Introduction
As a doctor, I am here to warn you about a mistake that could get you COVID. The virus is highly contagious and can spread quickly, so it is important to be aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you. This article will discuss the one mistake that could get you COVID and how to avoid it. By understanding the risks and taking the necessary steps, you can help to reduce your chances of getting the virus.
I’m a Doctor and Warn This One Mistake Could Get You COVID
As a doctor, I’m here to warn you about a mistake that could put you at risk of getting COVID-19. The mistake I’m referring to is not taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself and others from the virus.
It’s important to remember that COVID-19 is highly contagious and can spread quickly. That’s why it’s so important to take the necessary steps to protect yourself and those around you. This includes wearing a face mask, washing your hands often, avoiding large gatherings, and social distancing.
It’s also important to remember that even if you don’t feel sick, you could still be carrying the virus and spreading it to others. That’s why it’s so important to get tested if you think you may have been exposed to the virus.
Finally, it’s important to remember that the virus is still out there and it’s still a threat. So, it’s important to stay vigilant and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you.
I hope this information helps you stay safe and healthy during this difficult time.
I am a health care provider in the UK, the place the primary vaccine has simply been administered, and I will inform a private story right here, so you’ll be able to see how occasions unfold with COVID—that one way or the other, regardless of our greatest efforts, issues can go flawed, and we want we had completed issues in a different way. Evidently nonetheless a lot we expect we all know what to do, we will all make a mistake. Learn on to listen to my warning, and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, do not miss these Positive Indicators You’ve got Already Had Coronavirus.
This is my COVID story
My 31-year-old daughter—let’s name her Amy—works in a nursing residence, which is taken into account a high-risk COVID setting, as I am positive . All workers there are required to have a COVID check as soon as per week, and her check has at all times been unfavorable.
Final Thursday, Dec. 3, she got here to see me. It was the day after the second lockdown within the UK had ended, so I hadn’t seen her for a month. She got here together with her brother—who’s 25; let’s name him Matthew—as they’re at the moment sharing an condo, and he drove them right here. The thought was to go for a stroll and have soup on the patio, staying outside always. Nonetheless, that day it was pouring with rain.
I did not need to ask them to not come. I figured that if we stayed in our conservatory (which is massive and ethereal), opened the home windows and the door a number of inches, and made positive we stayed at the least six toes aside, we’d all be OK. So that is what we did.
On the time, we had no cause to assume anybody was contaminated, so we weren’t sporting masks. These two grown-up youngsters of mine are in our assist bubble. We do not see a lot of them, as a result of they reside a 40-minute drive away. However they’re the one folks we do see, if we see anybody in any respect.
Then on Sunday, Dec. 6, I woke as much as a textual content saying Amy’s COVID check—which she’d taken earlier than she got here to see me on Thursday—was optimistic. She did not have any signs then, and nonetheless feels OK however simply has a runny nostril.
Panic!
It has been three days since she was right here. The issue is, my husband has lymphoma and is about to begin chemotherapy in January. He was upstairs the entire time and had no involvement in any respect with their go to. I saved the door from the conservatory to the kitchen closed. It was so chilly once they had been right here as a result of the home windows had been open, so that they saved their coats on and my daughter even introduced her personal blanket in from the automotive.
Anyway—scroll via to see what has to occur now.
Amy has simply had a optimistic COVID check and must self-isolate for 10 days from when she bought her outcome—that, is till Dec. 17. I despatched her particulars to make sure she is aware of what to do, and Matthew will assist her.
I’m an in depth contact and must quarantine for 14 days from the day I noticed my daughter—till Dec. 18.
I reside with my husband, who’s susceptible. I may have already got contaminated him if I’ve it—however possibly not; it is solely been three days since she was right here. So we determined he’d transfer upstairs to sleep within the visitor bed room and use the visitor rest room. We’ll sleep individually and keep aside as a lot as doable till Dec. 18. I am simply hoping and praying I haven’t got it, or if I do have it, that he hasn’t gotten it.
He’ll do the cooking, and his daughter will do our buying and drop it off.
Now we have separate residence workplaces and work aside many of the day anyway. It will likely be lonely sitting in my bed room watching TV alone each night, but when that is what I’ve to do, that is what I’ve to do.
