Augie Ray
3.5 years of constant caution and sacrifice, withholding dinners at restaurants & concerts, and I let one professional event encourage me to take needless risks. I spoke in a room with 80 people without a mask. I asked the event planner to have air filters in the room, but she said "their effectiveness for Covid prevention is limited," which is, of course, BS, and that should've been when I withdrew from the event. I let my guard down, and now I have my first #COVID infection. Be safe out there!
Jun 24, 2023 at 7:13amWeb
Show threadBruce MirkenJun 24, 2023
@augieray So sorry! Take care of yourself
Show threadakaknijnJun 24, 2023
@augieray sad to hear this. Hope you are fine.
Show threadAugie RayJun 24, 2023
@akaknijn Definitely not fine, but I'm hoping for a rapid recovery.
Show threadTom RitchfordJun 24, 2023

@augieray Fsck!

Man, if it can happen to you it can happen to any of us, which was of course always true.

Get well soonest!!!

Show threadMelindaJun 24, 2023
@augieray
Hope it's only a mild case and that you soon feel better. It is really hard to avoid, we only meet people outdoors. We only have meals out (literally). We had a recent event though that was very hard to miss in many ways. Having heard your story though, I am glad we did drop out of this event (5 days in close contact with 50 people and indoor meals etc). Vaccines help, but are not the total answer. People won't wear masks, won't distance. Life gets complicated. Get well soon!
Show threadCarlos GuerreiroJun 24, 2023
@augieray

Take care and rest. I wish you a quick recovery.

What you describe is very similar to what happened to Raina MacIntyre. It is hard to resist the social pressure without drastically withdrawing. You've been giving us a great example of how to do it. I am sorry and angry that stupid people are making it so hard for those of us who take the science seriously and want to be careful.
Show threadmichaelJun 24, 2023
@augieray oh no! So very sorry. Rest as much as you can and wishing you a full recovery with nothing lingering. Wishing you the best.
Show threadDarwin WoodkaJun 24, 2023

@augieray oh no

Paxlovid is very helpful

Show threadJames GuilfordJun 24, 2023
@darwinwoodka @augieray Yes! Get treated ASAP!
Show threadJennifer Moore 😷Jun 24, 2023

@augieray

Wishing you luck! Hope you feel better soon. And hope you have the opportunity to take it easy the next few weeks, even if you _do_ feel better quickly.

Show threadWilma MullerJun 24, 2023
@augieray
I'm sorry this happened to you. I recognize the years of caution and how difficult it is to maintain. Last 2 weeks I went into quiet shops without a face mask for the first time. Yet there is always someone who coughs and that feels different than before. Tomorrow on the train I'll put on the face mask even though I'm the only one. We will have to remain very alert. I wish you a good recovery
Show threadSamhain NightJun 24, 2023
@tanawc @augieray Friendly reminder that Covid can stay in the air of a poorly ventilated space for up to 16 hrs
Show threadAAA365Jun 24, 2023
@augieray Sending well wishes, sorry to hear that you are covid positive. Take care and hope the Covid infection isn’t severe.
Show threadJasmineJun 24, 2023

@augieray

I hope you're feeling better soon 🤞

Show thread12foxfireJun 24, 2023
@augieray
Very sorry to hear this. Take good care of yourself.
Show threadVivian Schey 🏳️‍🌈 🇩🇪 <(FSM)<{Jun 24, 2023

@augieray

I'm sorry to hear/see that.
Hope you get well soon, and I wish that it doesn't hit you that hard. 🫶

Show threadTheJenJun 24, 2023
@augieray Ugh, I'm sorry.
Show thread\u1f0a1Jun 24, 2023

@augieray Get well soon!

That's exactly the reason I still mask w/o compromise. Okay, I have the advantage of being used to being the weird one for basically my entire life...

Show threadSilk_Flame (she/her) 😷Jun 24, 2023
@bnlandor we belong in the same tribe 😊😷
Show threadAgent Joséphine BakerJun 24, 2023
@augieray @Korallenherz Hope you will fully recover!
Show threadMvRiederbergJun 24, 2023
@augieray Sh... Wish you full and fast recovery
Show threadEva CanitanoJun 24, 2023
@augieray Augie, I am so sorry. Get well soon💕
Show threadbeforewisdom Jun 24, 2023

@augieray It doesn't help that people like to pretend that the pandemic is over.

https://mastodon.social/@WeeklyAmericanPandemicDeaths

Show threadTAVAloniaJun 24, 2023
@augieray sending supportive and rapid healing vibes . I felt super lucky to have returned from a trip out west without catching it- mostly masked but a couple of times I went without. But continuing the masking for the foreseeable.
Show threadtheaackJun 24, 2023
@augieray sorry to hear this. And you only know because you tested, which people are not doing any more. Infuriating. Best wishes for all.
Show threadDavid CrispinJun 24, 2023
@[email protected] oh man, hope you get checked regularly for any post COVID damage, and are able to get help if and when needed. I know some.may think this sounds cold, but I AM worried for you man, as we both know the research. Would probably be helpful to see about getting any results entered into a study or something too..I'm sure you know this already, but I had to say it. Hope acute illness doesn't kick your ass too much. Get well soon
Show threadkronicdJun 24, 2023

@augieray sorry to hear you got infected :( for future events I'd encourage you to get a mask with a speech diaphragm. I've spoken at various events and even delivered a eulogy while masked. I remain covid free.

