How much back to "pre-COVID normal" are you?

[Tonks]

I've read the air in the airplane itself is much safer to breath (COVID-wise) than the air in airline terminals.
Apparently commercial jets have extremely good filtering, whereas terminals don't.

But obviously to get to the plane we must spend time in the terminals, often these days lots of time.

That is true only while the plane is in flight. At the gate during boarding and after landing, the CO2 levels get shockingly high because air is not circulated the same way as it is in flight.

I carry a CO2 monitor and got this photo of air on a plane while boarding a few weeks ago. CO2 is an indicator of how well ventilated a space is. For reference, outside air is around 400.



During our flight the levels never got to what I would consider to be a low range.

 

[Tonks]

I've read the air in the airplane itself is much safer to breath (COVID-wise) than the air in airline terminals.
Apparently commercial jets have extremely good filtering, whereas terminals don't.

But obviously to get to the plane we must spend time in the terminals, often these days lots of time.

Would add that air in the terminal was consistently better circulating, at least where I was, according to my monitor. Due to a cancellation and delay, I had quite a lot of time to look. However, ymmv.

If you’re interested, I highly recommend getting an Aranet 4 to monitor air quality where you are.

But honestly, I would wear a N95 now anyway, as BA5 is showing immune escape (meaning that vaccines and prior infections do not prevent infection).

 

[kenny]

Okay, thanks Tonks.

 

[KaeKae]

I voted 50% though I'm not sure how accurate that is
Still wearing a mask in close proximity to people indoors
Still washing hands/sanitizing often
Currently on summer break, so that's not nearly as often as during the school year though.
I AM going to stores, concerts, visiting friends
Then last month we went to Disney World, both as vacation with extended family and to see our daughter who works there. We flew, others in the group drove.
And 7 of the 12 involved, including DH and me, came home with covid. Timing says we all got it there, not while traveling down
Fun times.
We're not fully back, for sure.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I wear my mask all the time/everywhere. Not dropping that anytime soon. My DH is not as stringent with wearing his mask. We do go out to eat and it isn't always on a patio. I go to the mall and we've been to the theater twice. Paranoid about flying, tho.....

cheers--Sharon

 

[diamondhoarder]

I voted 80%. School has been fully back to normal with no bubbles etc since last Sept. I wear my mask for all my daughters hospital appointments, but that is literally it. We are fully socialising again (indoors & out), going to concerts (saw Ed Sheran last month at the Manchester Etihad Stadium without a mask in sight) & had a fabulous & long awaited trip to the Caribbean over the Easter holidays. We are off to London in a couple of weeks & then out to Cyprus for 3 weeks in August.

Many people are catching it around me now for the first time, including family, but mostly seem to be just a couple of days with a sore throat & occasional headache. The vaccines seem to be doing exactly what they should: not preventing it, but lessening illness considerably.

I am in the UK (south east ) and have COVID at the moment along with my husband and daughter. For us it has not been a mild illness at all, we have been really unwell - high temperatures, breathing issues, extreme fatigue. Two weeks in and none of us feel well enough to do much more than lie around on the sofa. My daughter is 15, previously fit and healthy, and she has really been through the mill with vomiting, body pain, sore throat, really nasty cough, and now her pulse rate keeps going really high every time she stands up. All this despite testing negative a few days ago. I'm really concerned that this might have long lasting effects on her heart. We are all fully vaccinated so lord knows what it would have been like for us all if we weren't.

The new BA4 and BA5 variants that are everywhere at the moment seem to be really nasty. Certainly around where we live, we know many people who have recently had COVID and were really ill with it. My husbands personal trainer who is in his 30's and fully vaccinated was in bed for for about 4 weeks and is still struggling to get back to normal.

After 2 years of extreme caution we had recently gone back to about 80% normality. With the experience we are currently having with COVID we are likely to pull this back to 50% once we are finally well enough to be able to leave the house. Apparently its possible to be reinfected within 4 weeks of having COVID, and reinfections seem to be on the rise. I have also heard that reinfections can be worse and I am certainly not keen to take any further risks.

 

[Ceilimom]

Healing vibes across the miles.......

Thank you so much- really appreciate the kind words of support

 

[Ally T]

I am in the UK (south east ) and have COVID at the moment along with my husband and daughter. For us it has not been a mild illness at all, we have been really unwell - high temperatures, breathing issues, extreme fatigue. Two weeks in and none of us feel well enough to do much more than lie around on the sofa. My daughter is 15, previously fit and healthy, and she has really been through the mill with vomiting, body pain, sore throat, really nasty cough, and now her pulse rate keeps going really high every time she stands up. All this despite testing negative a few days ago. I'm really concerned that this might have long lasting effects on her heart. We are all fully vaccinated so lord knows what it would have been like for us all if we weren't.

