I Have COVID

So last week on Thursday morning I found out that I tested positive for COVID.  I knew it was going to eventually happen.  I was just sort of waiting for it. 
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Ben first got it from school (most likely, because that it sit he only place he is social or goes other than home.)  Ben had it last Monday.  So the doctor tells us that he is going to be staying at home for the next 5 days and then after this he can go out but has to wear a mask for 5 more days.  I figured that now Eunkyung and I are going to being close contact with a COVID positive person 24/7 it was inevitable that we would get it.  We weren’t too concerned with Norah, since she already got it, not too long ago, and somehow all of us managed to escape getting it due to Norah’s diligence of staying clean, washing her hands, cleaning up her area and being really attentive to touching her face.

But, this is Ben. He is a lot less careful than Norah, so it was only a matter of time that we would get it.  And soon enough Thursday morning Eunkyung and I were feeling sick, and we tested positive.  Nice.  So again protocol says that we have to quarantine for 5 days and then are able to go out after but having to wear a mask for 5 days.

So right now, it is day 6 for my wife and me.  We are able to go out.  To be honest, I still feel pretty sick, but I have to get groceries, and take kids to school, and take Suzie to the vet, I got stuff to do.  However, Eunkyung, wanted to test herself because her work asked her to be tested to see if she can come back to work.  However, Eunkyung test still came out positive, so her work told her to stay home until she can test negative, which should take 10 days.  And I tried myself, and as of today (Wednesday) I am still positive. 

So, few questions I hope I can answer for all of you that must be wondering, all about this COVID crap.  First one, is my symptoms and how bad is it.  And the next question is why I am able to be out of quarantine even if I am still testing positive. 

My symptoms… they were mild for the most part.  First thing I felt was cold chills on Wednesday evening and night, then my entire body was sore and achy, and I had a massive headache.  But Excedrin and Motrin really helped with those.  I was heavily congested and a little runny nose in the beginning.  I never got the sore throat or coughing until day 3 of testing positive.  I never lost my test or smell, and I never really lost my appetite.  I did find myself being often confused and easily irritable (still feel this way as of today).  But that’s about it.  It is day 6 and I am still positive. 

My wife, she had it bad!  She had severe flu like symptoms.  No appetite, cold chills, fever, coughing, sore throat, body aches, headaches, sneezing, congestion, runny nose, and a lot of pain.  Eunkyung’s symptoms were very different from mine.  She felt like this for the next 3-4 days.  Only as of yesterday and now today, she feels totally better.  She still has the coughs, but that is about it.  She is still positive as of today. 

Ben didn’t have much of anything.  He had a high fever for 3 days about 104.0 degrees, lethargic, and cough.  But after three days he seemed fine.  He is on day 9 or 10, not sure.  He is negative.

Norah, still negative.  She had COVID a few months back.  During that time, she was the only one in our household that was positive.  She was really good at being clean, self-sufficient, washing her hands and face, and not touching her face.  So, we assumed that she has built in immunity to it for now. 

So, why are we allowed to come out of quarantine after 5 days, even if we test positive?  Well according to health experts, they found out that the first 5 days after testing positive for COVID is the most dangerous time period.  That is the time when COVID is easily spread to other people.  After that, it is not so easily spread to others, even if symptoms are still present.  However, for 5 days we are told to still wear a mask because COVID is still present. 

Talking to a good buddy of mine that is an expert on infectious diseases and is a virologist, told me that I should be able to go out with a mask on and not worry about spreading the disease.

He still recommends me not to be social in anyway.  But he said that I can do worship, but should keep a distance away from people, and still be mindful of people who are considered to be the at risk age group or people who have health concerns.  The next five days, means that I could potential spread COVID, since it is present in my system, but it is just far less transmissible to others. 

So, there you have it.  I still have COVID… and I will probably continue having it until Saturday.  SO, in the meantime, if I must go out, I am going to mask up and do it.  It looks like my wife might be going back to work on Friday, only if she can test negative tomorrow.  I should be fine by Sunday.  Again, even right now I am still feeling sick, but I am feeling much better. 

Overall, COVID, not too bad.  I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, and it was like having a bad cold or mild flu (for me). For Eunkyung, it was like having a flu.  For Ben, nothing.  Anyways, I hope this was helpful information for everyone.  Everyone, stay healthy and stay safe.  God bless you all.

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