On Saturday I noticed a sore throat, a few sniffles. On Sunday morning I did my usual powerwalk, 7 miles, about 600 ft elevation gain, but I was not only feeling more off, my pace was slower. And I was exhausted by the time I came home. I sat with that, noticing more nose drip and that I-have-a-cold “off” feeling, and finally, when the chills started in the late afternoon, I pulled the tests out of the closet and—sure enough—I was positive. Two days later my wife was positive.
I remember last week when a colleague came into our lab with the sniffles and a cough all day. On Tuesday of this week I found out that another colleague that shares the same area in the lab is also positive.
My wife just talked to her sister in a ‘burb of Phoenix that both she and her husband are positive. Her husband was ordered back to work, “just wear a mask”.
The CDC reports a rise in cases, but it’s not strong yet. The thing is, most people with mild cases will not report their positive test. They just isolate for a week and get on with life. However, in the communities like ours that do wastewater virus testing, it’s a little more indicative (CDC site):
Now here’s the other thing: Yale Medicine reports:
We know the FLiRT variants have two mutations on their spike proteins (the spike-shaped protrusions on the surface of the virus) that weren’t seen on JN.1 (the previously dominant strain in the U.S.). Some experts say these mutations could make it easier for the virus to evade people’s immunity—from the vaccine or a previous bout of COVID.
While more research is needed, experts suspect that the LB.1 strain and another variant called KP.2.3, which also has the two FLiRT mutations plus an additional one, may be more transmissible as well.
But, the fact that the variants are otherwise genetically similar to JN.1 should be reassuring, Dr. Roberts says. "While JN.1 occurred during the winter months, when people gather indoors and the virus is more likely to spread, its symptoms were milder than those caused by variants in the early years of the pandemic," he says.
While indications are that this set of COVID strains may be less severe, it also appears to be more contagious. From my personal experience, it’s WAY more contagious.
Take precautions, even to masking. If you feel off or feel like you have a minor cold or flu, grab the test out of the cabinet (they don’t expire on the date listed, but check) and test yourself. If you are positive, do the rest of us a favor and STAY HOME.
Thanks.