I still find it amusing that some people are all up in arms about how many are "testing positive" for covid, yet they have no symptoms except a running nose and a bit of cough. Since the very beginning of time, wintertime in the Northern hemisphere has been noted as "Cold and Flu Season". Did you go to the doctor and get tested for the cold 3 winters ago? No, you stayed at home for a day or two, nursed your symptoms with over the counter remedies and went on with life. The doctor would have told you to do the same.
They will never invent a drug that will eliminate the common cold. Why? Because the cold is virus based and it is ever changing and mutating. They can't come up with something that will kill it because, quite honestly, it isn't financially advantageous due to it never remains the same and pharmaceuticals wouldn't be able to stay up with the weekly mutations. It's kind of like a dog chasing its tail around in circles. Same goes with the Flu. A different virus mutation every few weeks.
What we are witnessing right now with this weeks variant, "Omicron" is actually a common cold or flu virus. Same symptoms, same outcome. Virtually everyone will get over it and go on with life if left to run its course. So, why are we "testing" for common cold symptoms? There is no cure for it. Unless you are in really bad health to begin with, it isn't going to kill you. Unless you are on your last legs, health-wise, quit feeding the "testing" craze. Testing for unknown markers for a sniffle or cough is a waste of time, money and keeps the Covid Fear Mongering machine alive. (Remember, testing of anything is not 100% accurate. There is a lot more funny math going on with medical testing data and percentages than they tell you)
Most of us on this site have been on this earth long enough that we pretty much know what a cold or flu feels like. Unless you are experiencing chest pains, alarming shortness of breath, you are vomiting and running a high fever, Just stay at home, treat the symptoms, fuck the stupid tests and the generated paranoia, and just go on with life. That's my $.02 on it. Like it or leave it.
Spring is on its way, longer days and warmer weather. I look forward to it. I hope you all do too.