Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Rate Sen. Duckworth’s closing ad
Next Post: Campaign notebook
Posted in:
* Sun-Times…
As coronavirus cases climb once again, health officials are urging Illinoisans to get their COVID-19 vaccine booster shots now to help avoid a full-blown winter surge like the state has seen the last two years.
Not even 15% of eligible Chicagoans have gotten the updated bivalent booster designed to target the Omicron variant — a rate that is “absolutely not enough for us to avoid trouble this winter,” Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Friday.
“This fall is critical. We are not where we need to be as a city, in people getting that fall 2022 booster,” Arwady said during a downtown news conference, dressed as a wizard for Halloween. “And my crystal ball tells me we are not going to make it through the winter unscathed from COVID, especially if we can’t get more people up to date with vaccines.”
Once again, mitigations were designed to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. We’ve been in the same basic range of hospitalizations since May.
* Daily Herald…
Asked in Arlington Heights if he anticipates vaccination mandates as COVID-19 cases rise, Pritzker said, “I don’t.”
“I think people understand that we’ve got vaccinations available to everybody,” he said. “We’ve got one of the highest vaccinations rates in the Midwest here in Illinois, one of the lowest mortality rates in the Midwest.
“We are seeing a rise in COVID as we head into winter. I want to encourage everybody to get their bivalent booster that’s available now. You get boosted. It really is a safe thing to do and will keep you safe all winter long.”
We have vaccinations and effective treatments. Hospitals aren’t overwhelmed like they were at the start of this year, when they peaked at over 7,000.
* The Question: Did you ever catch COVID-19? Describe the experience.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 12:50 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Rate Sen. Duckworth’s closing ad
Next Post: Campaign notebook
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Nope,knock on wood. Hopefully I won’t, either. I’ve had all my vaccines - the initial two shots, plus all three boosters - so if I still end up catching it, I hope it will be a milder case.
Comment by ??? Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 12:55 pm
I was vexed and boosted. I caught from my grandson this past January. My symptoms were different as it affects everyone differently. I had a backache and tiny hives on my back. I had no loss of taste but I had a weird aftertaste upon finishing a meal. Runny nose. Slight cough. Difficult to sleep the first three days. Then no symptoms or after effects after five days. I probably got a small viral load from my grandson as well.
Comment by SouthSideGT Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 12:56 pm
My response to this question is that I have never tested positive for COVID. I have all the shots and was a diligent mask wearer for the first two years and have been more lax the last six months.
That said, there is a big part of me that finds it hard to believe I never got it. My hunch is I have had an asymptomatic case at some point.
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:01 pm
No, and it’s a minor miracle. My wife and kid both had it this past year, yet I somehow never tested positive. There was also a situation back in 2020 where (in retrospect) I may have had an asymptomatic case, so I credit my never-COVID status more to good fortune than to pandemic precautions.
Comment by Benjamin Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:03 pm
I did. It was like a cold and only lasted a couple of days. I was vaccinated and once boosted when I caught it last January.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:04 pm
===That said, there is a big part of me that finds it hard to believe I never got it===
Same. I briefly had several symptoms, but tested negative three times, including a PCR test. And then it all went away.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:04 pm
Yes. Two initial shots and all three boosters and then I got it - in September. Sickest I have been in my life. Dr. said no hospital unless fever went higher or I had trouble breathing - which I really did not. But it was like the flu on steroids. Every joint and muscle of my body was in agony. Lost ability to taste. Throat swelled terribly every night. Severe heartburn as never before even from mildest foods. Six weeks later - definitely recovering, but many aches and pains and effects still linger. Doc says it could be months and some symptoms could be forever. It is a life changer. I am not here to argue political views, but if you don’t get vaccines and boosters you are playing with you life. Doc said my case was milder than many have experienced because I had been boosted - I cannot imagine how this would have gone if I had not been vaccinated and boosted.
Comment by Exhausted Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:05 pm
And I should be clear that by “pandemic precautions,” I mean my personal habits like hand-washing and social distancing–not the society-wide adoptions of measures like occupancy limits and masking, which definitely protected me.
Comment by Benjamin Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:06 pm
Never caught it. Had a brief down day where I ran a few covid tests to check, but they all came back negative and it only lasted a day - was probably just allergies.
It’s been nice not being sick. Having all those constant reminders about who was and wasn’t able to handle basic personal hygiene, and to stay away from those who weren’t - probably helped a lot.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:08 pm
Got it 3 weeks ago. Vaxed but not with latest booster. It was like mild flu, luckily.
Comment by Pius Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:12 pm
Yes, this past June. I was fully vaxxed and boosted.