Stay safe out there buddy, remember the goal is to get covid as few times as possible. Don't let this cause you to drop your guard.

Show threadJohn Federico ⌘Jun 24, 2023
@augieray Very sorry to hear. I hope you recover quickly.
Show threadserklarvelJun 24, 2023
@augieray the same thing happened to me after 3 years. Thankfully I had 3 vacine boosts and it was mild.
Show threadA Concerned ScientistJun 24, 2023

@augieray

I know you know this, but rest. Recovery is all that matters. Stay focused on it.

Show threadIdealistic Pragmatist Jun 24, 2023
@augieray thank you for being upfront about where you think you went wrong so that other folks here can learn from your experience!
Show threadEniko (moved ➡ gamedev.place)Jun 24, 2023
@augieray what is it with people and trying to deny the effectiveness of air filtration? It's not like masks in that it doesn't obligate them to actively do anything and it's not even expensive
Show threadEllie Kennard has movedJun 24, 2023
@augieray
Hope you feel better soon.
Such a shame. Steven has turned down all his teaching and demonstrating gigs for the whole time, even this coming fall, which effectively means he has no work. But your post is a cautionary tale and encouragement to keep doing just that.
Show threadleandrofelgueirasJun 24, 2023
@augieray everyone is gonna get it, soon or later. The difference now is the fact that you took a vaccine and has immunity memory against it.
Show threadLazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈Jun 24, 2023
@augieray feels like you should be able to sue that organiser for endangering your health.
Show threadZalasur 🐸🇺🇦Jun 24, 2023
@augieray Here's to hoping for a quick recovery. Take it easy for a few weeks. Best advice I took to heart when I caught it last August was to embrace your inner potato.
Show threadikuoJun 24, 2023

@augieray Joining the chorus of people wishing you a truly mild case and a full recovery!

Thank you for honestly sharing how you likely got infected. I appreciate the example you've set for being informed and masking up, and also for showing how we are all human. Even you and Dr. Fauci and any of us may find ourselves unmasking given the "perfect storm" of conditions.

Show threadsabikJun 24, 2023
@augieray @eniko
Workplace injury?
Show threadNicolas DufourJun 24, 2023
@augieray Sorry to hear that! Yes closed spaces are the ones to catch it :( ... Hopefully you'll get it over quickly !
Show threadNachtherzJun 24, 2023
@augieray wishing you a consequenceless recovery 🍀
Show threadCaseyLJun 24, 2023

@augieray

I too just recovered from a first bout with Covid after 3.5 years of being careful. All I can say is: it's hard if not impossible to be as careful as would be needed (to never get exposed/infected) forever.

I am so sorry you caught it, and hope yours is a mild case (mine was) with no lingering effects.

At the risk of sounding feckless, there is a weirdly liberating feeling to finally catching the damn thing. (NTM adding to my vax-and-booster-based immunity a bit more.)

Show threadKate Nyhan is changing serversJun 24, 2023
@CaseyL FWIW I caught COVID, despite quite rigorous precautions - then I got it *again* 7 weeks later. I wouldn't bet on a significant increase in immunity from having been recently infected.
Show threadUrsidinoj/The BjornsdottirsJun 25, 2023
@CaseyL @augieray There's no additive effect to immunity from actually catching the thing.
Show threadLooking for explanations…Jun 24, 2023
@augieray Ugh! I wish you a speedy & full recovery. The fact is, we never really know whether or not we’ve made a full recovery, except when it’s clear we haven’t. You’re only human.
Show threadMFennVT has movedJun 24, 2023
@augieray Oh no! I hope it's a mild case with no long-term effects.
Show threadGinevraCatJun 24, 2023
@augieray I'm so sorry. It sucks anyway to get COVID, but it is especially unfair when you've been so cautious.
Show threadPeter HenryJun 24, 2023

@augieray I did exactly the same at a small operatic event.

"Vaccine Max" saved my asthmatic "ass" but after six months I still have no sense of smell - great sadness

Show threadBill Hooker 😷Jun 24, 2023
@augieray I'm sorry to hear this, and wish you a swift and complete recovery.
And thank you for being a voice of reason!
Show threadDeborah Rose ❌👑Jun 24, 2023

@augieray COVID-19 is still infecting people.

While #COVID19 deaths have dropped significantly in the US compared with earlier periods during the #pandemic, the virus has continued to kill about 1,100 people each week across the country. #GetVaccinatedAndBoosted

Show threadlfrobertsonJun 24, 2023
@augieray
Sorry to hear that. Take good care of yourself. When my partner and I, both elderly, got it after a vacation trip and recovered after little more than a bad cold, I gave silent thanks to everyone out there who had made the vaccines and made sure we could get them.
Show threadTBYGJun 24, 2023
@augieray I am so sorry. I can certainly understand the slip. I am tempted sometimes myself. Your good deed for the day was reminding me to try to resist temptation.
Show threadMedea Vanamonde🏳️‍⚧️ ♀Jun 24, 2023
@augieray ferk!
Show threadKim Spence-Jones 🇬🇧😷Jun 24, 2023
@augieray Thanks for a story that helped me to reinforce my extreme carefullness. It is so easy to get sucked in to other people’s dumb insouciance!
Show threadStephen Rockower MDJun 24, 2023
@augieray Good luck. If you're maximally vaccinated, your chances are good this will be relatively mild!
Show thread@shezza_t is moving to .ieJun 24, 2023
@augieray I hope you make a fast and full recovery. And thank-you for being open about having caught it.