Posted by a friend who's a contract tracer in Madison, WI.

[Heartstrings]

Posted by a friend who is a Contact Tracer in Madison...

So it’s been a month of working as a contact tracer for WI. This is what I have to say about it:
1. The highest risk is in your household. If someone gets it ISOLATE THE FUCK OUT OF THEM. Seriously, shut them in the basement with a bucket and toss them lunchables and Capri suns 3X a day. Even if they’re asymptomatic. ISOLATE.
2. You probably won’t die. You might feel like you have a cold or the flu or you might be sicker than you’ve ever been. Covid doesn’t care who you are. And as miserable as you are while still being able to stay away from the hospital they can’t do anything for you. You might get over it in a few days. You might still find it hard to breathe 6 weeks later. COVID DOESN’T CARE WHO YOU ARE.
3. Speaking of death... you know what sucks? Like really really sucks? Interviewing a man or woman whose mother has just been taken off life support. The mother who you never got to say goodbye to. The mother who will die alone. And if it sucks to interview them imagine how it sucks to be them. If there’s something you could do, some small thing that could stop the spread of this fucker so no more sweet mothers die alone and their children cry to strangers on the phone because they hurt so much, HOW ABOUT IF YOU FUCKING DO IT, EH?
4. These outbreaks right now in WI: La crosse, Green Bay, Madison, Eau Claire (it’s coming for you) you know what they have in common? Colleges. Ten times a day I talk to a 20 something year old who says, “I thought since there are no rules that meant it’s safe.” Thank you WI Republicans! These kids go to bars and go home to their houses they share with 5 other people and one after another they all get it.
5. Speaking of college. If we are relying on college kids to police themselves and “do the right thing” IM LOOKING AT YOU UW. We are fucked. They live in dorms and apartments and shockingly they’re not so good at policing themselves. Even if your kid is, he is a drop in a very contagious bucket. I think the chance that colleges won’t be online by November is close to zero.
6. Speaking of bars? Don’t go. Strip clubs? Don’t go. Kalahari? (I wouldn’t if I were you) these are all places I’ve discussed with positive cases.
7. Community spread is out there, but you’re much more likely to get it from another persons face than a door handle. You know how we cover our mouths when we sneeze? Why do we do that? PUT ON THE MASK IF YOU ARE INSIDE. PUT ON THE MASK IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE BUT UNABLE TO DISTANCE.
8. Number one symptom? DIARRHEA. Every single person who has one or more symptoms has it. Headache also huge. So many people say “it started like this tickle in my throat.”
9. NOBODY HAS A FUCKING FEVER. I counted less than five cases where someone has a fever. And I think I’ve talked to almost 100 people. If anyone says they’re taking temperatures to check for COVID? RUN AWAY. 9 times out of 10 there will be no fever. Ask people is they have a raging headache and shit their pants.
In conclusion: MASKS, ISOLATION, NO BARS, MASKS, DIARRHEA, MASKS. Thanks for your time.

[iemitsu]

1. Thank you for your insight.

[Phoenix61]

2. I never got the temp check. Fewer than half

of the people who go to the hospital had a fever and I’m guessing they were pretty damn sick.

[Heartstrings]

5. My SO takes his temp twice a day...

Kinda senseless to me.

[barbtries]

21. i regularly test my oxygen saturation.

i know when i have a fever.

[hkp11]

31. oxygen SpO2 levels

will tell us if our lungs are doing well or not...above 95% is normal. 85%-90% is not good and <85% is bad

Family is doing it also.

[barbtries]

32. yep.

i think it is vital for people who are infected with the virus. I've encouraged everyone i know to get an oximeter.

[Rebl2]

59. Oddly

I bought an oximeter spring’19 after my Mom was in the hospital. Didn’t use it much last year, but my husband and I have used it many times this year. Who knew.

[milestogo]

44. Among the list of symptoms fever is the one that the most infected people have.

This post sounds pretty anecdotal to me.

[Phoenix61]

45. Not a very good screening tool.

The CDC says in a study of 1,099 hospitalized patients, only 44 percent had a fever when admitted to the hospital. While hospitalized, however, 89 percent later developed a fever.

[milestogo]

48. My company is taking temperatures at the entrance of everyone who comes in.

Its a lot more objective than asking someone if they've had diarreah.

[Blue_true]

49. From what I read, fever is delayed. It comes when the infection worsens.

A person can be shedding virus and not have a fever, is basically what I remember reading.