I was surprised at the way it attacked me. Fatigue was the big problem - yeah, I had a fever, but not much congestion and no breathing problems. Just pain in my trunk, and amazing fatigue. I tested positive on a Monday, was off work both that day and Tuesday, and worked Wednesday, but only on the condition that I didn’t have to work late night. I wouldn’t have made it.
Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:14 pm
My family got caught in the omicron wave in January. We all (me, wife, 2 adult college kids) all got the booster in late 2021 so we thought we were OK. First my daughter, then me, then my son, and then my wife from the the last week of December to the end of January.
I felt like I had a bad cold for a month. No big deal thank goodness.
We had the luxury of a popup testing site down the street. I checked it out and determined it was legitimate so we went every day at first while my daughter navigated her version. Funny thing - I had both daily rapid tests (results within hours if positive) and daily PCR tests (results in 5-7 days). I never had a positive rapid test and had 3 positive PCR tests reported well after I was showing symptoms.
Hopefully our scientists and medical experts are taking the novelty out of the novel virus. This has been crazy.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:16 pm
I’ve not caught Covid. I ride the Red Line during evening rush hour and do wear a mask. The train is to crowded to risk it.
Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:16 pm
No. I have all 5 shots and I wear masks when in stores. tested a few times in the last month and double negatives. Feel lucky. Got my flu shot, and if they offer an RSV shot I would get that too.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:17 pm
Got Covid in early August. Knocked me to bed for 3 days, fever, lots of head congestion, sleepy. Then I felt moderately crappy for another 10 days.
I’d had the J&J vaccine followed by Moderna and Moderna. Started Paxlovid on the second day of Covid.
Comment by Trying to be Rational Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:20 pm
I got it earlier this year before the latest booster. Cold symptoms, one night of chills and feeling extraordinarily close to needing the wastebasket. Lost of taste for a couple weeks.
I’m still on the cautious side because of new granddaughter and toddler grandson. Yesterday, my grandson was just exposed to a COVID positive kid at daycare.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:25 pm
Yes, back in May 2021 after getting the J&J vaccine. Completely asymptomatic. Found out through a test prior to a procedure.
Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:26 pm
Never got it
Comment by Medieval Wine Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:31 pm
I dodged it until the second week of October, the body aches, chills and fever were unbearable for the first two days.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:31 pm
My wife and I both caught COVID upon return from an international trip in July. We are both vaxxed and boosted, so it was very mild. Just a cough and some body aches. We isolated and I didn’t even miss a day working from home. I just got my bivalent booster last week.
Comment by Terry Salad Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:32 pm
I caught it a few weeks ago at the end of a trip out of the country. Had been fully-vaccinated, with the new bi-valent one too. I was mostly careful on that trip, other than in group eating situations, etc.
The symptoms themselves weren’t too bad. Very runny nose, a bit of a fever for a couple days, maybe, very tired. As I was feeling better, I got a bit of the cough, but not like I had back in February 2020 (when I likely had the original recipe Covid, but couldn’t be tested because I hadn’t been to China). Took over a week to test negative, though.
The sickness itself wasn’t terrible, but I admit I am concerned about the potential long-term side effects that could occur (increased risk of cardiac and stroke issues, risk of mental fog, etc.)
Comment by bindyesq Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:34 pm
Tested positive 3 times, never had a symptom. Got a bad case of the blahs, last December, tested negative, slept for 4 days. Most tired I’ve ever been. Went to have a medical procedure following January, tested positive, again, never had a symptom. Vaxed and boosted. Moderna. Lots of questions on the effectiveness of testing for me.
Comment by Papa2008 Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:38 pm
Just got over it. First time as far as I know. Felt exactly like the flu or a bad sinus infection. Except the fatigue was debilitating. Much more so than flu or cold. Total lack of energy for 2 full days. 3rd day better, 4th day much better. Thankfully never lost taste or smell and never had difficulty breathing. All in all though most unpleasant. Do not recommend. 0/5 star rating.
Comment by Captain Obvious Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:40 pm
I got it a couple of weeks ago. I woke up one morning with a sore throat and low-grade fever. With several in-person meetings scheduled, I figured I’d better test. Lo and behold . . .
The symptoms disappeared after a couple of days, but I didn’t get a negative test until 10 days later.
The frustrating part was that I had an appointment for my third booster and my flu shot, and had to cancel it.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:41 pm
Yes. Caught it over Memorial Day weekend. I’m vaxxed and had the one booster I was eligible for at the time. It started with a persistent cough and changed into pretty bad body aches the following day. Then mild flu-like symptoms and serious fatigue for 3 days or so. The most upsetting thing is that I coughed for 7-8 weeks, even after I tested negative. I’m thankful I had my shots because, even with them, I wouldn’t classify it as mild. I felt bad.
