I've been trying to be as real and honest with you guys as I can while trying to maintain a shred of privacy when necessary, so I'm gonna be straight with you.
Today I broke out of isolation.
If you've been paying attention, I have the weird circumstance of a negative PCR on 12/18, a positive PCR on 12/23 but didn't know my result until 1/2, and two negative OTC antigen tests on 12/25 and 12/28. By the time I found out my result from 12/23, I had a slight cold and figured it was because Nova had one the week before and Darren the week before that. And they were both negative on every test they've taken at similar intervals as me. But the nurse practitioner said I should count Sunday as my Day 1 of isolation.
And I thought I could do it.
But the math was still tripping me out, I was asymptomatic all the way up until 1/1 and let's be honest...many vices were consumed on NYE. And a few day before that. And on Christmas. And I know there are a ton of experts, virologists, and the like to weed through and I read a lot of them, I see them all on TV. I know, for example, that people think Dr. Hashish Jha, MD,MPH, Dean of Brown School of Health is too lenient, too optimistic, has too much faith that Americans will do the right thing -- or conversely maybe just knows we won't -- but I saw his tweet today.
What would ideal COVID Isolation guidance be?Once rapid antigen tests are cheap & ubiquitous1. Isolate for first 5 days2. Then test daily3. Negative X 2 days? End isolation. Good to go4. Positive? Remain in isolation until 2 negs or 10 daysI think its that simple
And this is where it's easy to bend the "rules" to what you want them to be. If I'm to ignore my sniffle and go back to my PCR positive test (with a questionable result in the first place since it doesn't have my proper DOB and had been lost for 11 days), then I'm already in the clear. If we count the sniffle, sure. I should be on Day 3 of isolation.
But then Darren got his and Nova's PCR results from Monday -- both negative -- and I had enough. He and I drove to Target to pick up a touchless transaction I'd made -- a new air purifier, picked up Nova from school, and then went for a little walk at the very secluded and mostly unknown San Diego River Garden.
I'm calling it "soft isolation." For the rest of the original period, I still won't go inside any stores. I'll skip the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park and Sea World this week. I won't visit with my parents or sister. But I'm sleeping in my own bed, damn it.
Upon making my decision, I was feeling great, but then also a little guilty. Should I still be masking in my own house? Should I suck it up and sleep on the couch two more nights? For this I decided it isn't actually "wasting" a rapid test. So I took one. And I'm negative. For the third time since my (supposedly, lost, misidentified birthday) positive PCR on 12/23. I think I'm in the clear.
The question remains if/when I should PCR test again --- some say after 10 days, the nurse practitioner said not for 90 days, because the protein can still be detected for that long. A problem to solve on another day, but I'm gonna act like I never had the positive in the first place so that my behavior stays just as cautious and careful as I have been (or in some cases, should've been) in the first place.
I'm gonna drink to that.
- COVID-19:
- The US Just Shattered the World Record for New COVID Cases. The United States reported nearly more than a million positive COVID tests on Monday. - Vice (1.4.22)
- Massive number due to backlog, but also highly contagious Omicron variant
- COVID case counts may be losing importance amid omicron - AP News (1.4.22)
- Omicron now 95% of new COVID-19 infections in U.S., CDC estimates - CBS News (1.4.22)
- CDC stops short of requiring test for ending COVID isolation, but says they're the "best approach" - CBS News (1.4.22)
- CDC updated COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots guidance:
- Pfizer boosters should be administered to adults 18+
- Should receive booster of Pfizer-BioNTech OR Moderna
- Pfizer boosters may be administered to teens 16-17
- May only receive booster of Pfizer-BioNTech
- At least 5 months after completion of primary vaccine series
- Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Booster Guidance Remains the Same
- NOT PEER REVIEWED:
- Covid Science: Virus leaves antibodies that may attack healthy tissues - Reuters (1.3.22)
- Omicron patients less likely to be hospitalized, have shorter stays: 6 study findings - Becker's Hospital Review (1.4.22)
- Vaccines and prior infections likely prevent severe Omicron disease - Axios (1.4.22)
- CALIFORNIA STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW:
- Masks are REQUIRED for EVERYONE in ALL PUBLIC INDOOR SETTINGS. This order came out mid- December and lasts until January 15, but expect this to be extended through February or longer.
- Get the Most out of Masking - Updated 1.4.22
- California Emergency Order Effective 1/7/22: Requirements for Visitors in Acute Health Care and Long-Term Care Settings - CDPH (12.31.21)
- Long-Term Care Settings: Updated to make boosters mandatory and to require additional testing of visitors eligible for boosters who are not yet boosted, are necessary at this critical time.
- Did you know California rejected the CDC guidance for isolation and quarantine?? California Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations for the General Public (Updated 12/30/21)
- Persons Who Test Positive for COVID-19 (Isolation)
- Stay home (PDF) for at least 5 days.
- Isolation can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a diagnostic specimen (antigen preferred) collected on day 5 or later tests negative.
- If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present or are resolving, isolation can end after day 10.
- If fever is present, isolation should be continued until fever resolves.
- If symptoms, other than fever, are not resolving continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after day 10.
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see Section below on masking for additional information)
- Persons Who are Exposed to Someone with COVID-19 (Quarantine)
- Unvaccinated (even if previously infected) OR Vaccinated and booster-eligible but have not yet received their booster dose.
- Stay home (PDF) for at least 5 days, after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
- Test on day 5.
- Quarantine can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present and a diagnostic specimen collected on day 5 or later tests negative.
- If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present, quarantine can end after day 10.
