We've been having quite an outbreak in my county the last two to three months. In spite of that, we have quite a few snowflakes who think that they shouldn't have to quarantine if they don't need to be hospitalized.

I'm not real thrilled with our Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.

As usual, there were several outside guests including one worker in a local packing plant where there have been very big problems with covid-19. He has no family in the country (I think he's from Jamaica) and so he often comes to our family events as a substitute.

A nephew of mine woke up his wife on Thanksgiving morning to take him to the emergency room. He was admitted and put on an IV. Him, his wife, and his wife's daughter were tested and all are positive. As I understand it, sometime that morning he pulled out the IV and left the hospital to go home! Even though we had Thanksgiving dinner at his grandfather's house, he had no intention of coming to our Thanksgiving Dinner because his wife is expressly not welcome at any family events.

I'm praying that nobody got covid at our Thanksgiving Dinner.

Sounds like you have a kind and welcoming family. I hope your nephews family recovers quickly and that no one else gets it. Yes thanksgiving will increase cases.

eric76 said:

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As I understand it, sometime that morning he pulled out the IV and left the hospital to go home!

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It's amazing how big of an ass people can be. My wife had to take her dad to the ER for a non Covid issue. While waiting to be admitted another guy came in because he, "tested positive for Covid and was having trouble breathing." The nurse asked him to put on a mask while he waited. He refused to and started yelling about his constitutional rights. Event though he had already tested positive, and was sick enough to feel it necessary to go to the ER, the dude still couldn't put on a mask for an hour while he waited to be admitted. The nurses ended up making him wait outside.

Should have called the cops on him the minute he started yelling

I had thanksgiving with my parents and my wife's family. It was the first time I tried frying a turkey and it turned out great. Really makes you think.

I read the title and was really afraid. Then I read the post and realized OP just wanted to tell us about his family. Not sure how "super-spreader" relates to that story, but thanks for sharing I guess

coolerguy12 said:

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I read the title and was really afraid. Then I read the post and realized OP just wanted to tell us about his family. Not sure how "super-spreader" relates to that story, but thanks for sharing I guess

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I assumed that other people might have similar events to talk about or what steps they went to in order to avoid such events.

Do you think your family story counts as a "super spreader?" If not maybe you could request a title change so people don't mistake your intentions as fear mongering.

coolerguy12 said:

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Do you think your family story counts as a "super spreader?" If not maybe you could request a title change so people don't mistake your intentions as fear mongering.

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The potential would depend on whether anyone there had covid. At least three there work with a woman who was tested positive for covid on Tuesday.

I've already had covid at least once, possibly twice. Another there had covid a little over a month ago and was hospitalized for a while. So two of us are probably safe.

I know one area family that had a birthday party a couple of months ago in which someone had covid. The results of the party were several infections and one death.

Where the heck do you live. I live in the Austin area have been to stores, birthday parties, weddings. Some distancing, and some not and no super spreaders nor people getting sick at any of them. I have been exposed 4 times and quarantined each time.

How do you know you may have had it twice?

The Fall Guy said:

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Where the heck do you live. I live in the Austin area have been to stores, birthday parties, weddings. Some distancing, and some not and no super spreaders nor people getting sick at any of them. I have been exposed 4 times and quarantined each time.

How do you know you may have had it twice?

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I said that I may have had it twice, not that I did have it twice.

When my niece got it in October, I was experiencing the same things except for a bizarre change in my sense of smell as I did in May when I was tested and found to have it. When I had it in May, I didn't think about the minor symptoms I was having as being symptoms of covid since I have similar symptoms occasionally anyway.

The old lady who lives down the road from my parents hosted a giant Thanksgiving extravaganza for her entire extended family. Probably 25 cars. I assume everyone knew the risk. Their choice.

Bad choice, but theirs to make.

coolerguy12 said:

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Do you think your family story counts as a "super spreader?" If not maybe you could request a title change so people don't mistake your intentions as fear mongering.

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Have you read his other posts?

Our family (40+ people) decided to have a dutch oven Thanksgiving cookout, dining outside. Most of the fam thinks covid is NBD though and didn't think anything of spending time inside with my 95 y.o. grandmother. One of the cousins, husband and kids tested positive today.

OP just stay home if you're scared.

angus55 said:

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OP just stay home if you're scared.