Comment by wildcat12 Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:44 pm
Mine was a really bad fever with headaches and shortness of breath.
I didn’t get any of the runny nose/scratchy throat symptoms.
Comment by twowaystreet Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:45 pm
No, but have seen mild infections among the vaccinated. That’s the ballgame with vaccines, protection from hospitalization and death, if not infection. Thought I had it once, but it was a wretched head cold.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:48 pm
I have never tested positive. I wear an N95 mask in public except when outdoors and not in a crowd. Have had all 5 shots/boosters. Not sure how I lucked out. I did get sick as a dog in late Nov 2019 while visiting relatives in Florida. Flulike symptoms for a week. Have wondered if maybe I got an early case.
Comment by stateandlake Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:49 pm
Didn’t get vaccinated, Didn’t get COVID.
Comment by Pawar Lost Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:52 pm
I caught it the Day JRB said it no longer was a thing. I am a procrastinator, even when catching infectious diseases.
Comment by People’s Republic of Oak Park Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:53 pm
Gratefully,no.
Comment by West Sider Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:54 pm
Vaccinated and boosted last December, but caught it in June. Sore throat, lots of drainage. And I got a free camping trip all by myself (which was wonderful, caught many a bluegill). Nobody else in the house caught it, amazingly.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:55 pm
I had it about 10 days ago - my first time, far as I know. My last booster was 12/21. At first, it was indistinguishable from a sinus infection - congestion and headaches. Then I tested positive on a rapid test and lost taste/smell for a few days. Symptoms were gone entirely a few days after that. My wife and 4 year old daughter also got it; my daughter had a mild cough and nothing else, my wife was pretty sick with fever, cough, low energy for a few days but also recovered quickly. Very grateful for our overall good health and (presumably) the effectiveness of the vaccines.
Comment by Mark Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:56 pm
Got Covid in September. Fully vaxxed and boosted. It was a head cold with lots of drainage plus a bit of a headache. The worst day was the day I tested positive. I was better in a couple of days with no lingering after effects.
Comment by Captain Who Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 1:58 pm
I have it right now. I went to help my 94 year old Dad who fell at this home and it turned out he had it, despite being vacced and three boosters. Three days after I took him to the hospital (he is doing okay), I tested positive (vacced and two boosters). I really feel wrung out, but I had it worst when I had a sinus infection in September.
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 2:00 pm
I’ve never tested positive for the virus, but was quite ill with flu-like symptoms last March. I’m always masked inside public buildings, including work, and I’m fully vaxed (5 shots). Many of my colleagues and students have been exposed to COVID or became ill. I believe I must have been exposed at some point, but the masks and vaccines prevented serious symptoms.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 2:08 pm
Yes, in November of 2020. I was achy and slept a lot for a week (tested negative), but otherwise nothing else. Oh, lost taste and smell too. Confirmed infection by antibody test a month later.
Wife got a little sniffly with nothing else other than the loss of taste and smell. Tested positive, but didn’t get results until 10 days later which had she not taken her own steps to isolate because of me, would have been out and about as usual.
Comment by ddp76 Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 2:11 pm
I caught Covid literally on the day masks came off (March 1).
Fortunately, I was already vaccinated, so my experience was pretty mild. After a couple days of flu symptoms, I had to wait another week before I could go back to work.
The vaccine worked - it built enough antibody resistance so that the infection very easily defeated.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 2:17 pm
I’ve had Covid and have not taken the shot. My experience was fatigue for a few days and I lost my sense of taste and smell. I felt achy but alternating IB and Tylenol dealt with that. My experience since then has been interesting. I work with many people that are up-to-date on their shots. That includes the omicron booster. I attend close contact meetings on a regular basis and it seems like everyone is contracting Covid. I was recently in a meeting where 3 out of the 4 people in the room tested positive. I was the only negative and remain the only negative. I’ve skated through all of their infections. This is not to say I am super immune or to say don’t take your shots. It is simply my experience. You do you. The days of vilifying people that have chosen not to take the shot will not be forgotten by me. Covid made people go to extremes. We just need to recognize that everyone spreads it and everyone will likely get it.
Comment by One of Three Puppets Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 2:34 pm
My wife and I both had it twice. We each had it prior to the vaccine being available. Fever, headache, sinuses felt like they were on fire, loss of taste and smell for four or five days. We each had the monoclonal antibody infusion. Had our vaccines several months later. Both tested positive again late last winter, but symptoms much milder and short lived. No doubt because of the vax. Had booster last May.
