Tepping point
Every day, I go to my favourite of the pandemic counter websites that have sprung up and look to see how the numbers have changed since the day or the morning before: Any big jumps? Is Illinois holding steady at sixth place among the Fifty States? Is the curve flattening at all? Now one of those anonymous numbers is a person I know.
Fortunately, he's a not yet a number in the Dead column, only in the Confirmed column; with any luck he'll become a number in the Recovered column. But that could take a while. He's at one of the better hospitals in the area. His husband isn't allowed to see him.
To think it's only been, what, ten days since I finally acknowledged the gravity of the situation? I've used that time to touch base with as many friends as I can, starting with the most directly affected. One friend presumably came down with COVID-19 already and survived, but in the absence of testing we can't say for sure. Another has watched his hospital converted into a ward for quarantined patients and is waiting for them to come in.
As I worry about every possible symptom (I felt dizzy yesterday and pulled out the thermometer in case I needed to take a reading), I sometimes wonder if it isn't better to get it now, in the first wave, before the hospitals get overwhelmed. I'd like to hold out longer but the thought of weeks more without human contact is a bit much to face.
Fortunately, he's a not yet a number in the Dead column, only in the Confirmed column; with any luck he'll become a number in the Recovered column. But that could take a while. He's at one of the better hospitals in the area. His husband isn't allowed to see him.
To think it's only been, what, ten days since I finally acknowledged the gravity of the situation? I've used that time to touch base with as many friends as I can, starting with the most directly affected. One friend presumably came down with COVID-19 already and survived, but in the absence of testing we can't say for sure. Another has watched his hospital converted into a ward for quarantined patients and is waiting for them to come in.
As I worry about every possible symptom (I felt dizzy yesterday and pulled out the thermometer in case I needed to take a reading), I sometimes wonder if it isn't better to get it now, in the first wave, before the hospitals get overwhelmed. I'd like to hold out longer but the thought of weeks more without human contact is a bit much to face.