Mastodawn

I've had four friends in the past few weeks report they have a cold or flu. I asked a couple, and they didn't test for #COVID19 — they just “knew” they didn't have it.

Currently, per the CDC, flu viral activity is VERY LOW. COVID viral activity is HIGH. If you are ill and don't test, it's safe to assume you have another COVID infection and should take it seriously.

Good luck, and take care.

DeterioratedStucco Sep 13, 2025

@augieray typo in your hashtag, Covid10

Augie Ray Sep 13, 2025

@SoftwareTheron Thanks!

The Lady (La Donna)Sep 13, 2025

@augieray
My grandson had a "cold" from returning to school. (They called the back to school crud) He shared it with his dad, but not his mom (my daughter). My daughter has a sad immune system. She's been using a powder in her water that boosts immunity. It seems to be helping her. I hope they were right in their guess.

Flaming Cheeto Sep 13, 2025

@augieray you'd think the people eager to conflate the two would be glad to find out they have a milder case of COVID.

ArchaeoIain Sep 13, 2025

@augieray get vaccinated and wear a mask in crowded places

amy renz Sep 13, 2025

@augieray After 5.5 years of not knowingly having it, this strain caught me here in Florida. My mom picked it up and shared before she had symptoms, tested positive and quarantined. Fortunately relatively mild cases so far.

lobelia Sep 13, 2025

@augieray Do the COVID tests still work for current variants?

Augie Ray Sep 13, 2025

Juggling With Eggs Sep 13, 2025

Since 2020, I’ve always tested when any of the family has a ‘cold’…but even my wider family think I’m weird. We don’t go to work or school if we’ve got it. Current employers think this is sensible. School…hmmmm.

JonChevreau 🇨🇦Sep 14, 2025

@augieray Yes, we got Covid only for the second time last week likely on a plane returning from France. In days, our family of 3 all had it. Test kits no longer free: cost $18 for package of four at local drugstore. Paxlovid helps: sore throat almost gone after 5 days taking it. Social distancing and mask up!

Ozzie D, NP-hard

@JonChevreau @augieray Mother-in-law (86, infirm) had covid the week before last, as it raced thru her assisted-living facility. I pushed her to take Paxlovid, which she did, and improved. But the Rx cost her >$650 under her Medicare part D coverage. What was your experience regarding its cost this round?

Augie Ray Sep 14, 2025

@ozdreaming @JonChevreau I've only had COVID once, and that was when I lived in Europe, so Paxlovid wasn't readily available. I've never needed to try to get it in the US.

JonChevreau 🇨🇦Sep 14, 2025

@augieray @ozdreaming Once is enough! For us, last previous time was August 2022. This new wave seems to have caught people unaware: not as easy to find Covid test kits and few are yet masking or distancing. What do you think of
Paxlovid, or are there better alternatives? I think of it as a type of Covid morning-after pill.

Augie Ray Sep 14, 2025

@JonChevreau @ozdreaming I focus my attention on studies about COVID's chronic impact, not as much on treatments. It seems Paxlovid helps, but the course of treatment needs to be extended to be very effective. Paxlovid in combination with other drugs may also help. (Metformin, which I happen to be on, seems to reduce the risk of LC, for example.)

JonChevreau 🇨🇦Sep 14, 2025

@ozdreaming @augieray Can be a huge cost but almost nil in Canada if you’re a senior

GLC Sep 14, 2025

@ozdreaming @JonChevreau @augieray

About $2.60. I was in France, my wife picked it up, they filled the prescription without asking for my details. Not sure how that works, I got the prescription by telemedicine and was never asked to identify myself beyond giving a name. I guess if I'd been in the system it might have been free. The telemedicine cost more, 20 Euros I think. But when I got back my US insurance refunded that apart from the $2.60 as I'd lost that bill, somehow. Such a shame.

Quinn Norton Sep 14, 2025

@augieray where are you located?

Augie Ray Sep 14, 2025

@quinn Wisconsin.

Quinn Norton Sep 14, 2025

@augieray ah, yikes, and good luck. I've noticed a few things about how transmission works these days; one it social networks are more telling than geography. If there's not a lot in my area but I hear people I know from 4 other cities I know have caught it, I batten down the hatches.

dxzdb Sep 14, 2025

@augieray I have a question about Covid tests. Do they work on new strains? I just bought a couple at a grocery store so they are as new as I can get. Is there anything to look for?

#covid #CovidIsNotOver

Augie Ray Sep 14, 2025

@dxzdb They do work on new strains.

Jim Jones Sep 14, 2025

@augieray everyone I know who is sick is "just sick with a cold or a 'bug'". Sure, Jan.

listless Sep 14, 2025

@augieray
> If you are ill and don't test, it's safe to assume you have another COVID infection

You're free to avoid that person because they haven't tested, and there's a possibility it's COVID, but assuming it's one particular pathogen with no evidence is not OK.

COVID-19 is endemic now. We all have to deal with it, just like like influenza, or the 200+ virus strains that cause the common cold, (rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, enterovirus)

Augie Ray Sep 14, 2025

@listless We know what is circulating based on wastewater testing, and COVID is FAR more common now than is flu. (The same won't be true in winter.) As for COVID being endemic, you're right, but you are COMPLETELY WRONG about it being like the flu and cold. Research tells us it is much more dangerous. You can ignore that knowledge, but COVID's repeated reinfection won't ignore you. In case you want to get better educated: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12VbMkvqUF9eSggJsdsFEjKs5x0ABxQJi5tvfzJIDd3U/edit?usp=sharing

COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 Studies

Google Docs

listless Sep 14, 2025

@augieray It's like influenza in that it's endemic and we all have to live with, not that the effects are the same, do not put words in my mouth. Long COVID is real and dangerous. You should get vaccinated and stay home if you're sick.

But it seems you're focusing on influenza and COVID-19. What is the data on the 200 other strains of virus that cause sneezing, coughing and fever currently circulating? How does that compare to COVID-19? That must be taken into account.

Augie Ray Sep 14, 2025

@listless How did I put words in your mouth. You literally said we need to treat the like the flu. "We all have to deal with it, just like like influenza, or the 200+ virus strains that cause the common cold, (rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, enterovirus)."

Maybe be more careful with your words.

listless Sep 14, 2025

@augieray "you are COMPLETELY WRONG about it being like the flu and cold. Research tells us it is much more dangerous. "

IT"S ENDEMIC like influenza and the cold. I'm blocking you as you can't be reasoned with. Stay in your little echo chamber all alone with the bots and sycophants.