The new BA4 and BA5 variants that are everywhere at the moment seem to be really nasty. Certainly around where we live, we know many people who have recently had COVID and were really ill with it. My husbands personal trainer who is in his 30's and fully vaccinated was in bed for for about 4 weeks and is still struggling to get back to normal.

After 2 years of extreme caution we had recently gone back to about 80% normality. With the experience we are currently having with COVID we are likely to pull this back to 50% once we are finally well enough to be able to leave the house. Apparently its possible to be reinfected within 4 weeks of having COVID, and reinfections seem to be on the rise. I have also heard that reinfections can be worse and I am certainly not keen to take any further risks.

Healing dust & gentle hugs to you all. We really don't know how we will be affected until we have it. I hope you are all back on your feet soon.

Mr T is back from a long weekend weekend away with his 2 brothers this weekend & not feeling well, coughing, sore throat etc. I tested him & it was a strong positive. He is wiped out this evening. He's fit, well, a regular gym goer & marathon runner. But right now he's in a pretty bad way. One of his brothers has also tested positive tonight.

 

[VRBeauty]

90%. My husband is 100%.

We both had Covid recently, which helps. We assume we have higher immunity for a little while, at least.

The thing I’m still avoiding is large groups in indoor setting - so no concerts or indoor performances for me. I’d be leery of outdoor concerts too. Fortunately concerts have never been a huge part of my life, so I don’t feel like I’m missing much there.

 

[MrsBlue]

I don't really want to go back. The 6ft of personal space was great.

 

[MamaBee]

Healing dust & gentle hugs to you all. We really don't know how we will be affected until we have it. I hope you are all back on your feet soon.

Mr T is back from a long weekend weekend away with his 2 brothers this weekend & not feeling well, coughing, sore throat etc. I tested him & it was a strong positive. He is wiped out this evening. He's fit, well, a regular gym goer & marathon runner. But right now he's in a pretty bad way. One of his brothers has also tested positive tonight.

I hope he and his brother get over it quickly.

 

[Elizabeth35]

We have not stopped traveling since COVID. We did not travel during the first 8 months of COVID during the first outbreak in US. Once we were vaccinated, we resumed traveling full force where it was reasonably safe. This includes I think 5 cruises--mostly small ships with strict mandates. We eat outdoors and avoid others, no theaters or casinos.
We have gone on 12-14 trips since then. We wear KN95's in the airport and on planes. We wear masks when we go to any indoor venues. Vaxed plus 2 boosters.
We distance in the airport and stay in the lounge until boarding as it is less crowded.
We avoid crowds and wear masks on any type of transport. Obviously, we follow infection rates prior to travel and plan accordingly.

But--we still picked up COVID earlier this month in Alaska and recovered.
We have 3-4 more international trips planned this year.
We are in our 60's and healthy---we just try to use good judgement and continue doing what we love, which is traveling.

 

[swingirl]

The only thing I won't do is go to a theater. I'll wear a mask where ever it's required. But most of my time is spent at home or out outdoors. And an occasional trip to Costco but timed so the place is almost empty. 90% for me.

I really like the extra space around people. I also love not seeing sick people in public. Before covid it'd be common to see people bring sick children and babies with runny noses in the grocery stores. And people everywhere coughing, sneezing with red noses. Now those folks are staying home. I like that.

 

[nala]

100 Percent and I have been since Masks were lifted in March at my school.
I lost all caution at that point.
Before that, prob 80 percent bc I wore a mask and kept a distance when indoors in places without good ventilation. I have been eating out, traveling, etc. since Vaccine. Prior to vaccine, I did road trips, outdoors dining and casinos—bc they have great ventilation and they distanced the machines, scanned for high temperatures and required masks.

I will say my half family caught covid in May at a funeral bc everyone was at 100 percent. It was a wake up call but also served to prove that the vax protected them and they had very minor flu like symptoms—and these are people of all ages and risk factors. Knowing that, the rest of the family—including hubby and I—went to my niece’s wedding a few weeks later and chose not to wear a mask. I warned my sister that it would be a super spreader event but I guess in the end, we all chose to live for the moment. Tbh, I thought I had allergies and works have not known it was covid if not for the fact that they alerted us to test. I felt fine. Had an itchy throat for a few days and a mild cough. Hubby had a harsh cough and fatigue. Sister was like me. Brother in law had a fever. I tested out after 7 days. So did hubby. So I’m back to 100 percent.

 

[lilmosun]

Depends on what one defines as "normal". I was going to vote 30% but for me, life won't go back to pre-covid normal for various reasons (my mom's health, changes at work, inflation, etc..) so to be fair, I chose 60%

I am pretty much back to doing most things except eating/drinking in crowded indoor restaurants and bars so miss some larger get togethers with friends. I go into/leave work early when trains are less crowded. So many people I know have had Covid, I am no longer as terrified of getting it but am still strictly adhering to mask wearing precautions even in some situations where I am the only one (or one of a few). Other than that, I'm not letting Covid stop me from doing things.

