Paranoia or reality?
 

We had a club meeting 11/23 (approximately 20 people).
We have just been advised one of the members in attendance was exposed (for over 30 minutes) to a positive tested co-worker, the morning of our meeting day.

So...options or correct thing to do?

Self quarantine for 14 days?

Try to recall where we were relative to that person to determine our specific exposure (or not)?

Several members of the same club golf together once per week...do we cancel golf this weekend?

We could start to factor in....

was the initial exposure indoors/outdoors?

was our club meeting indoors or outdoors?

even though golf is relatively safe is it a risk to play with those known to have been in a possible exposure venue?

And so on.

We are in our mid eighties and have been very diligent in what we do or do not do during the pandemic. We chose to go to the club meeting as the group was relatively small and it was held out side. We have chosen to play golf as it is an outdoor activity with minimal risks (INHO).

Now the reality of who we have been in contact with since the meeting.....and what do we do from today onward.

To be consistent with our conservative approach to what we do and do not do, we will self quarantine and we will cancel golf this weekend. We will also call those we know we have been in contact with since our club meeting.

Pandemic paranoia? Reality?

My husband had sort of a similar thing happen a couple of months ago when someone in their golf group had their visiting son play with the group and on arriving home two days after golf the son tested positive for Covid. The group rides alone in carts and does not stop for lunch and it turned out alright with just the dad quarantining himself and one other. No one caught it, and it was serious because the men are all in the high risk age group.

I consider it a valid question and not paranoia at all. I think we still do not have clear guidelines about transmission because even the medical community is not yet sure of exactly how the virus is spread.

get tested and cancel activities for two weeks at least

this is our new Reality, if you care about others

I don't disagree, but many of us wonder how long to wait to get tested to see if the virus incubated in us. In other words, WHEN after exposure is a person contagious to others IF they do catch it.

I have read and respected your posts over the years.
You have chosen what you feel is right for you and yours.
Don't see how I can criticize or advise you on your personal decision.
Stay safe....

i'm sorry to hear you were exposed, but thankful you haven't been ill since. you are very consistent in your posts, we truly believe you take as many precautions as possible to keep yourselves safe. idk what else you should do besides alert your dr asap & see what he/she thinks. it breaks my heart knowing such nice people as yourselves need to isolate in fear, but you must stay safe. many prayers for your continued health, & keep us posted,...oxo

I'm sorry to hear that you have this worry. If it makes you feel any better, schools are finding out via contact tracing that schools are not a significant source of infection, meaning that simply sitting next to another student in class is not what is driving the viral spread. That is largely because students are temp checked upon their arrival at school and sent home if they are symptomatic.

Hope this helps to ease your mind a bit. Take care.

The correct answer is to seek the advise of your medical professional.

Personally, I would be more conscious of my mask wearing and distancing while I wait four days before getting a test. I would absolutely expect it to be negative but I would get tested just in case.


- Just being in proximity to the coworker with Covid does not mean the member contracted it
- It takes more than a minute for the member who had the contact to become contagious
- Being in proximity to someone who was in proximity to someone who had the virus does not mean you will become infected
- It takes a few days (3, 4, ?) for the virus to build to a high enough level to be detected by the test.

I’ve been exposed to COVID-19; how soon will I be contagious? | MIT Medical



While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public-health authorities put the incubation period for the virus at 2–14 days, most people who become ill develop symptoms between five and six days after exposure. This is about the same amount of time needed, on average, for a PCR diagnostic test to be more likely than not to return a true-positive result.

On the other hand, research suggests that people who are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are at their most contagious in the 24 to 48 hours before they experience symptoms. But you would still expect there to be a few days between the time a person is exposed and infected and the time they begin actively shedding virus. If we figure that infected people who become sick typically start experiencing symptoms a bit more than five days after exposure, we can calculate that infectiousness would, on average, begin rising sharply about three days post exposure. In other words, it’s safe to say that it would be exceedingly rare for anyone to transmit the virus earlier than two days post exposure; however, at some point after that, the risk would begin to rise significantly.

The best thing to do is to check with you primary care doctor.

Here is what the CDC says to do:

COVID-19: When to Quarantine | CDC

Some bits of what the CDC says

"Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. "

you should quarantine if "You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more"

There are more details but since the person tested positive I think you have to assume that they have been exposed to someone who might COVID and so might have COVID. So it you were near that person you probably should quarantine for 14 days.