Comment by Siualum Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 2:46 pm
Early November 2020. I remember the fever the most. It was concerning because it got high and stayed there days at a time, dropped a bit then repeated the cycle of lingering, and took over a week to come in under 100. The cough was distinctive and also persistent. When I was starting to feel better otherwise, I walked into the yard and barely made it back to the porch while still on my feet, due to severe muscle fatigue — a symptom that forced me to change plans for a hiking trip later that month. I also had brain fog, not too bad but I still did not feel back to normal until after New Year’s.
Comment by yinn Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 2:57 pm
No,
Thankfully, I have never contracted Covid. (or at least I never had a fever or any other known symptoms which would have warranted testing.) I had the original 2 shots in early 2021 but no boosters with my physician’s concurrence.
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 2:59 pm
I did not get Covid. Had several tests that were required foor places I worked al negative.
I had thought I had it, awful headache, light headed, extreme nausea and a few other horrible sysmptms. It was food poisoning and a kidney stone.
Granddaughter tested positive, no symptoms. Son was same. A co worker caught it and said it was the worst experience of his life.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 3:07 pm
== The days of vilifying people that have chosen not to take the shot will not be forgotten by me. Covid made people go to extremes. We just need to recognize that everyone spreads it and everyone will likely get it.==
You don’t have to lie to justify your poor choice.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 3:23 pm
No, Ive had 3 shots and isolate. Had to take a leave from work at State as they want me in office where most have had it and I am compromised.
Comment by Peanut Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 3:30 pm
As far as I know never got it. When I was going into the office we were still reqd to mask in the office (up till Sept of this year) with N95. I’ve had all my shots & boosters and spread them out (My original 2 because of a bureacratic thing I had a 4 week separation between the first 2 shots. That might have been beneficial). Of course, my chances of getting it haven’t been high. I don’t go out very often with other people other than work, which when I did it was masked. I go to a little grocery which is seldom at all populated let alone crowded and upgraded their vent during the pandemic. Other than that I have little reason to get out. I do spend a lot of time outside, however.
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 3:33 pm
Wife and I have all 5 shots. She got bed-ridden sick for 4-5 days a couple of weeks after shot 4. Then just shapped out of it. I felt nothing. Get a runny nose on cool days outside.
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 3:38 pm
Not that I know of. I’ve had symptoms but the tests have all been negative for Covid. I suspect that I may have had an early case because, in January 2020, I had the worst case of the flu I ever had, but, then again, it could have simply been the worst case of the flu I ever had.
Comment by Bourbon Street Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 4:01 pm
No, and never any symptoms. Neither my wife or myself. We remain up to date on all Covid vaccinations and boosters. We wore a mask when we thought we should. Stayed away from things when the numbers were high. We’ve been cautious and fortunate.
Comment by Paris 2 Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 4:02 pm
No, and we haven’t had any symptoms. We’ve continued to stay up to date on Covid vaccinations and boosters. We wore a mask when we felt it was necessary. We avoided crowds when possible. My wife works in a hospital. She continues to wear a mask there every day and we haven’t had a cold in two years. We’ve been cautious and fortunate.
Comment by Paris 2 Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 4:09 pm
I have not gotten it. Fully vaccinated (initial 2 + 3 boosters) and wore masks whenever I left the house for the first 2 years. My daughter did get it (very mild case) in the spring, but I never got sick in the timeframe that she had it, and I’ve never tested positive for it.
Comment by Scott Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 5:52 pm
Finally got it this past Labor Day after both shots and one booster but was waiting for the new booster vaccine. That was a mistake. I felt like crap with 102 fever for several days but thankfully no breathing issues, just felt like the worst sinus infection ever.
Comment by Former Merit Comp Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 6:00 pm
I got it at the beginning this year, despite a vaccine and booster. It was almost certainly the first omicron wave. I only had two days of sinus headaches and if not for a test later that same week I wouldn’t have thought it was covid. I credit the booster with the mild case, and I waited until this fall to get the bivalent booster to add additional omicron protection.
Comment by muon Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 6:35 pm
Approx 12 hour fever in Dec 2021. Aches, temp around 99-100, tired. Not vaccinated. Vaccinated spouse had the same symptoms. Fairly non-memorable except it landed on a birthday.
Comment by Bolingbrook party of 7 Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 11:03 pm
Sorry, 2022. Years all running together
Comment by Bolingbrook party of 7 Tuesday, Nov 1, 22 @ 11:06 pm