My mom's brain hemorrhage was rude awakening. After a year at home, it happened 2 weeks after her 2nd vaccine. Now she'll never be able to take the trips we had planned (Italy, Greece, China, etc.). But I've taken her to Atlantic City and to California to see her siblings - I don't want her to live the her last years not being able to leave the house.

I bounce back/forth between my mom's home in VA and mine in MA...combined with work now being hybrid...my life has no normal....but I am thankful for having the flexibility to be where I need to be.

 

[LilAlex]

> 50%? We travel (two flights this past week) and go out to dinner locally. We mask at work and in all stores and all public transit. Even in our progressive city, we get some looks in many of the places we shop. N95 always (always!) in airports and on flights of any duration. We just visited a red state Mecca and even in the airport and in flight, masking was < 10% and almost exclusively young, healthy-looking people (!). I expected to be hassled about masking but dirty looks was about as far as it went. And from exactly whom you would expect.

I agree with others that it ain't over yet. Even a second booster confers very imperfect protection against the newest variants sweeping the nation and whereas death rates are mercifully low, infection rates are staggeringly high with many, many formerly-careful friends and family getting infected and seriously ill (but not ICU-sick).

 

[TooPatient]

Picking 20% as a good estimate. We don't eat in restaurants yet, but do get take out. Will go see a movie rarely but the theater we go to is reserved seating and the most I have ever seen in the room watching with us was maybe 8 for a good size cinema. Doctor appointments almost exclusively online.

Moved from suburban area with 6+ houses visible from any given window to five acres in a rural area where you can see one house across the drive and sometimes a second if you know just where to look and leaves aren't too thick. DH has gone permanent work from home. I will be permanent work from home. No raising ducks & chickens with bees likely to follow. The dinner group we were part of hasn't come back yet and we may or may not participate with a much longer drive to get to host homes. I am active with a couple of local groups that are fun. Joined the archery club so looking to start that once ducks are settled.

So not sure if we will ever really go back to pre-COVID normal and we are definitely okay with that.

 

[kenny]

Depends on what one defines as "normal". ...

Good point - which was addressed in my OP when I wrote ...

"How much back to "pre-COVID normal" are you?
For this poll define "pre-COVID" however you wish."

 

[diamondhoarder]

Healing dust & gentle hugs to you all. We really don't know how we will be affected until we have it. I hope you are all back on your feet soon.

Mr T is back from a long weekend weekend away with his 2 brothers this weekend & not feeling well, coughing, sore throat etc. I tested him & it was a strong positive. He is wiped out this evening. He's fit, well, a regular gym goer & marathon runner. But right now he's in a pretty bad way. One of his brothers has also tested positive tonight.

Oh dear, sorry to hear that. We know so many people who have brought it back from a holiday or a trip. I hope Mr T recovers quickly and that the rest of your family manage to avoid it.

 

[chrono]

I voted 30% since we do not travel, do not eat out, still mask whenever we go out. We do not attend gatherings other than very small family gatherings only.

 

[winetime12]

I'd say 80%... I still worry about it, I'm not travelling anywhere by air, I'm getting all my boosters, I occasionally wear a mask at work when I'm doing certain things.

 

[jaysonsmom]

I picked 30% because 2/3 of my life was spent working in an office, and we have not gone back to working in an office yet. I'm still working from home.

We also have not resumed air travel, instead choosing to drive to destinations as required, for work or for our kids (college orientation for eg), and only travel as needed. Not planning any family vacations for eg.

While we have started going to the restaurants, gym, attending church, or going to concerts and movies etc, we still wear masks indoors and outdoors, especially if we are in a large crowd setting.

 

[GemmaBella]

I am not back to normal. I basically still operate the same way I did when we went into 2020 lockdown. My mother, son and I isolate. Mom works from home. Son is homeschooled. Groceries and supplies to live delivered. Playdates and time spent with family regularly happens over Zoom. I only go out for the doctor/dentist/vet, masked in an N95. We are all vaccinated and boosted...When the heatwave breaks we will begin taking walks again outdoors (socially distanced from others). I would say between mass shootings, Covid and horrible weather (heat) I am depressed, but I refuse to completely lose hope that our lives will always be this way.
Long Covid weighs on my mind every day and for that reason, I take these precautions. My mom is 68, my son is 6....I don't want him to potentially face Long haul problems his whole life. I don't want to lose my mom. I have asthma and don't want to leave my son without a mother if I don't survive a Covid infection. Thanks for letting me vent and share. I hope everyone who is feeling lonely knows I understand and empathize.