Remember the movie Poltergeist? There's that famous horror line, "They're back!"
That's what COVID is feeling like. (I'm writing this blog post on Saturday.)
We met three other couples through tai chi several years ago and became good friends. We text each other daily and have traveled with two of the couples to Europe twice now.
Couple 1 with their son (went to the Philippines for a couple of weeks and returned recently. Couple 2 went to pick them up at the airport.) Couple 1 and their son tested POSITIVE on Friday. Couple 2 might be OK. They were all wearing their masks in the car on the way home.
(My pilot cousin did tell me a while ago that usually the plane's air filtration system should make it safe onboard the airplane. It's the airport you have to worry about.)
Couple 3 had a granddaughter test herself before joining them on New Years Day. She tested POSITIVE for COVID 2 days later.
This was all making me nervous.
My brother, Dennis who usually picks mom up at the Day Care Center told me their musician son who had been performing in the islands was now feeling sick.
Art always takes mom to the Day Care and Dennis picks her up. All this COVID business got us nervous and Art volunteered to pick mom up instead.... just in case Dennis could be infected.
And that's what Art did on Friday.
An hour or so after Art and mom returned, the Day Care called and said someone sitting next to her on Friday had tested POSITIVE for COVID.
Are you kidding?
Arrrghhhh!
So we told mom that over the weekend, she'd have to be confined to her area of the house and we would bring meals to her.
I've prepared Liquid IV which is a hydration drink for her to take throughout the day.
I've programmed Alexa to remind her to drink the Liquid IV every hour.
I tested her on Saturday and she was negative. I'll test her again on Sunday and on Monday.
She's really chipper today, but it's only one day since exposure. UNLESS she was exposed 😧 on Tuesday which is the other day that she goes to the Day Care.
Sigh...
POSTSCRIPT: (Written on Monday)
There's so much information on infectious rates and how long you need to quarantine and when you stop being contagious. Art found an NPR website titled Here's how to decide if you're safe to go out when you're recovering from omicron.
Doctors are now saying to quarantine for 5 days and then wear a mask when going out for another 5 days. The NPR website is saying it's more like 8 days of quarantine with Omicron because the 5 days is based on earlier variants. On the other hand, I've also read that Omicron is less deadly than the earlier variants.
Mom tested Negative again yesterday. I think she's rather enjoying having her meals brought to her on a tray, often with a dessert. There's no coughing. So fingers crossed she'll be able to join her friends tomorrow.🤞
People around here are getting covid too. It does seem less severe that it used to be. My husband and I haven't had it so far; we've gotten all the shots, but I imagine the biggest reason we haven't gotten it is that we don't go many places. We are retired, so we don't go to work. I attend two small churches, but I don't sit close to anyone. I wear a mask in Walmart. So far, so good.
ReplyDeleteIt's a worry of what this is doing to people long term what with long covid and so on. So far so good for us, but some seniors residences are having outbreaks of one kind or another.
ReplyDeleteIt's a Must to wear a mask where there's a crowd.
ReplyDelete“More contagious, less dangerous” can be said with COVID in general. My husband and I caught it from our grandson who was with us only one day last autumn. We all had mild symptoms. I think I know how you feel in case your mother had it but don’t worry too much. With all the preventive measures, she’ll be okay (my sixth sense). Here, not only COVID but also flu and common colds are going around.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit and leaving a comment. I’m glad to know you enjoyed travels in Japan. I’ve lived in Nara after leaving Kobe where I was born and raised. I had a good time in Hawaii long, long time ago.
Yoko
Fingers crossed
ReplyDeleteIt's everywhere. I know that it is an especially worrying thing given your mom's situation. My best thoughts to your house.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be everywhere here too, along with RSV and the flu. A terrifying trifecta. It doesn't seem like Covid is as severe as it was, but some still get horrible cases of it and long covid is a worry. Hoping that your mom stays healthy!
ReplyDeleteLots of COVID going around in our circles, too. Terry had a cough back in November and tested negative for COVID (which I knew he would). The cough continued and he finally saw his heart doctor who put him on a diuretic. Coughing has pretty much gone away as has the swelling in his legs. But we keep hearing from more and more people who are coughing but not from COVID. The people we know are vaccinated to the max. Terry and I have now 7 COVID vaccine postings on our card.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be holding a good thought for mom and for you! Yes, lucky we are retired and I do wear a mask when I am among other people indoors. I don't even like to stand too close to people outdoors either! Aloha, Kay
ReplyDeleteOh dear. I hope she dodges the bullet, and that you do too. We are not too badly off up here; nothing like a lot of cold and snow to discourage both the virus and meeting people. We have a major dump scheduled for tomorrow. The only good thing about this is that JG has a new snowblower to play with.
