Omicron and decision making

[Anonymous]

800 some cases in DC yesterday, and I'm wondering if I should just assume that I have it, and then behave that way. I have a runny nose and I'm paranoid. It's tough making decisions for myself and my child. Yesterday, I went out and did shopping and even sat in a bar for lunch -- because I've been going about my business as normal, my family is all vaccinated and the adults are boosted. But I saw all the people in line for covid testing, and waiting outside the urgent clinic. I feel like I need to make some adjustments like:

- Today my kid has an indoor activity. I am considering skipping it.
- Tomorrow my kid has an outdoor activity. I think we will still participate. (Does omicron care about whether you're indoors or out?)
- I would definitely send my kid to school this week, assuming it does not get canceled, because school is too important
- I would otherwise stay home and try not to do anything not essential.
- I will leave it in my in-laws hands whether they still come for Christmas (they will) because their health decision are their business.
- DH and I planned a weekend trip (local) over NYE. This one is wait-and-see I guess.

Anyway, I'm just trying to think this through based on the changing circumstances, and wonder what other parents are thinking.

[Anonymous]

First, if you’re nervous about your runny nose, do an at-home rapid test. That’s an easy thing to do and then you’ll know better how to proceed.

We’re not changing much but we were fairly cautious anyway. Anything outside is fine, and no mask needed. School is essential. I’ll upgrade my indoor mask from surgical to KN-95 for when I get groceries and go to the gym (twice/week, everyone is masked). We weren’t doing many indoor play dates for the kids, because ours are young enough they were only just vaccinated, and will hold off on those, too, or do them masked.

The only changes we’re making are to move outdoors for a big holiday party DH and I are going to tonight, and probably rapid tests before NYE with two other families we know (all with boosted adults and vaxxed kids). Otherwise, be reasonable. We don’t need to upend everything over Omicron, at least, not yet.

[Anonymous]

Get tested! You’re totally jumping the gun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, if you’re nervous about your runny nose, do an at-home rapid test. That’s an easy thing to do and then you’ll know better how to proceed.

We’re not changing much but we were fairly cautious anyway. Anything outside is fine, and no mask needed. School is essential. I’ll upgrade my indoor mask from surgical to KN-95 for when I get groceries and go to the gym (twice/week, everyone is masked). We weren’t doing many indoor play dates for the kids, because ours are young enough they were only just vaccinated, and will hold off on those, too, or do them masked.

The only changes we’re making are to move outdoors for a big holiday party DH and I are going to tonight, and probably rapid tests before NYE with two other families we know (all with boosted adults and vaxxed kids). Otherwise, be reasonable. We don’t need to upend everything over Omicron, at least, not yet.

Thanks, that all sounds reasonable. I hear that those rapid at-home tests are hard to get in my area right now.

[Anonymous]

This was me Thursday night. Like exactly. Except I didn't even have a runny nose -- just like a little tickle at the back of my throat. But DH and I had a mini date at a bar before childcare pickup, and DC of course went to childcare. I saw all the lines for people getting tests and saw the case count at 508 for DC for the day and felt super panicky.

I took a rapid test. Negative. In the morning, I have DC a rapid test before school. Negative. My DH took three tests (two rapid and one PCR) earlier in the week due to a possible exposure at work, all of which came back negative, so he refused to take another test.

We're all a little on edge. Here's what we're doing:

- DC is going to school next week unless they close it. This one was a hard choice and I still don't feel 100% on it. I could probably handle keeping them home BUT I have a specific very good reason for them to go (like, unimpeachable reason I don't want to share here). But if they go and catch Covid, that sucks. I don't know. I don't know! They are probably going.

- We have a reservation to go out do dinner on the 23rd to kick off our holiday festivities. It's tradition and we didn't do it last year. This will almost certainly get canceled unless something changes between now and then.

- We are staying home for Christmas, but that was always the plan.

- We have a short trip (driving) planned for the week between Christmas and New Years, and we are definitely still doing that. It's near both restaurants/city stuff and also outdoorsy stuff, so if cases are bad we'll just do hiking and outdoorsy stuff and get take out for our AirBnB or to picnic. Weather is supposed to be warm and nice so this is not really a loss.

- We have several social commitments around New Years and those will be game time.

I think you just have to do your best. We're not getting much guidance from the government or from schools/employers (or any, really). We are fortunate in that we have no plane travel scheduled (not a sacrifice on our part, we hate holiday plane travel and avoid it no matter what, Covid or no) so I feel like it's a bit easier for us. But still not easy! Agree with PP that at least Omicron appears to be mild. And we're vaccinated and boosted. I'm not really worried about getting it, more about exposing others or messing up someone else's holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, if you’re nervous about your runny nose, do an at-home rapid test. That’s an easy thing to do and then you’ll know better how to proceed.

We’re not changing much but we were fairly cautious anyway. Anything outside is fine, and no mask needed. School is essential. I’ll upgrade my indoor mask from surgical to KN-95 for when I get groceries and go to the gym (twice/week, everyone is masked). We weren’t doing many indoor play dates for the kids, because ours are young enough they were only just vaccinated, and will hold off on those, too, or do them masked.

The only changes we’re making are to move outdoors for a big holiday party DH and I are going to tonight, and probably rapid tests before NYE with two other families we know (all with boosted adults and vaxxed kids). Otherwise, be reasonable. We don’t need to upend everything over Omicron, at least, not yet.

Thanks, that all sounds reasonable. I hear that those rapid at-home tests are hard to get in my area right now.