But read what the CDC has to say for yourself.

The CDC contradicts itself all the time. How can they say that children (K-12) are safer in school and sitting together in closed classrooms where they go home and hang around with their family members, yet, at the same time say that you should quarantine if you were within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more (this could happen in a grocery store checkout line and you would never know about it). Unless we shut down EVERYTHING, including hospitals/doctors/dentists for 4 weeks or more, this virus is not going away.

There is not convincing evidence that I am aware of of asymptomatic spread which is probably why medical staff that tests positive but remains asymptomatic are actually required to come into work in many hospitals throughout the country.

Use caution and common sense.

It is now 4 days later, if you caught it you’d probably start having symptoms today or tomorrow. If it was me I would go get tested twice a couple of days apart. One test is not as reliable as two. And I would distance and wear a mask with regards to my spouse. These are things I did when I flew back to my husband in March. The “new” guidelines suggest 10 days of quarantine is enough as the probability of being positive drops a lot after that. So it would be cancelling only one weekend of golf.

Best wishes to you and in my opinion, if your meeting was outside it is highly unlikely you caught the virus. Remember all those BLM protesters so close to each other (outside) with no masks, we thought there was going to be great spread and there was very little?

I don't know the details of your encounter other than it was a meeting of 20. I'm kind of puzzled as to why the meeting was so important during this time, or whether no one took the virus seriously and now suddenly have seen the light. 20 people meeting together? Personally, I have no problem with it since we have seen incidents of many more demonstrating or going to rallies. But, I wonder if or why someone would not wear their mask IF they were inside with so many. And IF that person did wear a mask, then why be so concerned. If you go shopping, you do not know if anyone in the store that you may pass is infected. Of course, like someone else mentioned the CDC says you can't or are unlikely to catch the infection by a minute contact or in passing someone that is infected.
I still don't see why you are concerned if you went to the meeting of 20 folks where you had no idea of the possibility of whether or not one or more might be carrying the virus. I doubt I pass that many folks when shopping in Publix.
I hope that I do not sound like I am condemning your action, because I am not. I am just interested in WHY someone that is in many of these conversations, does not have an idea of how they should handle the situation. Still not condemning.
Since I am out and about at least once or twice per week and around strangers that may or may not be infected, I am not about to get tested on a weekly basis. But, that is just me. Remember, a test is only good for the instant that you are tested; not after the test is taken. For all we know, you could contract the infection at CVS right after you the test is taken.....or where ever you get tested. Apology for sounding gloom and doom. But, for your own peace of mind it won't hurt you (much) to get tested. I don't know if being tested will put mind at ease, but for some it might have the placebo effect.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Personally, I wouldn't listen to anyone on here. I would be asking my doctor for advice on how to proceed IF I was concerned.

What store do you go to? I want to avoid any store where I might be in the line for 15 minutes or more.

I believe the "evidence" of asymptomatic spread is the large number of cases with know known symptomatic contact. They had to contract it from somewhere and if it wasn't from a symptomatic contact then.....

You can wind up standing in line for the deli or seafood counter, or getting a sub made or picking up your prescription at the pharmacy. Lines at the check out usually go pretty quickly but there are times when there is a delay that is beyond the cashier's control (folks with 20+ coupons to use who also argue about a coupon that isn't scanning....).

If you go into a store there is no guarantee that you will not be standing within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more. Most of the people who get out on a fairly regular basis know this is true.

When our next door neighbor got sick: dry cough, aches, vomiting she went to the doctor and was told she had Covid 19. She called us and those she had been in contact with immediately. We all waited 3 to 5 days to get tested to avoid false negatives. Some health officials say wait 5 to 7 days. There is no firm number of days to wait but symptoms should appear in 2 to 14 days.

Just some advice to those who think this is a hoax and masks are not needed, if you could see how sick this very healthy person (did not wear mask often) got, had to have a relative watch her 24/7 and call 911 to get her hospitalized and on IV and oxygen you might change your mind. She is now on the mend fortunately.

