On December 14 I tested positive for Covid 19. I’ve had absolutely no symptoms whatsoever over the past two weeks of my quarantine. I learned a lot.
Lesson 1: When the diagnosis was unexpected, it was shocking. I was barely out of my apartment for many months. I had done nothing “wrong” but still got it. I have no idea how that happened.
Lesson 2. The virus didn’t care what I believed. I believed that I had taken enough precautions not to be infected. I still tested positive.
Lesson 3: Just because someone looks healthy, it doesn’t mean that you’re safe if you mingle with them, unless they’ve very recently tested negative. A substantial number of people who get Covid 19 have no symptoms, but they can still infect others. You could have Covid and not know it if you’ve not been tested.
Lesson 4: The strict quarantining is even less fun than the normal safety precautions. My wife tested negative, so we had to work hard (masks, distancing, shifting household tasks) to prevent her from getting it. I can’t wait to get back to “normal – even pre-quarantine “normal.”
Lesson 5: The initial lack of symptoms didn’t remove the uncertainty. Would the Covid 19 flare up in a day or two? Also, some people report new symptoms months after contracting the disease. I think that I’m okay, but I don’t know for sure.
Lesson 6: Attitude mattered. As my shock diminished, my general feeling of optimism reappeared. My positive attitude helped me deal with the situation. I don’t know if my precautions had delayed the onset or diminished the severity of my Covid. I am extremely grateful that my situation wasn’t much worse.