My how things have changed

Isn't that interesting?  In a British newspaper about a month ago, I read that Covid was indistinguishable from an allergy or common cold and the only way that doctors in hospitals knew someone had it was if they tested them, as for many people, the symptoms are so mild, the patient doesn't feel ill. 

I hope you are recovering well. Appendicitis is a nasty one. I had mine out as a teenager and I do remember it took ages to heal. Get well soon AI.  

A-I Good recovery from your apendix-operation...

We totally disagree on our views on CoViD-(risks)...but that is OK !

I do hope to be totally 100% wrong but I expect CoViD may show an even more ugly face soon...(this winter in the north part of the planet. KiwiMum enjoy summer!)

[url]https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-sars-cov-2-crisis-escalating-in-new-zealand-7881-new-infections,-349-hospitalizations-and-20-deaths-in-last-7-days[/url] or https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-sars-cov-2-crisis-escalating-in-new-zealand-7881-new-infections,-349-hospitalizations-and-20-deaths-in-last-7-days 

New Zealand -in summer- would be seeing a lot of new CoViD cases ? Excess deaths statistics still high in younger age groups; very likely linked to CoViD. 

Maybe a look at some info on New zealand (now in summer !);

[url]https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-whole-truth/132369176/fact-checking-claims-about-new-zealands-2022-death-rate[/url] or https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-whole-truth/132369176/fact-checking-claims-about-new-zealands-2022-death-rate ;

First, let’s look at the numbers. It’s true the total number of deaths in 2022 was up 10.4% on the previous year.

There were 58,887 live births and 38,574 deaths registered in New Zealand in the year ended December, 2022, according to Statistics New Zealand figures.

The only time there’s been a bigger annual increase was in 1918, up 5836 or 55% on 1917 following the influenza pandemic, Stats NZ population estimates and projections insights analyst Rebekah Hennessey said.

The crude death rate was also up 10%, from 6.8 deaths per 1000 people to 7.5.

It was up by the same amount on the average death rate from 2015–2019 (also 6.8).

-DJ-also in [url]https://www.euromomo.eu/graphs-and-maps[/url] or https://www.euromomo.eu/graphs-and-maps ; Excess deaths;  High=7-<10%, very high 10-15%, extra ordinary high=15%+ 

so-the number on excess deaths also needs/gets correction for aging. With a limited population extreme weather, earthquakes even incidents/accidents may push "moderate" excess deaths (4-7% above norm) to high excess deaths...

[url]https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/data-and-statistics/covid-19-data/covid-19-current-cases/[/url] or https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/data-and-statistics/covid-19-data/covid-19-current-cases/  may indicate CoViD may become a problem in NZ. 

However with most of the testing -also in NZ- very likely only in hospital cases (at best) we may not know...

KM, Women seem to "do better" (a.o. ACE-2 receptor linked-men have more of them..) with (severe) CoViD. Maybe by now the most at risk groups may have died or is in isolation...

Like with the flu Australia/New Zealand may give "the north" some indication of what is coming...

Sound idyllic. I've noticed a few more masks here. Maybe 1 in 50 people wearing them. Every time I see one I assume that the person wearing them has cancer because the only person I know who wears a mask does have cancer and was told to wear it by her doctor. So maybe the mask wearers feel particularly vulnerable? I can't think why a healthy person would wear one.

I think all of us have had to change our behaviour. I am allergic to cats - which isn't helped by the fact I have 3 cats (one is sitting on my desk right now) and the allergy shows itself with a runny nose and coughing and occassionally having to clear my throat. I never gave it any thought when out but since Covid, if I have an attack in a public place, I feel obligated to tell the nearest people that I'm not ill but am allergic to cats. Now half our local town knows! If I don't say anything then people look at me as if I have the plague. 

I'm glad you enjoyed Fiji, it sounds like an amazing trip.

A-I , indeed cold may be caused by a corona-virus...one question is did that col-corona-virus also possibly result in ME-CFS cases...[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenovirus_serotype_36#[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenovirus_serotype_36# ;

There has been a positive correlation between body fat and the presence of AD-36 antibodies in the blood.^[6][7] Previous research showed that chickens or mice injected with similar types of viruses show a statistically significant weight gain.^[3]

To date, AD-36 is the only human adenovirus that has been linked with human obesity, present in 30% of obese humans and 11% of nonobese humans.^[8] In addition, a study of obese Americans indicates that about 30% of the obese individuals and only 5% of non-obese individuals have antibodies to Ad-36

We may have underestimated cold-virus risks...I deed catch corona-tested positive new years day...still try to limit social contacts and would wear a mask in healthcare settings...."LOL"....

Good to see you enjoyed Fiji-vacation...not a "normal thing" for you to have...Fiji-ans should also be able to return the visit...somehow they are unwelcome due to strict visa-rules...