Not trying to dispute anyone regarding the seriousness of the virus, but....... My daughter's close friend is a heart transplant recipient. She was infected with the virus but even though she had the symptoms, such as coughing, fever and hard breathing, she survived it with about as much effort as a winter cold. Two of my neighbors in their 80's caught it last Feb and one was hospitalized. Both survived. For every person that has died from the virus, I can give you examples of those that have survived it. Either you can be the glass half empty person or you can be the glass half full.....your choice. And yes, I have had two relatives that have died, supposedly COVID related. Both were in the hospital for other than COVID related treatment. One for a heart operation and the other for a kidney operation. One was in his mid 90's and the other near 70. They died in the hospital and were tested positive for COVID. You can be the judge of whether or not they died BECAUSE OF the virus or with it.

I encourage everyone to do what they deem is necessary to keep themselves safe. I would not attempt to suggest anyone be reckless. I plan to live my life as normal as I can under the circumstances. If I catch the COVID or even the Budweiser Flu, I will take responsibility for my own actions. If you think I am being dangerous to others, then fair warning--- stay away from me. Same thing your momma told you as a child, "stay away from that hot stove or you will get burned."
If you come onto a Villages forum asking for recommendations instead of talking to your doctor, I can only tell you that I am not a doctor but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. If you are on here searching for a roofer or landscaping company, then you have come to the right place.

Actually, I *can* guarantee that I won't be standing in line within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more. I have three methods that anyone can use:

1. Avoid lines. Continue going to the stores that I already frequent when I have never, even with Thanksgiving, been in any line for 15 minutes
2. Maintain a 6 foot separation. Politely ask anyone standing within 6 feet of me to give me some space
3. Remain fewer than 15 minutes. Leave any line I am in that is taking 15 minutes - I don't need a sub or even a cart of groceries that badly

When I go into a store or if hubby does, I set the timer to 15 minutes with a 4 minute warning. When it hits 15 minutes no matter what is going on, I leave.

O.k. I'll rephrase that. There is no guarantee that you can go inside of a store, get what you went there to get and never be close to another person for 15 minutes. Of course, grocery pick up, pharmacy drive thru or simply staying at home and ordering in is always an option. Removing yourself from a situation is always an option and maybe the best option depending upon the circumstances.

Slightly off my topic but in line with the above suggestions:

I always get in front of my cart. this allows me to control how close I choose not to get to the person in front of me and it allows me to control how close the person behind can get.
With a smile of course!

There are just too many who, for some reason, have to be 6 inches on one's back.

That is funny! I hope you are feeling good today, good to hear from you.

This one scenario should never ever happen if you are diligent with social distancing. All grocery stores have the markers on the floor to keep people properly socially distanced. Personal experience....if anyone gets closer to me, such as from behind me on line not adhering to the guidelines, I will request that the person kindly step back and give me space. I have absolutely no problem keeping a safe distance from any individual.

Doesn't this go against what the CDC advises? Doesn't this also go against common sense? Are you sure this is actually happening here in our country?

Not disputing your experience but I do not remember ANY Winter cold flooding ICUs with patients. Or ventilators, N95 masks and field hospitals having to be erected or hospital beds in Madison Square Garden. Or 250,000 deaths. That is the macro picture of what this virus can do.

And if a person had a bad heart and Covid 19 pushed him over the edge, or if that person was healthy and Covid 19 whacked him, the proximate cause is still Covid 19.

And personal medical experience on a forum can be helpful as long as validated by medical professionals.

Not to be too snarky, but you seem to know a LOT of people with Covid 19
and I can’t help wonder if they had the same perception of the seriousness of this virus as you.

IMHO

No matter what store I am in, no matter if I'm standing in line or walking in the aisles, I will not be within 6 feet of anyone. I make sure of that. It is not difficult to do.

OP, I think you answered your own question at the end of your post. From the sound of your previous posts, it’s pretty clear you’ve been very careful. I hope the folks at the meeting wore masks. I guess I have to say I’m sorry you decided to go to the meeting. I doubt you became infected but it, clearly, wasn’t worth the stress in the aftermath. I wish you peace and good health.

Well the 15 minute exposure rule is now changing. Here is the recent information from the CDC. So I guess if you get out of the line in less than 15 minutes and don’t see the individual you were standing in line with at other places multiple times within 24 hours and it adds up to 15 minutes total you should be good. :shocked:

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has redefined what it considers “close contact” with someone who has COVID-19. The term refers to the amount of time one has to spend in the presence of a person with COVID-19 in order to contract the disease from them. And unfortunately, the concept of “close contact” has become even more restrictive.