[Leghorn21]

3. This is the best post I will read this week

Or maybe this month

Please extend my deepest gratitude to your friend, and keep some for yourself for posting this, Heart!!!!!

WELL DONE

[underpants]

8. I agree. I had no idea about the fever and diarrhea parts

News to me.

College kids policing themselves, oh that’s rich.

[Lochloosa]

12. They will discuss it over a Keg....

[pdxflyboy]

4. Good post, Heartstrings

Thank you for your info.

[AlexSFCA]

6. interesting about the fever

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. I thought so too. It certainly has been presented consistently as a key indicator.

[Blue_true]

50. I read that asymptomatic people don't have fever. That fever comes if they get sicker.

So taking temperature misses a large number of people who can infect others.

[JudyM]

65. Exactly. There's no noninvasive/easily operational way to test for Covid in asymptomatic people.

That’s why everyone should just wear a damned mask.

[Blue_true]

68. The interesting thing is that people wearing masks when they will

be in near contact with other people will allow the economy to fully open, while driving COVID out of existence. That is being missed by the knotheads that are resisting wearing masks. China and Europe get it, our country doesn't, I am afraid that will set us historically back if Trump is not removed from office.

[JudyM]

69. The knotheads appear to be single mindedly concerned with escaping any government control.

RW media has done a number on the concept of science, never mind the sense of community. Bullies gotta bull.

[Cosmocat]

72. Fine point

they are HUGE fans of goverment control. Constantly scream for it.

Just reflexively revolt against anything democrats propose or support even if it is simple god damned sense because their brain washing is built on the foundation that us evil liberals are the spawn of satan and live to destroy this country.

[dhill926]

7. succinct...thx for this...

[uponit7771]

9. K&R, "Number one symptom? DIARRHEA." ... and losing sense of smell or taste

[tinrobot]

10. Makes me think I may have had it.

8. Number one symptom? DIARRHEA.
9. NOBODY HAS A FUCKING FEVER.

In early March, right before lockdown, I spent time with someone who had flown in from New York and had a "cold'. The next week, I kept feeling like I was on the verge of the flu and had intense 'gut issues'. No fever, either.

A month later, I got tested for antibodies, it came up negative. Talked to my doctor later, she said antibody tests are unreliable, she's tested hundreds and only had a few positives.

So, who knows. I'm going to act as if I never had it and wear my mask. But I wonder if I did.

[bamagal62]

17. Me too.

I had diarrhea, and the worst headache I've ever had that would NOT go away. (And, Ive had meningitis before, so I know how bad a headache can be.)
I was coughing, had shortness of breath, and pains in my chest.
I couldn't get up off the sofa.
I had no fever. This was the beginning of March.
Couldn't get a test. (Partly due to the fact that I didn't have a fever and I didn't "look" sick enough on video.)
Did antibody testing in late May. Negative.
I still think I had it.
I wear a mask everywhere and will continue to do so.

[tinrobot]

53. Our daughter almost definitely had it. Still tested negative for antibodies.

All the classic symptoms - fever, respiratory, muscle aches, etc. She did a telemedicine session with the doctor, he was convinced she had it. They did not test for the virus because tests were hard to get at the time.

A few weeks later her antibody test also came up negative.

[Squidly]

62. I too had that in March

The runs, severe stomach cramps, I did have a fever for a couple of days, no cough or sore throat, pretty bad headache. Antibody test last week which came up negative.

[appalachiablue]

55. 'Antibody tests are unreliable, only a few positives out

of hundreds tested' per your doctor, that is very scary and strange.

In late 2018, early 2019 I had something that laid me out for several months. No fever or respiratory symptoms as with cold or flu.

Had milder headaches which I never get, and slight diarrhea also rare for me, But I SLEPT for weeks.

No idea what it was but it was the weirdest 'condition' I've ever had.

[tinrobot]

83. This might be why the antibody tests are strange

Federal officials allowed distribution of COVID-19 antibody tests after they knew many were flawed

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-officials-allowed-flawed-covid-19-antibody-tests-2020-06-25/

[appalachiablue]

85. Disturbing but unsurprising these days. Tx for 60 Mins. info.

[malaise]

11. Great post

Rec

[global1]

14. No Pun Intended - These Comments Must Go Viral.....

Everybody needs to read this OP. It' written in a way that I think even the deplorables might understand and comprehend.

