all worse than a common cold. Some people are fortunate enough to have an experience similar to a common cold or even fewer symptoms, but that's not the case for many people.

Thanks for the heads-up, OP. We'll definitely be ordering tests.

 

[barkley]

thanks for posting the link. ordered mine just now.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Thank you, I got that order placed now!

 

[barkley]

Thank you, I got that order placed now!

beat the crowd!

 

[mjkacmom]

Great...if you don't want it then I guess don't go out. The rest of us need to live life even if we have a cold. That's just completely absurd. I'm not coughing in anyone's face by any means. But you can't expect people to just hide at home with even a sniffle. That's crazy. I suggest grocery pick up so you don't have to interact with people if you feel this strongly.

My cousin just posted on Facebook, covid round 3, 2 weeks of fever, vomiting, headache and extreme dizziness (walking with a cane). She’s in her late 60’s. Why do people assume it presents as a cold for everyone? Maybe some have very small social circles?

 

[PollyannaMom]

Ordered some this morning. Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just ordered. Thanks.