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see Section below on masking for additional information)
- If testing positive, follow isolation recommendations above.
- If symptoms develop, test and stay home.
- Boosted OR Vaccinated, but not yet booster-eligible (No Quarantine)
- Test on day 5.
- Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days, especially in indoor settings (see Section below on masking for additional information)
- If testing positive, follow isolation recommendations above.
- If symptoms develop, test and stay home.
- Politics:
- Seven major corporations pledge not to support GOP objectors in 2022 - Popular.info (1.4.22)
- News:
- Virginia officials defend (response) to snowy gridlock on I-95 - AP News (1.4.22)
- Other Reading:
- Naked Nirvana Baby’s Nevermind Pornography Lawsuit Dismissed. Spencer Elden had claimed that the cover constituted child sexual exploitation - Pitchfork (1.4.22)
- Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes Is Convicted on 4 Counts. A jury acquits the former CEO of the failed blood-testing startup on four other charges, and deadlocks on three. - Wired (1.4.22)
- You May Never Look at the Sports Arena the Same Again. There was once a thriving, diverse neighborhood in the Midway Area called Frontier. It came because of a severe housing crisis, squalor in the streets and federal intervention but neighbors and the city always hated it. The arena there now is a landmark of a successful effort to re-segregate the city and erase Frontier. - Voice of San Diego (1.4.22)
- Government:
- White House
- Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, January 4, 2022
- Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with Nordic Counterparts
- Remarks by President Biden Before Meeting on COVID-19
- Nominations Sent to the Senate
- Statement by President Joe Biden on 5G Deployment Agreement
- State Dept
- Troika and EU Statement on the Resignation of Sudanese Prime Minister Hamdok
- Secretary Blinken’s Call with the United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Houthis’ Ship Seizure Threatens International Trade and Security
- Secretary Blinken’s Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud
- Dept of Justice
- Georgia Woman Sentenced to 41 Months in COVID-19 Fraud Scheme (1.4.22)
- Colombian National Charged in Connection with Plot to Kill Haitian President
- Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the Roundtable on Promoting Competition and Reducing Prices in the Meatpacking Industry (1.3.22)
- Justice Department Announces New Rule to Help Enhance Safe and Secure Storage of Firearms; Publishes Best Practices Guide for Federal Firearms Licensees
- U.S. Marshals Arrest More Than 6,000 Murder Suspects in 2021, Over 84,000 Fugitives Apprehended
- Global COVID-19 Stats (JHU 1.4.22 9:21pm):
- 295,222,031 Known Cases/27,980,649 28-Day New Cases
- 5,457,484 Known Deaths/183,929 28-Day New Deaths
- US COVID-19 Stats
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Data Tracker
- American Academy of Pediatrics Children and COVID-19 Dashboard
- JHU
- 57,048,800 Cases/7,651,064 28 Day New Cases
- 830,071 Deaths/37,052 28-Day New Deaths
- CDC Data Tracker:
- +828,417 New Cases/56,310,718 Known Cases
- 1,036.6 7 Day Case Rate Per 100k
- 1,559 New Deaths/825,106 Known Deaths
- 614,411,815 Doses Delivered
- 512,665,013 Doses Administered
- 244,947,293 Partially Vaccinated
- 206,581,659 Fully Vaccinated
- 62.2% of Total Population
- 66.2% of Population ≥ 5 Years of Age
- 71.3% of Population ≥ 12 Years of Age
- 73% of Population ≥ 18 Years of Age
- 71,635,989 Boosters (34.7%)
- California COVID-19 Stats:
- State of California Safe Schools For All Hub
- Vaccination progress dashboard
- Coronavirus: Resources for Californians
- R-effective: 1.46
- Delays in case reporting lead to underestimates of R-eff. It is possible that testing patterns over the Christmas and New Year holidays will result in abnormal trends.
- 74,630,005 Doses Delivered/65,162,546 Doses Administered
- 3,150,303 Partially Vaccinated/26,853,832 Fully Vaccinated
- 10,142,050 Boosters Administered (47.6%)
- 237,084 New Cases/5,428,522 Total Cases (70.6 new cases/100k)
- 77 New Deaths/75,924 Total Deaths (0.1 new deaths/100k)
- 20.4% 7-day test positivity rate
- 7,914 COVID-19 Hospitalizations (+600 patients, +8.2% from prior day)
- 1,343 COVID-19 ICU hospitalized in CA (+14 patients, +1.1% from prior day)
- 1,863 ICU beds available (+98 from prior day)
- San Diego County
- Free Testing Sites and Schedule in San Diego
- Vaccination Locations San Diego
- Vaccination Dashboard
- COVID ActNow Daily Updates for San Diego Metro
- San Diego Unified School District COVID Dashboard
- State Data:
- R-effective: 1.0
- Delays in case reporting lead to underestimates of R-eff. It is possible that testing patterns over the Christmas and New Year holidays will result in abnormal trends.
- 24,067 New Cases/451,154 Total Cases
- 97.1 Cases/100k
- 23.0% Daily Positivity
- 7 Deaths/4,476 Total Deaths
- 708 COVID-19 hospitalized patients (+20 patients, +2.9% from prior day)
- 122 COVID-19 ICU hospitalized patients (-1 patients, -0.8% from prior day)
- 199 ICU beds available (+11 from prior day)
- County Data:
- 7,786 New Cases/457,504 Total Cases
- 11 New Daily Deaths/4,487 Total Deaths
- 41.2% Daily Test Positivity/24.1% 7-day average
- -8 Day Over Day COVID-19 Hospitalizations
- -1 Day Over Day COVID-19 ICU Patients
- Universities:
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