I know four very close people who have the "sniffles" today.

This new variant is spreading like wildfire!

I'm home, too, with no intention to go out anytime soon.

Of course, I really don't want those either. Serious question:
Do masks help prevent the spread of "common colds" and the flu?

Which is why I have seen many people in far eastern asian countries wearing masks in pre-Covid times. That is not part of American culture though and never will be.

I’m not giving up my mask unless you pry it off my cold dead face!

Since home tests are sold out everywhere, how can one know?

Ten people all vaccinated. Should be safe.

Covid has plateaued in Seattle for the moment, but every hospital is very full. Lots of “normal” (not Covid) droplet isolation though. We didn’t have that last year.

Right now it depends on where you live, and the vaccination status of your community. There are a number of breakthrough cases from what I’m reading.

Stay safe, mask up, avoid inconsiderate assholes

Due to my allergies. Since I’m vaxed and boosted if I get Omicron I probably won’t even know it! Oh well.

I have a cold. Peaking today (congestion) but was sneezing more yesterday.
I went to doctor, tested negative, and all of the problem is in the head; nothing in bronchial region.
Doctor said drainage was clear so it's not a sinus infection. No fever at all, either. (97.8° on our ear thermometer, which is normal for me.)
Just a cold.
Bad timing, as it ruined my cooking plans.
Feeling better than I did a few hours ago, but it's definitely not over.

She's in town for Christmas and she and her fiancé are quarantined in one room in our house. One weird Christmas, that's for sure.

We need to be sensible about this. At least take your own temperature. If it's normal - 98 degrees - there's little chance it's Covid. If you're already vaccinated, and have been using a mask and social distancing, and if you aren't experiencing a sore or scratchy throat, no cough or difficulty breathing - it's probably not the virus.

Why overload the Covid testing sites when you most likely don't have Covid?

If you are NOT vaccinated, not wearing a mask not social distancing, well ... Make sure you've written out your will and you've given your funeral and burial wishes to a family member or a close friend.

I also had almost no cough, but crashed with Covid pneumonia.

It's an extremely idiosyncratic illness.

Always there are exceptions, and especially with Covid, we don't even know how far this can go.

I just learned that my nephew in Minneapolis has Covid. We had a family zoom-call yesterday and he didn't come in to the call. So we were all concerned and my sister spoke with him this morning. You just never know.

Omicron causes cold like symptoms, such as scratchy throat, sneezing, headache, fatigue. Fever is not one of the most common symptoms.

No breathing problems, but body pain like nothing I’ve ever experienced.

Covid doesn't always cause fever. In fact fever is not even one of the most common symptoms of Omicron.

The 3 folks I know that have it have tested negative for covid at the hospital. We've been masked while interacting, so far, 2 weeks since they've been symptom free, and I'm not sick. Whew.

In your area. We were masks in public so should be ok.

She is pregnant and has had only one vaccination. My grandson had it last week so no doubt got it from him. He was fully vaccinated but got pretty ill for 3 days. She said her symptoms have been mild. We are hoping for the best.

to avoiding infection. Too many people are still wearing inferior or dirty masks that don't fit their faces properly. Many people also remove their masks or pull them down while talking to people, while wearing them when nobody is around. Just observe people even in a blue area and you'll see why the virus spreads.