Matthew can be an in depth contact, so now he has to quarantine too. As a result of they reside collectively, their father will drop off searching for them and supply assist. He has been furloughed, so fortunately, this won’t have an effect on his earnings.
May I’ve completed something in a different way? I ask myself the next questions:
I suppose I’ve to say no, it wasn’t. I wished to see Amy, as a result of she has a gentle studying incapacity, is lonely and desires the assist. A studying incapacity additionally will increase her susceptibility to an infection. I hadn’t seen her for a month; pre-COVID, I normally noticed her at the least as soon as per week and helped her with all points of her every day life. Nonetheless, she does reside together with her brother in the mean time, and there have been no particular crises which wanted my involvement. On reflection, I in all probability should not have seen her if I needed to ask her to come back into the home.
Why did not I put on a masks? As a result of I do know she works in a nursing residence, which is a high-risk setting for COVID, we should always all have worn masks once they got here inside. I am at all times writing about sporting masks—and I do put on a masks if I am going out to the grocery store or Publish Workplace—however I hadn’t thought I ought to put on a masks in my residence. I want I had; it will have made a distinction.
We did not break any authorities pointers with this go to. I used to be attempting to be a great mother—I am positive lots of you studying it will sympathize. Nonetheless, by permitting the go to to occur I’ve put myself and my sick husband—who just isn’t Amy’s father—in danger.
I am so offended with myself. I imagine this might have been prevented if I had mentioned no to the go to.
A shut contact is outlined as somebody who was inside six toes of an contaminated particular person for greater than quarter-hour. I used to be not that near her in any respect. I used to be greater than six toes away always, however she was right here for 2 hours. I am contemplating myself an in depth contact, as it is best to err on the aspect of warning.
I’ve no signs. The UK pointers say you solely want a check if you’re symptomatic. The CDC says you need to take into account a COVID check if you’re an in depth contact. This is the difficulty: The check might be unfavorable early within the an infection, in order that outcome does not imply rather a lot. I nonetheless want to finish the 14-day quarantine interval. It is in all probability greatest to attend and see if I develop signs throughout that point. I’ll name my physician tomorrow for recommendation.
I haven’t got any signs, and I now want to attend one other 11 days in quarantine to see if I check optimistic, and extra importantly, if my husband does. If he has COVID-19, it could delay his skill to begin most cancers therapy, so that might be a critical end result.
In case you check optimistic for COVID, you should observe the foundations and keep residence. In all places you go, you will be excreting the virus as you exhale, and also you’re most infectious within the early levels of the an infection. My daughter, who had no signs, bought her check outcome on Sunday. The day earlier than, she was out doing her meals buying at a grocery store. She may have unknowingly contaminated many individuals; we’ll by no means know. If you are able to do residence supply proper now, it is a safer possibility.
Christmas is coming, and all of us need to see these we love and present them some affection. However giving them COVID for Christmas is the worst reward you could possibly dream up. The kindest factor to do that 12 months is to not go to that particular person. You’ll be able to cellphone, video name, Zoom or Skype as a substitute.
You already know what’s going to occur in twelve months? One other Christmas! In case you’re affected person this 12 months, chances are you’ll all be round subsequent 12 months to take pleasure in it.
You’ll be able to present you care with out seeing somebody in particular person. I bought it flawed. I simply fervently hope my check will likely be unfavorable and that this isn’t the start of my worst nightmare.
It is at all times the identical in drugs: We’ll by no means know in regards to the 1000’s of illnesses and medical circumstances we prevented—we solely know those we bought flawed!
I wished to share this COVID story with you to indicate you that I am a health care provider and I nonetheless bought this flawed. Please be taught from my errors. Solely go to somebody if it is actually essential, and put on a masks indoors should you meet up with anybody who just isn’t dwelling underneath your roof.
Prevention is the important thing. Nonetheless, if an incident has occurred, tough as it could be, resist it, observe the foundations, quarantine, and do what you’ll be able to to cease your self from infecting different folks.
Keep protected this Christmas. Do not make my mistake, put on a face masks, social distance, keep away from giant crowds, do not go indoors with folks you are not sheltering with, follow good hand hygiene and to guard your life and the lives of others, and do not go to any of those 35 Locations You are Most More likely to Catch COVID.