I know, I know you are tired of hearing about COVID-19. But let's face facts, until some undisclosed time in the future, we are all going to have to get used to the idea that COVID-19 is a prevalent part of our lives. From the mandatory face mask policies in the towns and cities across America to temperature taking at your local restaurant to the daily infection numbers that the news loves to promote, COVID-19 is not a simple, easily-dismissed virus. In the United States alone, there have been over 12,500,000 cases diagnosed and over 258,000 deaths. Much derision exists over blame for COVID-19 mortalities, but we can only try our best to take care of ourselves at the end of the day.
Unenviably, in the past few months, my wife and I have been tested twice for
COVID-19. The first time the primary exposure was to my wife and me secondarily.
We heard about the exposure one night after dinner, so we decided to quarantine
ourselves for fourteen days or until we could be tested. Neither of us showed
any physical symptoms, but the mind is a powerful organ. Within hours of hearing
about the exposure, both my wife and I felt like we had sore throats, both felt
a little warm, and dinner didn't have a whole lot of taste. As I said, the mind
is a powerful tool. Both "sore throats' were from all-day conference calls and
then debating whether we had the virus for another four hours that night. Our
feeling warm was just in our imaginations. After taking our temperature multiple
times that evening, I never broke 98°, and my wife was never higher than 97.8°.
Dinner that night was pasta, and the lack of taste was due to each of us
thinking the other salted the water before putting the pasta in it.
The
next day after a brief virtual visit with our primary care physician, he sent us
to a testing facility that offered the "rapid" test and the "48-Hour test". But
being anxious about COVID-19, we both decided to do the "rapid" test. After
having a cotton swab touch what felt like was my brain, we had our results in
less than 30 minutes. We were both negative for COVID-19 but told that the
accuracy of the test is questionable. If we were to develop symptoms in the next
ten days, we should contact our doctor.
Really?
Now I don't blame the technician who gave us the information, nor do I question his statement's truthfulness. But what was the point of doing the "rapid" test if the test's accuracy was so questionable? Instead of gaining a sense of relief after the negative test, we were both back to our big balls of anxiety that we had been when we first heard the exposure news.
Fast Forward 9 days later >>
"Hey Phil, I just tested positive for COVID. My daughter tested positive
yesterday, and my wife and I tested positive today." - a text message from
one of my friends.
The issue was we were both in the same board
meeting for a local charity three days before. Now, I know that I should have
quarantined myself for fourteen days after the last exposure, but life gets in
the way. Groceries have to be purchased; dogs need to be walked; appointments
need to be kept. So why not attend a board meeting? I had no symptoms, and the
organization was taking precautions. We had to have my temperature taken before
entering the building; masks were worn the entire time; the meeting would be
less than an hour; only seven people were invited to attend; no food or drink
was permitted. What could go wrong?
I can honestly say that at this
point, I didn't know what made me more anxious: having been exposed to COVID-19
again or telling my wife. After a little more than a sigh, my wife went into
what I now call her "COVID Protocol." She immediately said to me that until we
tested negative, we were both under quarantine. She next called and made a
virtual appointment with our physicians. Next was the food order, notification
to her office that she would be working from home, and lastly, a little chuckle
to signify she wasn't upset with me. During our virtual visit with our doctor,
we explained the exposure method. He explained that only the person who was
within six feet of the person who tested positive was exposed. Just because my
wife had been near me didn't mean she was exposed. After discussing it with our
primary care doctor, my wife decided to be tested also.
The next day we
drove back to the testing facility and received our nasal swabs. But this time,
we opted for the "48-hour" test. Of course, I sneezed while the nurse was
swabbing me, which led to a bloody nose. My fault, not hers. Then began the 48
hours of anxiety, melodramatic thoughts, and quarantine.
A day and a half
later, we both received notification that we were negative. Obviously, we were
both relieved and elated (and a few pounds heavier). But taking one quick look
at our schedules for the next week, I no longer saw meetings and appointments; I
now saw new opportunities to get a virus that has killed over 1,400,000 people.
But, oh well, life goes on.
One Year Later
November 23, 2021
Today, COVID 19 is still making
headlines and is still creating havoc in our nation. In early September, the
Delta Variant peaked in the United States, bringing more illness,
hospitalizations, and, unfortunately, deaths.
The COVID 19 vaccine is
readily accessible to any American who wants it. But with uncertainty amongst
Americans about the need and or efficacy of the vaccination, many in our country
are yet to be immunized.
And so, the United States seems to have
purchased the bonus ride on the rollercoaster that is COVID-19. Hopefully, on
Thanksgiving 2022, we can all be thankful to say goodbye and good riddance to
COVID-19.
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