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted!
You two are so sweet and careful for your Mom. Sounds like a good plan. The daycare is a risk, especially since most probably don't wear masks. But it's value towards her healthy feelings is an important part of her life, in spite of covid risks. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThat's what her geriatric doctor told us. I know they don't all wear their masks all the time though. For one thing, they eat lunches and snacks with their friends.
DeleteI don't know of anyone who has it here, but I'm sure there must be some. I see some people wearing masks. We haven't started wearing them yet.
ReplyDeleteYou take such good care of your mom. I hope this regimen keeps here safe.
It has been a slow burn around here for probably three months now. It seems like once a week, someone I know gets it. I even came down with a bad cold a couple weeks ago and still have an itchy throat but I've tested negative three times now and nobody else in my family came down with it.
ReplyDeleteI think the fortunate thing about Covid these days is that I haven't heard of anybody dying from it. Either the treatments are just better or it isn't as potent or a bit of both but I'm thankful whatever way.
Good luck with your mom. How worrisome. You are a good daughter.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Covid has never left!
ReplyDeleteI hope your Mom, and you all, stay Covid free.
All the best Jan
You're doing all the right things for Mom and for yourselves. Good job. It's back here in Walla Walla too but most of the hospital cases here are some kind of nasty flu. This year we all got vaccinated for Covid, RSV and the Flu.
ReplyDeleteI hope your Mom stays free and clear and that your nephew feels better soon. Our brother-in-law has it for the 2nd time but he's out and about now so must be past the contagious stage. It's spiking here also. Hope you all stay Covid free. It is very worrisome to say the least.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that COVID is part of life now, and will never go away.
ReplyDeleteI do hope Mom is OK. Covid and worse is tearing through the Independent Living facility I call home.
ReplyDeleteThe virus controls us and makes it's own rules. Each variant must have rules that are a little different. I hope your Mom escapes the virus.
ReplyDeleteYes, Covid is still around. Hope your mom stays well. We are hearing about a lot of people with Covid lately too... probably due to the holidays. And we are seeing more people masked in groceries, stores, etc. And it's one of the reasons I'm not comfortable about flying anywhere just yet. It doesn't hurt to be cautious.
ReplyDeleteI've been fortunate enough not to get it to my knowledge
ReplyDeleteThree days into the new year I caught the flu - Wiped me out and I am still recovering. Took 2 Covid tests and both were negative. Getting sick is the pits - I almost forgot how bad it feels - I became destructible.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone else stays well and strong!
Oh no... I'm so sorry, Aunty. I haven't gotten badly sick since I retired from teaching. (Knock on wood) Back then, I got sick every fall and spring. I'm really nervous about getting sick again, but I know it's just a matter of time. I dodged the bullet when Art brought home COVID from Dubai in August. My ER nurse nephew at Queens tells me it's pretty much flu and RSV that he's seeing. I think Omicron is more transmissible but less deadly.
DeleteI tested mom this morning (Tuesday) and she was negative and feeling perfectly fine. So she went to visit with her friends at Day Care. Fingers crossed they all stay COVID free from now on.
Please let your daughter take care of you and be sure to keep hydrated as much as you can. I just bought Liquid I.V. at Costco today. It was $8 off. Mom tends to not drink enough water during the day.
Around us, the people who've caught Covid have all been traveling. Dunno if it's the plane, the airport, or other public areas, but that's where the virus seems to thrive. Fortunately, no one we know has gotten too sick, just the usual flu-like symptoms.
ReplyDeleteI still wear a mask on the bus and in the grocery stores. And the coffee shop until I start drinking. If I get up for some reason, I pull on my mask. I do hope we don't get it this winter season.
ReplyDeletecovid has ramped up here and the information can be a little confusing, based on the variant you have or have been exposed to. if i lived with you, i would love to get covid!! (wink)!!
ReplyDeleteCOVID is definitely back like you said! My Brother-in-Law has it now for the second time. I am hearing more and more cases starting up again. I hope your Mom stays negative! Fingers crossed and prayers for her!
ReplyDelete