I woke up with a bit of a cough in the wee hours of the night. I'll go for a COVID19 test, but it's unlikely that I have the virus since I've been very carefuly staying at home most of the time and getting together with only a few people mainly outside. When in large public groups, I wear a mask. I wash my hands and use hand sanitizer. However, there are some risks. My husband has been going to work some days, and although he has been using a mask and working mostly outdoors, there's always a chance. He has also visited a gym, and again, he used safety cautions, but you worry. I was with a couple of people who also have some outside contact without masks. I didn't hug or kiss these close relatives, but was nearby. I have no fever, shortness of breath, or throat/chest pain, so it's likely I don't have it, but since the virus is strong where I live, I'll go for a test this morning to make sure I'm okay.
I could also be having a case of psychosomatic COVID19 since I read so much about the virus yesterday. I watched the news unravel from the time they learned that Presidential friend and former adviser, Hope Hicks, had the virus to the fact that the President, his wife, and several more Republican lawmakers, advisers, and guests had the virus too. It appears that there was an outdoor event at the White House Rose Garden on Saturday to make Amy Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court official. Tapes of the event show lots of people sitting close together without masks. The videos also show people freely hugging one another. It is apparant that few to none were following pandemic precautions because although they were outside they were not practicing social distancing or wearing masks. So far several people in attendance have tested positive for the virus including the President of Notre Dame and Trump's former long term adviser, Kellyanne Conway. What's most difficult about this situation besides the frightening contagion is the fact that these leaders of our country were ignoring the science related to the pandemic--they were not following pandemic precautions thus putting themselves and others at risk.
Just three days after the event, Trump debated Joe Biden, and soon after that they learned that Hope Hicks had the virus, and now more and more people are noting that they too have the virus which seemingly may have started at that White House Event.
Watching this possible Superspreader event via video, makes me think about how to be safe during this next chapter of the pandemic. Until now, my family has stayed quite safe with no one close to me contracting the virus, however, with the total number of cases still growing throughout the country and an upcoming flu season, there appears to be greater worry about the virus at this time. So what will I do?
First, my husband and I will get tested today. That will help us to know if we have the virus or not. I suspect we don't, but I want to be sure.
Next, I'm going to tighten up with regard to the numbers of people I see, where I see them, and social distancing, hand washing, and masking protocols. I want to avoid this virus as much as I can and keep my loved ones safe too.
And, I'll stay abreast of the news too.
This pandemic is a big problem for our country and lives. None of us are at peace in the way we like to be, and our President has persistently not taken the virus seriously or worked with others to make a national plan. And now, he sadly has the virus. Like everyone, I just want it to go away.