[malaise]

41. Nice

[ARPad95]

15. My friend's brother-in-law died within days of getting sick at the end of March and

his initial symptoms that were ignored as being Covid-19 by his primary care doctor were diarrhea and body aches (may have been headache). He had no fever nor shortness of breath so was told to take Advil and rest at home. That was on a Friday. By Saturday night he was rushed to ER in cardiac arrest and placed on a ventilator. He was taken off life support on Monday and died (already brain dead). It happened that fast.

His test for Covid-19 came back positive posthumously and his wife (my friend's sister) was also positive, but remained asymptomatic.

[AZ8theist]

74. ok, THAT'S fucking scary..

[calimary]

16. I'm so keeping this one!

Thanks for this, Heartstrings!



Virtual !

[superpatriotman]

18. No fever?

So what do we really know about Covid?
Because it feels like we know less and less every day.

[niyad]

37. From the different reports that I am reading around the world, "novel" describes this vicious

Last edited Fri Jun 26, 2020, 07:40 PM - Edit history (1)

Killer perfectly. First it's pulmonary. Then we have the blood symptoms, different organs, different symptoms. And the experts are saying it is mutating at an alarming rate. So, my completely uneducated assumption is that we don't know much at all,

For now, we do the best we can with basic precautions, sanitizing,masks, distancing, observation and awareness. And staying away from covidiot deniers! And stay home as much as possible. My favourite bookstore has just re-opened, but it will not be graced with my presence any time soon.

Please, everyone, stay safe and well.

[BarbD]

19. The one constant for Covid-19 is that it's highly contagious.

Great post.

[rocktivity]

20. HOSPITALIZING the fuck out everyone who test positive or asymptomatic would work a lot better

which means, of course, testing EVERYONE. Social distancing (with mass testing) would be ideal if we ALL lived ALONE. But at this stage of the game, our only line of defense is to find out who's infected and PHYSICALLY isolate them from the uninfected with full-time PROFESSIONAL medical/quarantine care.


rocktivity

[barbtries]

23. there aren't enough beds.

quarantining, that would work. perhaps setting up spaces for quarantined people. but there's no way people who are not desperately ill should be in the hospital. AZ and TX are being slammed and may run out of beds just taking care of the very sick.

[stopdiggin]

33. not even close!

post you responded to wasn't even half way thought through. Where are we going to be isolating and confining people (with full medical care, LOL)? And then .. these "camps" or detention centers aren't going to be hotbeds for further transmission? People in, people out .. medical staff .. (guards?). Sure .. no problems there!

[Blue_true]

51. Plus, idiots would be running around with big guns talking about FEMA camps. nt

[Baclava]

39. No! Stay the fuck outta hospitals at all costs unless u cant breathe, wont make you disease free!

why go to the place full of the sickest people if you have no symptoms???

[Cracklin Charlie]

22. I had the fever.

It started on a Sunday, and didn’t go away until Wednesday. Before that, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d run a fever. And I sweated a river.

But, they’re right about the diarrhea...I don’t want to be gross, but that was like nothing I’d ever experienced. And I hope to never experience again.

[Wellstone ruled]

24. Thank you for the post.

So fimiliar with the Wisconsin College scene from past experience . Orientation week is coming in Mid August,and the three day drunks start on Thursday of that week.

Took our Niece's Son to UWEC three years ago,what a friggin circus.

[oldsoftie]

25. The 2 people I know who had it didnt have diarreha but did have fever.

Also serious fatigue.
But you never know. Look fo any symptom. The downside of that is, for someone like me, any time i just cough i think "oh shit"

[Nay]

64. I think I had it in February, after flying to and back from Florida. Within a few days of

returning home, I woke up with a whopping headache (I NEVER get headaches) and a sore throat that felt like strep. I could hardly swallow, and the headache was only slightly beaten back by Tylenol. Along with these two symptoms I had minor fatigue and a dry cough. I never took my temp -- I never felt feverish.

I remember telling Mr Nay, "This is the weirdest damn cold I've ever had. I think it might be the flu." After two days of rest, I decided that if things weren't a whole lot better in the morning, I was gonna go to the doc and get tested for strep.

The next morning the sore throat and headache were fading. The next day, I felt almost well. I had a dry cough for a few more days and that was it.

