Is Covid becoming less severe?

[Cam77]

There has been speculation among some experts that Covid “might” be less severe than earlier in the year (eg, Jan - May infections). This is v.difficult to prove either way given all the variables. However, some scientists have stated that they don’t feel the differences in age of those infected (IE now heavily weighted to the young) is in itself sufficient to explain away the much lower mortality rates. On the other hand it could also be that in Jan - March/April only those with pretty severe symptoms were getting tests. So it hasn’t become less severe - we were just not testing the mild cases before while now we are testing virtually everyone. Again, so many variables.

Anecdotally, it seems on recent threads about “have you had Covid?” and MN and similar threads elsewhere I have noted that it seems those who reported severe symptoms/long duration tended to be those who tested positive in the first 4 or 5 months of the year. Eg Jan - April/May. But is that just explained away by the above about the prevalence of testing now?

Anyone, has anyone on here tested positive recently (IE last couple of months) and had severe/long lasting symptoms - IE worse than a bout of seasonal flu?

@Greenleaves20 so for example, we went on a family picnic. I knew I would be doing this so I didnt plan anything in for the rest of the day. Then if I had ironing to do, that would be by main activity for the day. This was all on good days.
I had to train myself to rest because I didnt understand what resting properly meant (no reading either). Crazy I know.
Also, watching TV does not count as resting because your brain is still working. It needs to be shut down fully.
I understand this is so hard with a toddler!

[quote Ecosse]@SheepandCow

Of course there will always be one or two examples of otherwise fit people who have died with COVID. The media loves to cover these when they occur.

The fact remains however that only 307 people under the age of 65 with no underlying health conditions have died with COVID. Many thousands more will have died in road traffic accidents despite the media scaremongering.[/quote]
only 307 people under the age of 65 with no underlying health conditions

Good luck running our essential services without the millions of working age people who have underlying health conditions.

Oh - and without containment measures it won't just be The Others who die. Lots of people without underlying conditions survived - only because they accessed hospital care. Which won't happen if the hospitals are full and the staff off ill (many HCP have underlying conditions).

Not from what I've heard

It's all gone very quiet in the media about Long Covid. The silence doesn't mean it's gone away.

I tested positive on the 15th and I can honestly say I can never remember feeling so unwell in my life. The cough is unrelenting and every bit of me is in agony. The vomiting and diarrhea are unexpected too.
Doesnt feel mild

I'm in Belgium and the hospitalisations have doubled each week. We're a bit ahead of U.K. having coming out of first lock down earlier and all schools back 1st September. It is now starting to cause issues. People in hospital are younger on average than they were before.

@CokeEnStock can I ask you what is happening with schools there?

@Coldandwet123 thanks for this, it’s really good to hear positive stories as it feels never ending at times. I’m not someone who would easily sit on the sofa, I’m sick of it to be honest. The pacing and avoiding Tv etc makes a lot of sense, I will try that. Good to know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! Glad you’re feeling better

I have a colleague in Belgium, they have been much better at keeping the school kids apart then us. They all wear masks even in class, I wish we could have the same hear. Only higher lockdown areas are required to wear masks in corridors and communal areas.

Hmm not sure, the hospital my husband works in has nearly as many covid patients now as at the peak in spring. Not sure about amount of ICU/HDU beds and ward beds. But numbers wise they're only about 20 away from the highest they had

@Greenleaves20 stick with it, even when you feel really bad (physically and / or mentally). I saw it as a mini project to get better. Who would have thought that there was a skill to resting?! 😆 wishing you all the best.

I don’t know but I don’t think so. That’s interesting about masks though, even though I have been cynical about them. It would be great if they did reduce severity.

@JamesAnderson

There is some speculation that mask wearing reduces the severity of covid

Yes, still hypothetical rather than backed by hard evidence (yet) but there is some hope that mask wearing + distancing results in a lower initial viral dose and this may reduce the severity of illness.

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8

www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/health/coronavirus-mask-protection.html

I only really know from what I read on here, but there seemed to be a lot of anecdotal evidence about very strict triaging back in March/April and you basically having to turn blue before you were admitted to hospital. Then there was some evidence from places like Germany that early oxygen treatment etc was effective so I assume that people are being admitted into hospital more readily now and treated, which hopefully is making a difference?

Is this saying that even with a mask and 2m distance you can still spread/catch Covid?

That was not what the poster was saying, however, yes, you can still spread/catch covid even if you maintain a 2m distance from everyone and wear a mask.

Theres a possibility it has mutated to some degree and is less dangerous. I remember early on, the press was on about how it was mutating quite quickly and some strains were less dangrous than others.

Meanwhile, yes masks may lower viral load and lead to less serious illness. I think a lot of those currently positive are younger and thus less likely to get it 'badly' anyway. Ontop of this, yes more are testing, where last time it was only those hospitalized really counting in the numbers so it looked a LOT worse. Treatments are coming on too, with us learning more everyday.

Many many things at once I think. But really, I doubt we will really know anything until years from now! Then we will be able to see definitively the patterns, what worked, what didn't, and so on.

Whatever the reasons though, I am glad its looking less dangerous the longer this goes on. Thats not to say we shouldn't be concerned of course. But, positive news is positive news.

This is the most positive thread I’ve read so far on Covid!

Compared to March/April, the average vitamin D level will be higher because of sun exposure over the summer. From now on, we can’t make enough from sunlight - take a high dose of vitamin D = reduce your risk of contracting COVID, and severity of symptoms if you do catch it.

The symptom of loss of (or change in) smell and taste is newly added and has been the main symptom for both my dd (in her twenties) and my mum (in her 70s) both testing positive this week. This milder version of you like may have been missed first wave as these symptoms weren’t considered to be covid. So may lots of people who had the milder version weren’t picked up on?

I don’t think it’s getting any less severe.
We have had 5 members of staff test positive. 3 had/have mild symptoms. Ages 30-50. No underlying issues.
The other 2 are currently in hospital with breathing problems I believe. Neither have any underlying health problems and both are under the age of 40 with healthy BMIs.
One thing that stands out is that the 3 with mild symptoms have no idea where they picked the virus up from, but the 2 with severe symptoms say they got the virus from their children. Don’t know if that has any relevance, but perhaps catching it at home from your children means there’s a higher viral load transmitted? No idea just guessing.

Maybe, we currently have Covid in the house (teenage daughter) and her symptoms are relatively mild. She's annoyed she can't smell or taste anything though!
Everyone else waiting to catch it

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54570373

Good summary.

Kaitness, have you sought medical advice re your DH? Four weeks sounds like a long time to be in bed. Pneumonia can follow Covid and would need medical treatment. If he is still unwell, I would really urge you to speak to a health care professional. (I say this as someone who has previously had pneumonia after flu and nearly left it too late).

@Ecosse

The fact remains however that only 307 people under the age of 65 with no underlying health conditions have died with COVID. Many thousands more will have died in road traffic accidents despite the media scaremongering.

Based on death rates in previous years, about we could expect 900 deaths since March from road accidents, not “many thousands”. However, your point stands, your very unlikely to die if your fit and young, and you can always find exceptional cases. However, 300+ deaths, albeit tiny statistically, is more than a handful, and for young, fit people is still very bad for an infectious disease.

@Derbygerbil

You are right that deaths from road accidents have reduced significantly over the the last few years. But as recently as 2003 there were more than 3500 deaths on the roads and more than 5000 in 1990.

I don’t recall these figures getting much coverage at all at the time and we were certainly not encouraging people not to drive for fear of death.