Good day. Today, Sunday March 15th is day 1 of my quarantine.
I live and work as a direct-care giver in a small town (7000 population) in Southern New England. About a week ago I learned of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in a nearby small city in the middle of my county. A few days ago the confirmed cases in my county reached 9. Since then each day the world has changed in significant and dramatic ways (national emergency declared; normal way of life is canceled) such that on Friday I was wondering what the headline would be on Saturday? Then (less than 48 hours ago) I could not have guessed I’d pretty much be my own next headline....
My direct supervisor lives and works across the street from where I live in a three storey house. Yesterday morning she informs me she isn’t feeling well. Last night she calls to tell me she has been to the ER and tested negative for various Flu and respiratory diseases; and the doctors suspect COVID-19 but we have to wait 72 hours for the results of that test. I was then told the whole house would be quarantined for at least 72 hours (if the test is positive then I believe the quarantine will have to be 2 weeks).
Since I hadn’t any direct contact with my supervisor I was told I could go home, but that if I stay it would be a big help. Since my housemate (across the street) is elderly and returned from the hospital for a surgery on Thursday I did not feel it a good idea to go home even if my risk last night was considered low.
So now it’s Sunday and I’m quarantined in the house with the people I care for, one of whom is an unwitting expert at spreading germs.
Yesterday I was feeling slightly sluggish and had slight sniffles. Today I feel very good. One of the three residents I care for today has a very slight fever, very slight cough, so he gets to spend the day in his room.
Now I just sit and wait. Like 10 little Indians. At least I’m still on the clock for any extra shifts I’ll be working this upcoming week (which might be a lot).
Yes, it’s quite alarming and almost comical, the absurdity of how quickly the world has changed in the last three days: I suddenly feel like I’m a real life character in a rapidly unfolding script of a fictional thriller but it’s somehow real life. The rapidity with which this virus has found its way to my doorstep (literally) after being an abstract thing in the headlines from the farthest reaches of the globe is startling and surreal.
