There’s a definite change in the way we treat COVID.
On Sunday,none of the vaccination candidates were wearing masks, though the volunteers and vaccinators were still masked. In contrast to the queues (and red tape surrounding my coagulation status) that we used to have, there was little fuss. I just walked in, confirmed my details, was shown to a table. There, I had my medication status checked (I have to show I’m on drugs that reduce my immune response, and they mutter about my Warfarin). They used to have to call a doctor over to confirm I could be vaccinated because they were afraid of me bleeding excessively. Nobody could tell me why they were so bothered about it when flu vaccinators and blood testers just used to bung the needle in without a care in the world. Considering the rate of flow from a tint hole with the amount of blood I have in my body I could probably make blood faster than I was losing it. I’d certainly be likely to die of old age before I bled to death.
Compared to the complication, queues and lectures that had to be endured to get a vaccination, this was the simplest of times.
They didn’t even tell me to wait for 15 minutes in the car park this time. From the days when you used to have to log in and out of the waiting area, to the times they told me just to sit in the car for 15 minutes, to merely wishing me goodbye, has been a steady decline. At one time they told us we weren’t covered by our insurance to drive for 15 minutes, but I have checked the car insurance companies and they say they are happy that you are covered to drive as long as you feel OK and have no history of problems.
Meanwhile, at the surgery this morning there are no masks and no mention of masks. The waiting area was crammed and people seem to be bringing companions with them again, after being asked to come on their own during COVID. It was a nightmare of crowds and noise and I didn’t enjoy my wait at all.
You would think, looking at the way we now live, that there had never been a pandemic and that COVID has gone away. Over 150,000 people have died from it. Compared to the Great Plague of 1665-6, which killed approximately 100,000 in London and 100,000 in the rest of the country we got off lightly, considering that the population at the time was around 5 million compared to our current 67 million. On the other hand, 40,000 people were killed in the Blitz . (approximately half of them in London). The population in WW2 was around 40 million. I’m loathe to say “only 40,000” but it does set the figure in perspective. It amazes me that we can just shrug it off as easily as we seem to have done.
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
During the pandemic I was advised by one doctor to wear mask and my glasses, as one route of entry is the conjunctiva of the eyes. From there, on down the nasolacrimal duct to the rest of the respiratory system. Yes, I know of plenty of people still getting covid, and the recoveries seem to be long and debilitating.
It’s a case of small precautions adding up.
Bahhhh…bahhhh…bahhhh
It might be interesting to see what happens next winter when people are forced indoors a lot again. People didn’t wear mask in the flu seasons before covid and the flu knocked off quite a few so perhaps, like driving, the risks will seem worth it and masks will stay off.
Difficult to tell. I still haven’t really decided on masks, and if people keep them off I may go to goggles in the winter. Goggles will help me avoid infection – masks help other people. If I wear goggles and not a mask, please feel free to tell me I am being selfish, or even selfish and paranoid.
I noticed the difference at my last booster, too. I even asked, “Do I need to stay here for 15 minutes?” and they waved me off. I liked that better. I used to be a bit nervous, “waiting to die” for that 15 minutes. I guess most people who have had the vaccine have already shown they won’t have a reaction, and that is most of us at this point.
We still must wear a mask in all doctor/health facilities (unless that has gone away in the past month). If I were them, I’d keep it up forever – who wants a bunch of sick people breathing on you all day?
Otherwise, we rarely see masks anymore. I keep one with me always, for crowds, etc. And I still wash my hands as soon as I get home. I think that will be forever for me.
All good habits to have. The blood test nurse told me they are seeing many more infections of different sorts, which she interprets as being part of a general picture of us being less careful in our habits.
Now that I am used to masks they seem quite a natural thing to wear. Around the shop, where there is a large population of Chinese students, we have always seen people with masks.
My lasting habits are staying at home, refusing to socialise and shopping on the internet. To be honest, these aren’t really new habits, just my old love of being anti-social being given expression by recent events. :@-)
A fine preparation for what we have to come in an hour and a half; and a fascinating set of comparative figures
Good luck. 🙂