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Not scared, but you must be.

I'm concerned about some older members of the family as well as one with no insurance until Medicare cuts in early next spring.

So where does personal responsibility come into play in your story?

RE: "personal responsibility" - I feel like many of you haven't reached a point in your lives where you have to start making decisions that you feel are for the best for some of the older people in your family.

My grandparents *could* drive to meet for lunch - I still went and picked them up because their driving was a danger to themselves and others.

Proposition Joe said:

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RE: "personal responsibility" - I feel like many of you haven't reached a point in your lives where you have to start making decisions that you feel are for the best for some of the older people in your family.

My grandparents *could* drive to meet for lunch - I still went and picked them up because their driving was a danger to themselves and others.

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An accurate Covid analogy would go like this. My grandparents are bad drivers so I told them they can't leave their house until self driving cars are available to them so they can be safe.

What cracks me up about OP is he keeps posting these super duper scary stories where he almost got Covid for maybe the upteenth time but he keeps admitting to being in these situations himself. Take responsibility for your actions and quit complaining to the rest of us every time you have a super scary near miss.

If I wind up at a "super spreader" event you better believe I won't complain to a soul about it. I have decided to live my life as normal as possible and I'll deal with whatever consequences come my way.

Why on earth would someone with a sore throat show up to a family event?
I'm sorry. I would be pretty angry with my cousin.

I don't know when her symptoms started so not sure how angry to be at this point. The fact that her whole family tested positive the day after certainly raises questions.

this isn't that remarkable to me to be honest

you're sold the plague in the media but the mild symptoms are indistinguishable from seasonal allergies in some respects

we are careful and have called off important personal events because of a very mild symptom that we didn't have time to PCR test for. but that took some discipline.

public health is about handling the public as it is, not how you wish they'd be in your perfect human simulator

I don't actually make decisions based on "the media." I do read reports from doctors and scientists, including local hospitals that are begging people to think of others, including healthcare workers.
If I had a sore throat on the day of a family gathering, even if I thought it COULD be allergies, I would sit it out just in case it wasn't allergies.
That doesn't mean I'm scared. It means I'm cautious and making decisions based on the best information I have at the moment.
We've missed holiday celebrations in the past due to family illness and managed to celebrate at later times.

You're right. I am me. I guess I have more faith in my friends and family than you do. The people in my life typically choose to make choices based on their possible consequences and impacts. Even my college kids do that, albeit imperfectly.

When people disappoint me because they don't weigh the impact their actions might have on others, it tells me a lot about them. At that point, it's up to me to determine if they're the kind of person I want to keep in my life or not.

At 50, I've figured out that I'd rather spend time with people who share my most important values. That doesn't mean we all vote the same, worship the same, make all the same choices, but it does mean that our choices are grounded in respect for others. Life's too short to cultivate relationships with people who don't attempt to show respect for others through their actions.

once again

your family

your friends

what values do you think I have?

I'm trying to properly gauge your moral superiority

This thread is proof that the mental health impacts of COVID are going to be felt for many, many years.

I stated that our different values don't make either of us better than the other. I meant it. In no way was I implying that I'm superior to you, nor do I believe you're superior to me. I believe people can have different values and still be good people.

Personally, I value people who respect their loved ones, friends, coworkers, etc. by following agreed upon precautions in public/private settings. If we've agreed to follow precautions, but then someone decided to attend an event with a sore throat, cough, or any other Covid symptom, then that person's lack of respect would definitely make me reconsider their place in my life.

For instance, our family decided to gather outside for Thanksgiving. We agreed that we would set up extra tables to avoid squeezing around a few. We agreed that if any of us were exposed to someone with Covid or if we had any symptoms, we would call it off. One sister and her family chose not to attend because they want to go see their new grandchild soon and don't want to take any chances. The rest of us followed the guidelines we agreed upon. A cousin who planned to visit decided against it because he had a headache and, while he assumed it was not Covid, he didn't want to risk it.

I think that's us being respectful of each other. It honestly seemed like common sense to all of us, most of whom are staunch conservatives. It surprises me when others don't see it that way, I'll admit. But, I'm not calling anyone names or accusing them of being scared. I just know that we have different beliefs that probably inhibit us from having a meaningful relationship. That's okay. I don't need to be friends with everyone.