re: T or F: Corona has been passing around since at least mid to late January

True

T

I’d believe it.

shite man let me know next time. I woulda kept my happy arse in Hubei enjoying these dumplings on the reg

Nahh we were just over there for Chinese New Year

100% true. Had a conversation with the head of the ER at a large Alabama hosoital in early January...ER was packed with an unknown respiratory virus that tested neg for the flu. It got so bad they called it flumaggedon.

True.

Probably as far back as October. Immunologists don’t know for sure yet. Anecdotal data is piling up.

Me and wife had horrible crud — all the CV symptoms with a six-week cough — from Nov into Dec.

Doc said not the flu, just a nasty cough/cold circulating that he hadn’t seen the likes of before. Just too much coincidence floating around.

True. On Feb 16-17 my 6-year-old granddaughter spiked 102 fevers with no sore throat or nasal congestion, but rebounded back to normal very quickly. Her mom, my daughter, mid 30s, then became sick with fever, cough, malaise, night sweats, and sore throat with no nasal symptoms, which lasted until about Feb 23-24. Around that time I started having sore throat with earache on left side, and had low-grade fever around 100. I then developed a terrible hacking, dry cough and tight feeling chest, that barely responded to Albuterol and Mucinex around the clock and constantly taking Ricolas. I was so fatigued that for three or four days straight I took long afternoon naps, 3-4 hours, and still woke up extremely tired. After about three or four days my fever broke for three nights straight with drenching night sweats and I started to have a little more energy but then sore throat and earache moved to right side with intense ear pain. That was what finally sent me to the doctor who said my symptoms sounded viral (no testing because I was so far into it that Tamiflu wouldn't be indicated anyway, plus I hate that med) but I had secondary ear infection. He started me on antibiotic and suggested time-release Mucinex, and I gradually started to feel better. It was almost two weeks before I felt truly well and had my usual energy level. I have no idea if this was flu or CV or something else, but I know I have never had an illness like this one before.

On a side note, we live in a rural north LA parish, just outside of a village of about 200 people. Between two local cemeteries from Jan 1 to first week of March there are seven new graves that I know of, and that number is unusually high in our rural community. I would say 2-3 would be average for that timeframe. The youngest person was mid 60s and all had prior health problems that would make them susceptible. After I had recovered and went to place new flowers at my mother's grave, I was shocked to see the five fresh graves in that cemetery alone. So yes, I believe CV was already making its rounds in Louisiana by early February, but I am not sure if I had it. I could come down with it tomorrow, so I suppose time may tell. It would be interesting to take an antibody test for CV if one is developed.

I agree that the hospitals should be screwed royally by now if it had been circulating as long as we are speculating. Perhaps another bug went around that produced similar albeit milder symptoms?