This article is specific to Belgium but I thought it’d be relevant to post here. I’ve certainly had that impression, and the feeling it might be due to the contrast with last year.
This article is specific to Belgium but I thought it’d be relevant to post here.
I’ve certainly had that impression, and the feeling it might be due to the contrast with last year.
What is the COVID situation like in Belgium? I've gotten the exact opposite impression over the ocean in my city, where masks in public spaces are still required.
What is the COVID situation like in Belgium? I've gotten the exact opposite impression over the ocean in my city, where masks in public spaces are still required.
Infections are getting high, we are getting close to the May peak. Deaths are low. We have excellent vaccination rates in Flanders and pretty good in Wallonia — not so good in Brussels but this...
Infections are getting high, we are getting close to the May peak. Deaths are low. We have excellent vaccination rates in Flanders and pretty good in Wallonia — not so good in Brussels but this may be an artefact of how we calculate it. Pretty much all rules are off except for masks in public transports, and in Brussels masks in closed public spaces.
"Worse" in the sense of more common, more people infected, yeah, I doubt that. But "worse" in the sense of individual cases being more severe, longer-lasting ... I'm already convinced this is...
"Worse" in the sense of more common, more people infected, yeah, I doubt that.
But "worse" in the sense of individual cases being more severe, longer-lasting ... I'm already convinced this is happening a lot. Over the past ~2 months, I have an anecdotal count of 7 people, 6 scattered t/out the EU plus 1 in the US (including myself and my 2 roommates) ... all reporting longer-than-normal duration, worse-than-normal symptoms, and unusual symptoms. All cases probably not Covid.
Additionally, I count exactly zero anecdotal cases of "normal/typical" colds. This is just among friends, family, co-workers; probably ~100-150 person pool.
In my case, all 3 of us were sick for almost two weeks, with an almost daily revolving-door of new symptoms. That's not normal.
Tentatively, I buy the hypothesis that our immune systems are "out of practice" so to speak. But I do not accept the "we're imagining it" explanation.
I think it’s a bit of both. I don’t think we’re imagining it, and it’s true our immune systems are out of shape, but it’s also true that we pay extra attention to any and all cold symptoms. I am...
I think it’s a bit of both. I don’t think we’re imagining it, and it’s true our immune systems are out of shape, but it’s also true that we pay extra attention to any and all cold symptoms. I am currently stuck in bed with acute bronchitis and I know exactly when I started getting sick, and how it evolved over those next few days. I’m hyper aware of how long I’ve been sick and I feel like “jeez, am I usually sick this long?” - answer is probably, I’ve only had three days where I was actually out of commission, the rest of the time is just me being cautious, not wanting to spread it, etc. I would not have paid much attention to this before.
This article is specific to Belgium but I thought it’d be relevant to post here.
I’ve certainly had that impression, and the feeling it might be due to the contrast with last year.
What is the COVID situation like in Belgium? I've gotten the exact opposite impression over the ocean in my city, where masks in public spaces are still required.
Infections are getting high, we are getting close to the May peak. Deaths are low. We have excellent vaccination rates in Flanders and pretty good in Wallonia — not so good in Brussels but this may be an artefact of how we calculate it. Pretty much all rules are off except for masks in public transports, and in Brussels masks in closed public spaces.
Point is, other shit is def spreading.
"Worse" in the sense of more common, more people infected, yeah, I doubt that.
But "worse" in the sense of individual cases being more severe, longer-lasting ... I'm already convinced this is happening a lot. Over the past ~2 months, I have an anecdotal count of 7 people, 6 scattered t/out the EU plus 1 in the US (including myself and my 2 roommates) ... all reporting longer-than-normal duration, worse-than-normal symptoms, and unusual symptoms. All cases probably not Covid.
Additionally, I count exactly zero anecdotal cases of "normal/typical" colds. This is just among friends, family, co-workers; probably ~100-150 person pool.
In my case, all 3 of us were sick for almost two weeks, with an almost daily revolving-door of new symptoms. That's not normal.
Tentatively, I buy the hypothesis that our immune systems are "out of practice" so to speak. But I do not accept the "we're imagining it" explanation.
I think it’s a bit of both. I don’t think we’re imagining it, and it’s true our immune systems are out of shape, but it’s also true that we pay extra attention to any and all cold symptoms. I am currently stuck in bed with acute bronchitis and I know exactly when I started getting sick, and how it evolved over those next few days. I’m hyper aware of how long I’ve been sick and I feel like “jeez, am I usually sick this long?” - answer is probably, I’ve only had three days where I was actually out of commission, the rest of the time is just me being cautious, not wanting to spread it, etc. I would not have paid much attention to this before.