When in April CV19 got started, you'll notice that none of my symptoms except the dry cough and fatigue was a CV19 symptom. So, naturally, I never connected my 'cold' to CV. A month later the CDC added the bad headache and really sore throat to the symptom list. A lightbulb went off in my head.

I see my doc next week. I'll ask him where I can get an accurate test for antibodies. I'd love to donate antibodies if I have any.

[oldsoftie]

73. Let us know what you find out!

[SoonerPride]

26. Good rant! Righteous outrage.

This needs to go, um, viral, as it were.

[IronLionZion]

27. Why do hospitals still do temp checks?

I went in today to pick up supplies for something that they refused to mail to me even though I offered to pay shipping. And of course, they check temp of everyone who steps in the door. Everyone wore masks and got free hand sanitizer because we're urban liberals. And then no contact pickup of the supplies.

I respect the lives of postal workers but stuff like this really could be mailed to minimize the number of people in contact with each other and I told them so. They know.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

CDC still has fever at the top of the list and only just now added diarrhea and nausea/vomiting.

[Heartstrings]

28. Many places do temp checks

My dentist being one...not sure why. Maybe to detect other potential conditions your immune system is trying to fight off with fever, or because they feel they have to do something. In the beginning fever was a major symptom, not so now I guess.

[forgotmylogin]

84. I think because it's easy to do?

Especially with the no-touch or temple-touch models. If someone has a fever they shouldn't be around people, COVID or not.

[IronLionZion]

86. I get that they're learning more about this new virus as they study it

but the ever evolving guidance has completely confused a lot of people. Plenty of places have processes based on older guidance and would have a false sense of security. OP said if someone checks your temp, run, since nobody has a fever.

[leftieNanner]

29. Thank you for posting this Heartstrings

I just sent it to my two daughters, one of whom lives in a college town.

Stay safe everyone. And Stay Home!

[liberalla]

30. It's good to read this from someone doing the work. Thank you for posting!

Bookmarking

[Initech]

34. Well, I guess I called it on the temperature tracking / fever tracing.

That shit will not help one bit.

[diva77]

35. I'd like to see your friend be interviewed by mainstream media!!!

K&R!!!!

[gademocrat7]

36. Very good information

Thank you, Heartstrings.

[keithbvadu2]

38. Not just UW. Think of Jerry Falwell opening Liberty U for the cash flow of returning students.

Not just UW. Think of Jerry Falwell opening Liberty U for the cash flow of returning students.

They brought back more than their money.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

40. Copied and pasted to a text file for forwarding to fools and idiots.

Thanks for posting, Heartstrings. This is real world stuff.........

[The Mouth]

42. That might be the most useful thing I've read online in the last 3 months or so

Thanks.

[Mike 03]

46. You said it.

This post is solid gold.

Bookmarked

[Paper Roses]

43. As a Senior with health issues, I'm scared to death.

Reading this made me sit back and wonder if I should be writing that 'last letter' to my kids.
I am a widow and live alone. My 2 kids are not near. Yes, I'm scared. I have Collagenous Colitis and have severe breathing problems thru my nose as a result of an accident and 2 botched surgeries to repair the damage. If something happens to by ability to breath, virus or not, I'm a goner.

The Colitis scares me the most because of the issues that go along with it. I worry all around, family member in Florida just got out of the hospital(non-virus but not a place to be now), and my daughter is an MD on the front lines with this horror show of a pandemic.

I worry for all of us. Please keep safe, wear your mask and stay home. Yes, I'm bored to heck but still trying to follow the rules and hope this passes. Never in my life would I expect something like this virus. A plague of biblical proportions.

[Pacifist Patriot]

60. My husband and I just signed new estate planning documents.

New will, family trust, powers of attorney, living will, etc. Very comprehensive. Advisable at any time, felt particularly important to update now.

Teaching my kids (17, 19, and 23) even more about how to manage money, pay bills, understand credit, budget, and settle our estate if need be. Been doing that all along, but emphasizing it more now.

[Grasswire2]

71. HEY!

Nice to see you "out and about" here.

Stay safe, PR.

[Mike 03]

47. What I wouldn't give to hear Dr. Fauci go on

TV and give this speech:

NOBODY HAS A FUCKING FEVER. If anyone says they’re taking temperatures to check for COVID? RUN AWAY. 9 times out of 10 there will be no fever. Ask people if they have a raging headache and shit their pants.

This post is solid gold.

Thanks for posting.

