Why do so many people seem to have Covid (and it’s summer?)

[Weightedvest]

I’m taken aback how many people I know who have Covid. Why is that? I assumed it was typically a winter illness.

also, I’m going away on a course next week and I’m worried about getting it and not being able to go.

if you have had it recently, what were your symptoms?

Well said!

Wishing you and your parents a full recovery with no lingering complications.

Yes!

We test as my 12 year old nephew gets some post viral illness every time he gets covid and is so sick he is in bed for up to 6 months. He was a very fit and healthy boy prior to this. Flu doesn't affecting him the same way.
So we test and if one of the 6 of us gets it we avoid his immediate family. It's been an awful few years for them.

I’m just getting over it for the second time! This time I’ve been properly ill rather than the mild cold symptoms I had the first time.

I did a test as I’m CV. I was 99% sure I had it before I tested as I was throwing up. Never thrown up with a cold before!

I came back from holiday in Eastern Europe last week with a group of friends, started feeling ill next day. One of the people I'd travelled with posted to say she'd tested positive and was very poorly. So I tested and was positive - 5 people from my holiday group have now tested +.
I had it before in autumn 2022 and didn't feel that bad, I've been feeling awful this time round.
I have contact with elderly people and wouldn't want to give it to them so I test. My sister works in the NHS and has made it clear I should keep my germs to myself.
It's the last week of my school summer holiday so not really how I planned to spend it - I'm really wiped out by it this time.

We've got it at the moment.
Shaping up to be rather nasty, worse than before possibly.
DH got it first and he seldom gets floored by anything but this wiped him out.

Totally agree about the eyes, mine are red, sore and throbbing. Can't sleep, aches, headache, parched, dry mouth etc. but it feels different to last time - a thicker head, restless limbs and more sort of jabby and sharp pains everywhere? More intense I think. Starting with the irritating cough now.

My biggest worry is that I just got back from visiting my immunocompromised Mum, at which point I was feeling fine.
We've been so careful with isolating over the years but covid hasn't been on my mind for a while. Stupidly forgot it's still circulating around because nobody I know has had it for a long time (as far as I'm aware).
Just keeping an eye out for her now and hoping that socialising outside (nice weather) was enough to protect her🙏
To everyone suffering, hoping you all feel better soon! x

I currently have it and tested yesterday. It came on with no notice. I felt fine on Sunday then wham! I tested yesterday because it felt so familiar and I knew it wasn't a cold. It's as bad as when I had it in 2020 plus my stomach is very acidic. I know it will get questioned at work as to why I tested but I did because a) out of curiosity b) I have vulnerable rellies and c) we have a significant birthday approaching and a party arranged with said vulnerable rellies attending and d) I wouldn't wish this on anyone! I will just work from home which I realise not everyone can do.

Aaaaannnd here's your answer, OP. This right here is why so many people have it.

Exactly. My DC’s friend’s grandmother was recently hospitalised with COVID and sadly she never came home.

But hey, if you don’t test, you can plead ignorance, that you never knew that you had COVID, and you can spread it to the general population, including the vulnerable ones.

I’m so sorry for everyone who is having a bad time. I wish you all well.

i would def test if I was unwell. I would want to know so I don’t spread it.

do we still think wearing masks makes a difference? Thinking now that I will carry one in case, until I go away, and wear one on the plane going out.

A well fitting N95 will make a difference. Blue surgical one likely won’t make too much difference.

If I have cold type symptoms I assume I have a cold

if I have bad cold symptoms I assume I have a bad cold

if I'm in bed I assume I have flu

just like BC

Vast oversimplification that completely ignores asymptomatic transmission. It's everywhere because Omicron strains are extremely contagious, and no society has been able to control it.

That said, people have every right to test if they want to and it's not rocket science to understand that we all have different circumstances. The idea that it's foolish to test is itself foolish. Completely depends.

More cases due to mixing - Euros, summer weather, holidays, etc.

I've had it TWICE this summer and tested both times as I'm pregnant. I'm now being super careful as I don't want to get it again, especially not in the third trimester. Wish other people were being sensible about it too.

I had it recently- tested on day 4 of symptoms as relative was due to visit.
Day 1 (night time)- vomiting and diarrhoea and banging headache- we’d been out and I thought it was something I ate.
Day 2- headache, sore throat, coughing, generally feeling unwell
Day 3- headache, coughing, feverish
Day 4- raging headache, sore throat, coughing, took to my bed and didn’t move or eat the whole day! Very shivery. Tested positive.
Day 5- still rested the whole day, feverish but feeling a bit less awful.
Day 6- symptoms subsiding. More like a bad cold. Up and about in house.
Day 7- basically better. Headache and sore throat gone. Just snotty and the odd gunky sounding cough.

DH also got it and spent 2 days fully in bed for the first time since he was 14.

This was a lot worse than a cold for us.

So you’d be happier if he didn’t give a shit 🙄
Lucky you not being affected by it and having just finished chemo. Not everyone is as fortunate.

I have it at the moment. Am on day 4 since first feeling unwell. Feels like I have a really bad cold and am easily out of breath but no cough or runny nose. Occasional pains in chest and limbs, and headaches/eye ache. Knackered after cooking tea or doing dishes. Pretty much sofa bound but now starting to perk up.

Started with a couple of nights of really vivid nightmares and broken sleep before feeling unwell. I don't think it's been anywhere near as bad as when I had it before though, in summer 2021.

I test when I am unwell and know it is doing the rounds locally because I work with chronically medically vulnerable children.
I have been able to avoid work and make the parents of children I've recently worked with know that they may have been exposed so that they can be alert to signs and take relevant action - eg avoiding contact with other vulnerable children/appointments or accessing healthcare as early as possible etc. Many of the children I work with are typically hospitalised with chest infections, need oxygen, changes to medication etc. Chest infections or respiratory issues can be fatal.

I don't judge people for not testing if they'd rather not - it's obviously not mandatory. But I do hope that those judging people for testing read this and the many other posts explaining why, and realise that people have good reasons for doing so.

Caught it either in the airport or flight to spain
Fever and nausea the worse symptoms, minimal cold symptoms. All four of us caught it. We have big pile of tests left, wouldnt have gone out to buy one.

I wondered that. I had a load of old tests as I am vulnerable. Was very ill with covid in 2021.
Whenever I get an infection I test because I get antiviruls and they are time critical. Nothing positive for over two years and I suspected the tests were not working, until very recently. I had only the hint of a sore throat and it came up positive straight away. I was pretty unwell even with antivirals and probably a month before I was fully recovered.

Have a look in the packet as there is a best before date . I had to chuck a few that had gone out of date - I don't know how much leeway there is but I couldn't see the point in using if they weren't going to be accurate .

Exactly! Why would you visit a vulnerable person with even a cold.

If you are a symptomatic then that's a different matter.

I don't know anyone who tests. I certainly don't.

If I feel unwell I stay at home - whatever I have.

I had it recently. Have to say I only tested because I work with vulnerable patients.

It was just like a heavy cold, easiest I’ve had it and that was my 3rd time!

I won’t buy tests, I get them at work but I would avoid vulnerable people if I had a heavy cold or Covid, wouldn’t make a difference to me!

I tried using tests that were slightiy out of date. They didn’t work.

Yes masks work!

The only time I had Covid is when DH gave it to me. He got it on a plane - where he didn’t use a mask…

Plenty of evidence that wearing a mask protects the wearer from catching viruses (not just Covid) as well as reducing spread of a virus if you are ill.