By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
Whether you believe in COVID-19 or not, this sneaky virus is still out there waiting to pounce on unsuspecting victims.
Like me.
I wasn’t unsuspecting, however, since I figured it was only a matter of time before it found me and penetrated my defences – three vaccines and a mask.
Luckily, it only left me with a sinus headache and a minor throat irritation for seven days.
I tend to believe some virus experts who say that COVID-19 will eventually be relegated to the common cold/flu category, but until then we can’t lower our shields.
I strongly suspect that I contracted the virus from my daughter who was working at a family event in Penticton recently. She didn’t wear a mask while interacting with the public, although she was vaccinated (two shots).
Once I tested positive, it was a monumental challenge trying to follow COVID protocols at home. That meant sleeping on a narrow couch in the living room for a week. Not fun since I only got four or five hours of sleep every night.
I had to wear a mask everywhere and keep my distance in a household of four people. Not easy. I even had to be careful around my two dogs.
My towel was a lethal weapon in germ warfare, and I soon grew bored of watching horror movies about pandemics.
After seven days, I was no longer contagious but still tested positive; I was told by 811 that people test positive for quite a while afterwards.
Surprisingly, the remaining three people in the house didn’t contract the virus. But don’t be fooled. COVID-19 is still very much alive and well; many people are still getting it. In fact, the BA-5 variant is driving up case counts and hospitalizations in Canada and the US. What do you expect when the majority of people don’t wear masks and not everyone is social distancing. The Canadian government even suspended vaccination requirements for domestic and outbound travel but is continuing random testing.
Despite the continued threat, I must admit it’s great to see families out and about, taking their kids to baseball games and living normally again. That’s just what the doctor ordered. But health care experts are urging people to stay vigilant and to not let their guard down.
Health officials are bracing for the flu season this fall, which is why they are strongly encouraging people to get vaccinated. According to Canada’s chief public health officer, people vaccinated with a complete series plus an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccines had an approximately four times lower hospitalization rate, and a six times lower mortality rate compared to unvaccinated people.
After observing what BA-5 is doing, I will be registering for a second booster in September. And while we are facing another Omicron wave, we have a new health care crisis to worry about – monkeypox. I guess Nostradamus wasn’t a flake afterall.
I wish I was a kid again in a bygone era. I didn’t have to worry about anything but staying out of trouble.