[leighbythesea2]

52. So appreciate this

Insight. Well said too.

[SunSeeker]

54. Yup, universal mask wearing is the only way we'll get safely through this pandemic.

It's unconscionable that Republicans won't wear masks.

[Squidly]

63. I saw the most unbelievable things today

People wearing masks, but down past their chins...what good is that?!?

People lifting their masks, picking their noses, touching their mouths then putting their masks back on.

But the absolute worst was a masked mom and dad but no masks on the kids...what the actual fk?!?

[SunSeeker]

67. Yup, that completely defeats the purpose. nt

[Buckeye_Democrat]

56. Thanks for sharing.

These kids will be the death of us!

It's an old adage, but true more than ever.

[warmfeet]

57. One minor disagreement.

Probably won't die (see number 2 above), is not the same thing as a very small chance of dying.

5%, currently, are dying from this virus.

I would never fly on an airplane, nor drive a car, if I had a 1 in 20 chance of dying. There is no activity I would engage in with a 1 in 20 chance of dying.

How about russian roulette? 1 live cartridge in 20? Nope!

I know they meant well, but saying you probably won't die is not very helpful.

[zipplewrath]

77. Of those being tested

5% of those being tested are dying. As the CDC recently suggested, world wide the fatality rate appears to be on the 0.5% level. What this suggests is that we have 10 times as many infections as we realize. They're just asymptomatic.

[BannonsLiver]

58. Shit. Need to add contact tracing to my Covid related word filters.

[Liberal In Texas]

61. Wow.

Scary.
I hope lots of people read this.
When they opened things up, you could just feel that a lot of people thought it was all over. The picture of hundreds of young people crowding a singles bar with no masks was very telling.

[GopherGal]

75. And, I hate to say it, stopped the daily briefings

much as they had quickly devolved into contentless daily MAGAT-rally substitutes for the Moran in Chief, the fact of their existence and the coverage they got did at least signal that COVID-19 is a significant problem. They dropped them because Dotard wasn't getting his narcissistic supply, so he was bored, irritated that Fauci was getting more attention, and ready to schedule some rallies. But the messaging was "no more briefings, time to open things up and return to normal"

[Hekate]

66. Wow. Tell your friend, "Thanks" from us.

Bookmarking.

[Poiuyt]

70. Thanks

The Appleton Post Crescent just had an article about how the 20-29 year old crowd was the demographic being infected the fastest. Lawrence Univ is here, but they sent their students home a long time ago.

[FreddyWhite]

76. I dont trust this at all

We need to be critical thinkers about what we read. Who is this person? What is their training? without this information, I automatically discount it because there are way too many Russian trolls and White Nationalists posting online a bunch of crap.

This feels like fear mongering - preying on peoples fears about the virus by spreading anecdotal information without knowing who is posting this and what their agenda is.

[Heartstrings]

78. FWIW

This person is a friend of my sons and graduated with a degree in Medical Science from UW-Madison in 2004. I’ve known him since he was in 6th grade and wholly trust him!
He has no agenda except for educating the public on his findings.

[malaise]

87. Looks like a hit and run

The OP is MUST READ

[Heartstrings]

88. No casualties so it's all good....

I respect him wanting clarification but expected a response of some kind.

Thanks, Malaise!

[Hortensis]

79. "Fearmongering"? As killer disease explodes across the nation?

As we're learning the worst possible way that COVID-19 does strike young people?

Imo, strange take. I do agree with you, though, that critical thinking and always assessing the sources, and their agendas, are indispensable. It's only sensible to question. Welcome to DU, btw.

Thanks for enlarging on your source and his very caring agenda, Heartstrings.

[Heartstrings]

80. You're welcome, Hortensis!

He’s a good kid! A few of the kids my son hung out with, not so much. I didn’t worry when my son was out and about with him however....

[Hortensis]

81. Sounds like a great kid. Turns out diarrhea is often

the first symptom, or only symptom in mild cases.

And since they finally became available again after selling out in March, I just finally bought a thermometer. Arrived yesterday.

Speaking of cute and good kids, one of my best COVID memories will be the talented pharmacy clerk miming laughing his head off when I asked if they had a thermometer. Being told no a lot more fun than just being told yes.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

82. Test, trace, isolate -- we are still doing too little of each, let alone the combination.

Ours has been a disjointed approach to this virus and it has been deliberately made worse by fools in high offices.

Thanks Heartstrings.