I had not heard of any Covid cases recently and it was kind of off my radar.

My cleaning lady caught Covid and has been sick for over two weeks now.

At first she was at home but in the second week she was hospitalized.

She tells me the doctors are saying she will be better (well enough to go home) in a week.

So I guess about 4 weeks since she got sick.

She is in her mid-fifties and has been in good health with no chronic conditions but she was laid low by this illness.

So have there been cases all along or is Covid returning in some way is what I wonder?

Edited Sunday at 06:04 AM3 days by cdemundo

Summer COVID Surge 2026: Where Cases Are Rising, Symptoms, Variants and What CDC Data Shows

Health officials say infections are growing in nearly every state heading into late August, with the South and West facing the steepest increases as two circulating strains drive the wave.

https://www.ibtimes.sg/summer-covid-surge-2026-where-cases-are-rising-symptoms-variants-what-cdc-data-shows-92206?utm_source=copilot.com

Yes, a Thai friend had COVID last month - was just like a bad cold, but she had a test and it was identified as COVID.

COVID has joined the ranks of the many seasonal cold and flu viruses that circulate regularly and mutate just enough to start epidemics. It's no worse than flu, and will not provoke any crazy overreaction from governments as it's not fashionable any more.

3 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Yes, a Thai friend had COVID last month - was just like a bad cold, but she had a test and it was identified as COVID.

COVID has joined the ranks of the many seasonal cold and flu viruses that circulate regularly and mutate just enough to start epidemics. It's no worse than flu, and will not provoke any crazy overreaction from governments as it's not fashionable any more.

It was never worse than flu.😷

You generally don't get hospitalized over colds and flu.

But I figured some here would be triggered by this post.

3 weeks ago we went to Toronto for a 2 month visit. Some time between the taxi to the airport, flight to Taipei and then on to YYZ I got covid. Ended up in the hospital; was given anti-covid drips and survived. The other time I had it in Pattaya I was on my butt for four months. Ugh.

46 minutes ago, NewGuy said:

3 weeks ago we went to Toronto for a 2 month visit. Some time between the taxi to the airport, flight to Taipei and then on to YYZ I got covid. Ended up in the hospital; was given anti-covid drips and survived. The other time I had it in Pattaya I was on my butt for four months. Ugh.

More likely caused by the vaccine.

I assume you've had it many times.

Had the same huge headache. spinal ache. sick diarrhea sht myself . body chills. slept basically 20 hours. lingering meh feeling for a good week. rock hard again today.

Obviously time to lock down the schools and rush on out for another half a dozen boosters. Interesting that I've seen zero articles or threads on Fauci on here and the truth which is now coming out. I said many years ago when some of us on here were being called conspiracy theorists and having posts removed and threats of being banned that the truth would eventually come out and now it is.

Edited Sunday at 02:56 PM2 days by dinsdale

COVID is present everywhere in the world now at endemic (as opposed to epidemic/pandemic) levels.

In general, more recent strains are less virulent/cause a more minor illness than the original strains did but of course it does vary by individual.

7 hours ago, cdemundo said:

You generally don't get hospitalized over colds and flu.

But I figured some here would be triggered by this post.

Cold no, but quite common for people to be hospitalized for -- and even die from -- influenza, especially the elderly. Majority of people recover on their own, but the numbers infected are high enough that the hospitalization burden and number of deaths is still significant. Ranks 11 in over all causes of death in the US and in the top 10 in some countries.

4 hours ago, NewGuy said:

3 weeks ago we went to Toronto for a 2 month visit. Some time between the taxi to the airport, flight to Taipei and then on to YYZ I got covid. Ended up in the hospital; was given anti-covid drips and survived. The other time I had it in Pattaya I was on my butt for four months. Ugh.

Are you vaccinated against Covid?

4 hours ago, NewGuy said:

3 weeks ago we went to Toronto for a 2 month visit. Some time between the taxi to the airport, flight to Taipei and then on to YYZ I got covid. Ended up in the hospital; was given anti-covid drips and survived. The other time I had it in Pattaya I was on my butt for four months. Ugh.

How do you know you 'got' covid? Did someone tell you?

Same in Patts. What makes you think you 'got' covid?

Edited Sunday at 05:45 PM2 days by Stiddle Mump

I was told by Toronto Western Hospital - but what do they know? I have not had an anti-covid injection since before my first case. Oh yeah, those do-it-at-home covid tests are probably just baloney.

26 minutes ago, NewGuy said:

I was told by Toronto Western Hospital - but what do they know? I have not had an anti-covid injection since before my first case. Oh yeah, those do-it-at-home covid tests are probably just baloney.

How many shots did you have in total? If you don't mind sharing, of course.

Before my first covid I had three shots. Then I went to an outdoor coffee shop - oops.

17 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Cold no, but quite common for people to be hospitalized for -- and even die from -- influenza, especially the elderly. Majority of people recover on their own, but the numbers infected are high enough that the hospitalization burden and number of deaths is still significant. Ranks 11 in over all causes of death in the US and in the top 10 in some countries.

Even still; I googled "are flu patients typically hospitalized?".

No, flu patients are not typically hospitalized. Most people who catch the flu experience a mild illness, recover at home with rest and fluids, and do not need medical care. Hospitalization is reserved for severe cases or high-risk individuals.

from Google and source quoted is https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7434a1.htm

37 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Even still; I googled "are flu patients typically hospitalized?".