Stalk the Walmart website and order a bunch of the Binax tests when they are in stock (may be sold out now but they replenish them regularly). It's a good price and they ship quick. You can probably get some before NYE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was me Thursday night. Like exactly. Except I didn't even have a runny nose -- just like a little tickle at the back of my throat. But DH and I had a mini date at a bar before childcare pickup, and DC of course went to childcare. I saw all the lines for people getting tests and saw the case count at 508 for DC for the day and felt super panicky.

I took a rapid test. Negative. In the morning, I have DC a rapid test before school. Negative. My DH took three tests (two rapid and one PCR) earlier in the week due to a possible exposure at work, all of which came back negative, so he refused to take another test.

We're all a little on edge. Here's what we're doing:

- DC is going to school next week unless they close it. This one was a hard choice and I still don't feel 100% on it. I could probably handle keeping them home BUT I have a specific very good reason for them to go (like, unimpeachable reason I don't want to share here). But if they go and catch Covid, that sucks. I don't know. I don't know! They are probably going.

- We have a reservation to go out do dinner on the 23rd to kick off our holiday festivities. It's tradition and we didn't do it last year. This will almost certainly get canceled unless something changes between now and then.

- We are staying home for Christmas, but that was always the plan.

- We have a short trip (driving) planned for the week between Christmas and New Years, and we are definitely still doing that. It's near both restaurants/city stuff and also outdoorsy stuff, so if cases are bad we'll just do hiking and outdoorsy stuff and get take out for our AirBnB or to picnic. Weather is supposed to be warm and nice so this is not really a loss.

- We have several social commitments around New Years and those will be game time.

I think you just have to do your best. We're not getting much guidance from the government or from schools/employers (or any, really). We are fortunate in that we have no plane travel scheduled (not a sacrifice on our part, we hate holiday plane travel and avoid it no matter what, Covid or no) so I feel like it's a bit easier for us. But still not easy! Agree with PP that at least Omicron appears to be mild. And we're vaccinated and boosted. I'm not really worried about getting it, more about exposing others or messing up someone else's holiday.

We are on the same page!

[Anonymous]

Testing is shaping up to become the limiting factor, I think, unlike all other previous surges in our area.

When people can't test to go to school and work, this is when we'll get shut down to some degree.

[Anonymous]

I have a fully vaccinated 6 year old and a 4 year old. We took them to an indoor sports activity today where the room was packed but almost everyone had on masks. Definitely made me slightly anxious but we mostly felt okay doing it. We did cancel our plans to go to an adult birthday party tonight at a bar. We also decided to skip swim class (obviously unmasked) for the next few weeks and then we will re-evaluate.

Definitely would have sent kids to school if it were in session next week. Still plan to have family over on Xmas but will ask everyone to rapid test and will crack the windows assuming it’s not too cold.

We were mostly doing outside activities still anyway, so we are otherwise not making adjustments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a fully vaccinated 6 year old and a 4 year old. We took them to an indoor sports activity today where the room was packed but almost everyone had on masks. Definitely made me slightly anxious but we mostly felt okay doing it. We did cancel our plans to go to an adult birthday party tonight at a bar. We also decided to skip swim class (obviously unmasked) for the next few weeks and then we will re-evaluate.

Definitely would have sent kids to school if it were in session next week. Still plan to have family over on Xmas but will ask everyone to rapid test and will crack the windows assuming it’s not too cold.

We were mostly doing outside activities still anyway, so we are otherwise not making adjustments.

Swim class is what I was trying to decide whether to do today. We're going to skip too (plus there's no class the next two Saturdays for the holidays).

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat and don't know what to do. My 9-year-old is now fully vaccinated and doesn't understand why nothing has changed (I'm still making her wear a mask everywhere indoors).

Was supposed to go a friend's house tonight for a holiday party but now really think I'm going to have to cancel. My daughter is supposed to go to her best friends indoor (!!) birthday party tomorrow and I think I'm going to let her go because she'll be masked but I need to ask the mom about food/cake because I don't want her indoors eating without a mask on right now. We're driving out on Monday to visit an elderly relative (fully vaccinated and boosted) but I don't want to get her sick.

Also, trying to figure out if I cancel our long-planned trip to Disney in mid-January.

Wondering if I'm just over-reacting after reading too many news stories today?

[Anonymous]

Go stand in line and get tested.

[Anonymous]

PCR test. Binax is NOT reliable until you are experiencing strong symptoms.

Make an appointment, arrived early prepared to stand in line a long while. Behave as if you are positive until negative test result - better than cloth mask in line and quarantine after test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, if you’re nervous about your runny nose, do an at-home rapid test. That’s an easy thing to do and then you’ll know better how to proceed.

We’re not changing much but we were fairly cautious anyway. Anything outside is fine, and no mask needed. School is essential. I’ll upgrade my indoor mask from surgical to KN-95 for when I get groceries and go to the gym (twice/week, everyone is masked). We weren’t doing many indoor play dates for the kids, because ours are young enough they were only just vaccinated, and will hold off on those, too, or do them masked.

The only changes we’re making are to move outdoors for a big holiday party DH and I are going to tonight, and probably rapid tests before NYE with two other families we know (all with boosted adults and vaxxed kids). Otherwise, be reasonable. We don’t need to upend everything over Omicron, at least, not yet.

I know have a friend, vaccinated with Covid and she took a test at home and it was negative. She did the other more advanced testing and she has Covid. Don’t trust the rapid tests

[Anonymous]

You are why its spreading. Thank you!