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Originally Posted by Blasted Computers
I hate to be "that guy" but this interpretation of how the virus acts is basically opposite of what's actually happening.
This virus spreads most effectively through the population with "healthy and normal" immune systems. People that are active, appear and feel healthy, and able to go out and interact with other people are going to be the people that will most effectively spread it.
The virus has a number of techniques it uses to hide from the immune system. It does this so effectively that the peak viral load in your body actually happens before symptoms appear. The symptoms aren't because the virus is doing damage to you, its effects on your body are fairly mild. Most of the symptoms are from your immune systems reaction to the virus, and it takes a while for your system to notice what's going on. In some cases, possibly about 30%, your immune system never notices. These are the "asymptomatic carriers".
If that's all that we had to worry about then the virus could spread through the whole population and we might not even notice or care. Unfortunately not all immune systems are so laid back. There are people with compromised immune systems and people with overactive immune systems. Also there are people with normal immune systems that the virus' tricks it uses to hide actually screws up the system. In any of these groups the immune system can overreact. Your own immune system starts killing cells in your body indiscriminately. The worst case scenario is the dreaded cytokine storm where your own immune system overreacts in a massive way and starts seriously damaging your own tissues.
If it was as simple as having a healthy immune system then managing this pandemic would be a lot easier. Unfortunately immune systems are incredibly complex and it's almost impossible to tell how your body will react to the presence of the virus. If it was possible to tell beforehand then it would be a lot simpler to test people and group us into "at risk" and "not at risk" categories, and then we would only need to quarantine the at risk group.
Stay safe out there everyone. Let's reopen, but let's also take our responsibilities to ourselves and each other seriously. Accepting some fairly minor inconveniences can save a lot of lives and pain.
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Thank you for your point of view. However, I do work in the healthcare field and have been open this entire time and am also considered an essential business as according to our governor's criteria whereas other individuals in the similar healthcare field had shut down as they were not comfortable dealing with this sort of thing we have had going on or were not properly set up in the first place. I did put a sign on the door stating that you had to have an appointment scheduled ahead of time (no walk-in's) and I was not taking any new patients. I also stated in my sign that if they felt that they had been in contact with covid-19 or come in contact with an individual then they needed to call the NM covid hotline.
During this entire time I had treated patients that were diagnosed with flu's, common cold's, etc. since way back in January, before out governor was wanting people to wear masks. During this time I was also assisting my patients by promoting immune system function and their overall wellness. Of note, I have not had any patients come down with anything remotely covid-19 and many practitioners do not make a distinction between allergies (pollen, dust, etc.) asthma, wheezing, dyspnea, etc. and just simply state "you got Covid". Instead of actually doing a proper diagnosis.
In my posting, I did state specifically how I categorize immune system function. I have seen "their reports" saying that the "healthy people that didn't have any underlying health condition got covid". I'm sorry, but I'm gonna tell it as it is. If you got it and you were "healthy"; You were actually not healthy. There was some underlying condition whether it was nutrient deficiency such as: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Selenium, Zinc, Vitamin A Retinol, Iodine, Sulfur, Magnesium, etc. or you had been doing some construction, renovation and did not wear masks while sanding drywall, paint, etc. which caused your lungs to be more susceptible to this sort of thing, etc., in the first place.
We as a whole are constantly exposed to viruses - flu viruses (influenza), rhino viruses, adeno viruses, and yes; corona viruses, etc., Other than "mutations" whether naturally occurring or not, we will always be exposed. When a virus mutates, it is a "new virus". One that our immune systems have not seen and developed antibodies to. The analogy I use and give is you have 2 individuals that are both exposed to the same flu viruses. 1 of the 2 gets it and the other doesn't. So obviously, with the 1 person that got symptoms, their "immune system" was not up to par; Whereas the other persons immune system was and did not get symptoms. Could that person be a carrier, yes; If that person's immune system is as I have stated a "sub optimal immune system" which would allow that person to replicate the virus inside of them and they "shed the virus".
I've had patients that have come in with "chickenpox / shingles" symptoms that I ended up treating them for because they were not able to find a healthcare practitioner to be able to assist them for 6 months and it was getting worst as time went on. It turns out, the patient received a "chickenpox / shingles vaccine" among others and they were experiencing chickenpox / shingles. The patient had chickenpox when they were little. The patient also had thought that it was a "dead virus" in the vaccine which obviously was not. She had been contagious this entire time and "shedding" the virus. Her husband did not get it and nor did I especially during this time of being exposed. So I'll just say that I am an "exception". Also, on another note; when I was growing up, my brother wanted to play with the neighbors kids. The mother told him over the phone that he could not come over to play unless he already had chickenpox. My brother lied and stated that he already had it. Well, he had not had it nor had I. So he brought it back and got a really bad case of it, itching and scratching all over and still has scars to this day 35+ years later from his ordeal. During this entire time, I never came down with it. So again, I guess I'm an exception...
Hmmm