No, flu patients are not typically hospitalized. Most people who catch the flu experience a mild illness, recover at home with rest and fluids, and do not need medical care. Hospitalization is reserved for severe cases or high-risk individuals.

from Google and source quoted is https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7434a1.htm

Not typically but it happens to a certain percentage. My ex had to be hospitalized 3 different times because of influenza. I told her to get yearly vaccinations and since than she did not catch the flu again.

8 hours ago, cdemundo said:

Even still; I googled "are flu patients typically hospitalized?".

No, flu patients are not typically hospitalized. Most people who catch the flu experience a mild illness, recover at home with rest and fluids, and do not need medical care. Hospitalization is reserved for severe cases or high-risk individuals.

from Google and source quoted is https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7434a1.htm

As I explained, the percentage of total influenza cases that are serious (numerator) is small but because the total number of cases (denominator) is large, the absolute number of serious cases/hospitallizations and deaths is quite significant.

This is why immunization efforts specifically target infants, rhe elderly and those with underlying chronic diseases: these are the groups most likely to be severely affected if they contact influenza. People in close regular contact with high risk individuals (e.g. health care workers and immediate family members) are also well advised to be vaccinated to avoid infecting the high risk person (s).

All of the above applies equally to COVID.

Worth noting that influenza viruses are constantly murating and strains vary greatly in their severity. Some years the strain is worse/causes more serious cases than in others.

And every hundred years or so, a really virulent strain hits, like the Spanish flu of thr eatly 1900s.

23 hours ago, NewGuy said:

Before my first covid I had three shots. Then I went to an outdoor coffee shop - oops.

Do you believe it would have been worse without your three shots?

No. So much time in between shots and 2nd covid. BTW, my temperature the day before my daughter insisted I go to the hospital was 42.2. Hot times!

Last time I asked in Thailand for a booster they said they didn't have any.

Suppose I could ask to order one, but I just gave up.

Got the Shingles vaccine instead.

10,500b for 2 doses. Get my next dose in October.

Told the nurse it will make me younger.

She laughed.

Showed her the headline she said it slows down aging.

After rereading the study, it actually makes me younger COMPARED TO PEOPLE MY AGE WHO DON'T GET THE SHINGLES VACCINE 🎯

Right now COVID-19 is pretty low.

If it cranks up, they'll be more demand for the vaccines again.

Global COVID-19 Tracker | KFF https://share.google/12DmL5FlODQE493Gu

5 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Last time I asked in Thailand for a booster they said they didn't have any.

Suppose I could ask to order one, but I just gave up.

Got the Shingles vaccine instead.

10,500b for 2 doses. Get my next dose in October.

Told the nurse it will make me younger.

She laughed.

Showed her the headline she said it slows down aging.

After rereading the study, it actually makes me younger COMPARED TO PEOPLE MY AGE WHO DON'T GET THE SHINGLES VACCINE 🎯

Right now COVID-19 is pretty low.

If it cranks up, they'll be more demand for the vaccines again.

Global COVID-19 Tracker | KFF https://share.google/12DmL5FlODQE493Gu

A search :

Most people will only have shingles once, but, rarely, shingles can recur a second time or even more often.

While it's unlikely to get shingles again after having it once, it is possible to experience a recurrence.

About 1.2% to 9.6% of people may have shingles more than once, especially if they have weakened immune systems or other risk factors.

weakened immune systems .... like the ones who got the covid shots.

Shingles is not that bad. I had it and no vaccines for me.

While on the subject of vaccination. There was a thread on here about five or six weeks ago about getting a pneumonia vaccination and current vaccines available.

Can anyone point me to that thread please?

I have tried both the AN search and by searching AN through Google without success.

TIA

On 8/23/2026 at 1:21 PM, couchpotato said:

It was never worse than flu.😷

Its mortality rate was far higher than flu with the original strain of COVID. Over 200k died in UK, of which 100k died to incompetence of Boris Johnson government (see COVID inquiry).

On 8/23/2026 at 1:17 PM, Kinnock said:

crazy overreaction from governments

where? And what OVERreactions?

3 hours ago, FlorC said:

A search :

Most people will only have shingles once, but, rarely, shingles can recur a second time or even more often.

While it's unlikely to get shingles again after having it once, it is possible to experience a recurrence.

About 1.2% to 9.6% of people may have shingles more than once, especially if they have weakened immune systems or other risk factors.

weakened immune systems .... like the ones who got the covid shots.

Shingles is not that bad. I had it and no vaccines for me.

You are laughably full of misinformation today

Edited yesterday at 05:04 AM1 day by TimBKK
Grammar

1 hour ago, D Peter said:

where? And what OVERreactions?

Everywhere during the pandemic, except maybe Sweden.

I've probably got covid right now. Started a couple of days ago. Weak, achy, dripping nose, itchy eyes, slight cough and generally feeling like crap. Happened maybe once or twice before in the past 36 months or so. Never tested +ve for it when it was pretty much mandatory for work. Don't do flu jabs, never have. Did the rote COVID 2-shots + 1 booster when it was required for work back around 2020/21. Nada since. No need to test as it will blow over in another couple of days.

My mother in the Uk has just had covid jab number 11, she has also been informed she should have some particular flu jab for the over 75s. Mum has just turned 90..