Augie RaySep 13, 2025

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.

Show threadJonChevreau 🇨🇦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!
Show threadOzzie D, NP-hard  Sep 14, 2025
@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?
Show threadAugie RaySep 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.
Show threadJonChevreau 🇨🇦
@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.
Sep 14, 2025 at 1:18pmWeb
Show threadAugie RaySep 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.)