My wife was sick from a little after Thanksgiving and all through December. Doctors said it seemed like flu and possibly pneumonia, so they tested her and she was negative for both. They had no idea what it was. She usually powers through most colds/illnesses, but this one knocked her on her ass. She coughed so hard she cracked two ribs, which was the main problem she had, dealing with the rib pain. Myself and the kids also got sick around the same time. For me, I vomited for a couple days, then just felt like shit for a couple more days and it was over. Kids had flu like symptoms that didn’t last long, mild fevers. Anyway, once COVID-19 hit the news, my wife was convinced that’s what she had. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and my wife goes to get the antibody test and it’s positive. So she had it, and being that myself and the kids have kissed her, shared food/drinks, slept in the same bed as her, basically lived a normal life right beside her, I’m convinced we all had it. For me, it wasn’t that bad, I’ve definitely felt worse. As for her, I think her biggest problem was just dealing with the ribs. If the kids and I somehow didn’t have COVID, living in a house with someone who positively did, then it’s not that damn contagious. If the kids and I didn’t catch it from normal mother/child and husband/wife contact, then I don’t see how you’re gonna get it from a stranger unless they sneeze right in your face. But I believe it is as contagious as they say, and that we all had it, being as we were all simultaneously sick.
Now with all that said, if you’re a healthy individual with no pre-existing conditions, I wouldn’t fear it. However, we do need to take steps to limit the spread in order to protect those who do have pre-existing conditions. I also think some people are so afraid of getting it, that they’re going overboard. I get wearing a mask in a store, but wearing one out on a bike trail? Do they think COVID just exists in the air, and they can catch it just by stepping outside their home? I’m also convinced at least 75% of the mask wearers are doing so as to not catch it themselves, as opposed to prevent unknowingly spreading it. The level of fear people have of this is on another level.