Previously, the CDC described “close contact” as being within six feet of a COVID-19-infected individual for 15 minutes. In other words, if you were standing close to someone who had COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes there was a good chance you could become infected too.

However, now the CDC says that 15-minute time frame doesn’t need to be consecutive. Rather, now you are considered to have had “close contact” with an infected individual if you’ve spent a cumulative 15 minutes over a 24-hour period standing within six feet of them. In other words, if you spent five minutes near an infected individual at 8 a.m., four minutes with the same individual at noon, and six minutes with that individual at 7:30 p.m., you’re now considered to have had “close contact” and could have very well been infected yourself.”

North Dakota is requesting medical staff to work if asymptotic there is no pool left for traveling nurse recruiters because they are already deployed. A group of South Korean nurses are being deployed to the US along with Air Force and Army nurses due to shortages in some areas.

And that is the problem. I had a similar situation. A woman I play pickleball with is in a dance group with a woman who tested positive a few days later. The woman herself tested negative. However, her doctor's office had told her since it had been a week, she didn't need to get tested. We are all wondering what exactly she told her doctor's office. Fortunately, the dance group's leader wouldn't let anyone return to practice unless they got a test. The group practices indoors with no masks. Ridiculous. We have now decided that we won't be playing pickleball with her as long as she remains in her two dance groups.

I called my doctor's office, and they advised waiting a few days and then get tested. I am scheduled to get tested tomorrow.

I'm not sure even the doctors know what is the right thing to do/how long to wait.

There you go, good advise, but stay quarantined until you get the answers from a respected medical professional.

During normal times (no pandemic), I will never understand the rationale of some people who stand very close to others when waiting in line. During this current time of a pandemic, I find it extremely inconsiderate and probably boorish to cozy up to strangers when on line. That is disgraceful behavior. You know who you are!

It has nothing to do with them thinking asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic nurses/doctors/etc don't spread the virus but with overrun hospitals who need nurses:
North Dakota allows Covid-positive healthcare workers to stay on job as nurses warn it'''s '''irresponsible'''

Earlier on yes, they hospitals were breaking OSHA rules to force infected people back to work but again it wasn't related to anyone thinking that asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people don't spread the virus, it was just due to ignorant management who was desperate for help. I'd like to see where anyone with bonifides is saying pre or asymptomatic people cannot spread the virus. In fact, recent reporting says people are most contagious before they even have symptoms. 1 in 5 COVID-19 Cases Are Asymptomatic but Can Spread the Disease
You can read the peer reviewed medical journal with the actual study discussed here in the previous link.


From Harvard Medical School:
How soon after I'm infected with the new coronavirus will I start to be contagious?

The time from exposure to symptom onset (known as the incubation period) is thought to be three to 14 days, though symptoms typically appear within four or five days after exposure.
We know that a person with COVID-19 may be contagious 48 to 72 hours before starting to experience symptoms. Emerging research suggests that people may actually be most likely to spread the virus to others during the 48 hours before they start to experience symptoms.
If you've been exposed to the coronavirus - Harvard Health.

If someone was just exposed the day of the meeting, obviously they are not an active carrier, there is no way they had symptoms and therefore should not be passing on an illness...I would not be alarmed. If they were exposed 4-5 days prior that would be different...

I5 is your life. .make excuses why not to quarantine, you and possibly your family and friends live or die with that decision. The weakest link in the chain is where the chain breaks.

And shutting down for 4 weeks doesn’t work either, there’s no way to shut everything down..people have to eat, visit Dr and do necessary things so that idea is absolutely ridiculous...sorry to break it to you, it doesn’t just go away and we have a country falling apart when everything is shut down! Stay home if your worried otherwise the rest of us need to work!!

Really? Spear them of your drama...the person they had was NOT a positive Covid Case carrier, it’s impossible ...there’s no way that being near someone earlier in the day, that they became active carriers, within hours...

And there’s the difference, you were exposed to and ACTIVE Covid case, so you need to quarantine...someone who was near someone earlier in the day is not a positive Covid carrier...

If you have other issues , Quarantine otherwise move on .