Testing Negative

               On Saturday I received my first COVID test ever.  I’m sure the person who was testing was being as gentle as possible – my poor nostrils.  I honestly was expecting that blood would come out of my nose.  It didn’t help matters when Roland (who’d been tested fair) coughed and spewed – or whatever he was doing.  He is NOT a wimp and I am so if he was having problems I figured it was bad.

       It actually was not as bad as I had allowed myself to believe.  Nor was it as easy as my friend, Carol, had indicated the previous day.  It hurt!  And when I said it allowed, I heard Jenna behind me saying, “Thanks, Mom” 

       The person doing the testing told Jenna how brave she was – really?  Hadn’t I been any less brave?  We were told to wait 15 minutes for the results.  Roland started joking that “mom and Jenna” would be negative but his would come out positive.  Not funny.  So we were all more than concerned when they had him take the test again.  Negative.  We had all been vaccinated and had tested negative.  That is reassuring.

       We were told in the beginning (was it last year? Or last century?) that the rural areas would be hit the hardest.  The cocky people of this county didn’t believe – many still don’t – even though Douglas has been proved to be the worst county in the state (don’t forget, Douglas County is also the fifth largest county in the nation) and guess which city in Douglas County currently has the most cases?  That is right, Myrtle Creek’s three thousand somewhat population has contributed to the most cases in Douglas.

       I think I have mentioned before that aside from the massive geographical size of our county, Douglas offers only one hospital located in Roseburg.  Recently they lost a patient from the emergency room.  The patient had been there for two hours or more waiting for an ICU bed to open up.  The patient died of COVID.

       Jenna had come in contact with a friend who had tested positive for COVID. Hence our little jaunt.  Thank you Public Health for your service.

What Now?

        We are still moving too quickly in my opinion. Yes, precautions have been taken and mostly met at some places – but what about those who travel outside of the perimeters? Those who still don’t believe in COVID or the mask mandate or social distancing? Why are there so many who have the mentality of “to each his own” and not consider ALL those they come in contact from day to day? I have made it no secret that I was never in favor of watching the schools reopen. It’s true that several students do so much better with in learning – and while the percentages are down of students who have been infected they are STILL CARRIERS! 

        A friend of Jenna had called to report two classmates who are now under quarantine due to someone having tested positive for COVID – though Jenna had already known as we had been informed that in-person seminary learning would cease to exist for the next ten days at least.   A request was also made (I would assume out of embarrassment) to please respect said individual and NOT pass on confidential information. However, at least one of the students tested positive and had posted it online. I don’t think he provided his source or possible co-conspirators (though I do not know for certain as I haven't had the resources to read his post - it is only second-hand information)

         As I have reread what I have just written, it doesn’t even make sense to me so I will attempt with false identities. Quincy has Covid. I had heard that he’d been sick from a very reliable source. Quincy lives in the same household as Doug who attends the local high school. Doug carpools with Heath and Morgan who attend seminary with Jenna. We learned about Quincy on Thursday night – six hours after Jenna and I had volunteered service hours for one who is 85 years of age. I don’t believe either of us have COVID though I have had a sore throat and some irritating coughing. 

     Jenna had worn her mask the entire time we were serving. I had removed mine when addressing the 85-year-old as the mask (and her aging ability to hear) distorted my words.  I thought it was too soon to visit and not totally comfortable with the idea – but the other three I serve with have been making visits all along. 

         Anyway, either Heath or Morgan had reported the results online. Positive. I think that is very responsible to let others who may have had contact aware. The other tested negative. I don’t know Doug’s results. But there are others in the household who have also been sick. I learned that from another family member. So it is not just their lives that have been upset but those that they associate with either directly or indirectly. Though Jenna may not have rubbed elbows with Quincy personally but does have contact with the other three – although at least six feet apart from two of them, she does sit less than six feet from the one who tested negative. 

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-04-07/91-of-students-isolated-amid-COVID
-19-girls-suffer-most-UNESCO-Pv4Hqqi2mk/index.html

         The school has also contacted parents of students by association and I suspect there are several others who are now responsible for being in quarantine and back online as they are not able to meet in person. We have also been asked not to attend Church tomorrow. Truth is, I don’t wish to return to church at all - not under these circumstances. Not right now. It’s not that I am fearful of getting it myself but rather being a carrier who can inadvertently spread it to others. Hopefully the 85 year old has been vaccinated.

        Jenna reminded me that this happened last year just before spring break.  Not wanting to place fear into the students, some passed off that there would just be two extra weeks of spring break.  The whole spring break fiasco turned into not returning at all - even for those who graduated in 2020.  Just because the vaccines have been introduced in 2021 doesn't give us the right to return (or try to return) to how things were exactly one year ago.  Not everyone in the country has been vaccinated.  Not everyone in the country wants to be vaccinated.  I, for one, do not qualify for the vaccination at this time.  I'm too young.  

        I hope for the sake of everyone (more than myself) I have been in contact with during this past week I am not a carrier and that those I have had contact with remain healthy and don't pick up the virus.  Or this cough or sore throat (which has been this morning thing and not before)