Checking in…

Today is day nine since my covid symptoms started. Everyone has their own thoughts and ideas about covid, isolation, and re-entering the world.

That being said, I wanted to look at the latest CDC recommendations and guidelines regarding isolation and returning to the world. It states:

If you had COVID-19 and had symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days. To calculate your 5-day isolation period, day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. You can leave isolation after 5 full days.

• You can end isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation ).
• You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period. If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate for a full 10 days. Avoid people who have weakened immune systems or are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, and nursing homes and other high-risk settings, until after at least 10 days.
• If you continue to have fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask through day 10. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.
• See additional information about travel.
• Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants and some gyms, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until a full 10 days after your first day of symptoms.

If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test1 towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. Collect the test sample only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation). If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until day 10. If your test result is negative, you can end isolation, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10. Follow additional recommendations for masking and avoiding travel as described above.

Whew! Okay, by going by these latest recommendations, I could have gone out with a well-fitting mask four days ago after tomorrow, which, according to the guidelines, I could go out without a mask.

After re-reading these guidelines for days, I decided that’s it. Enough. I have felt better for four days and five without a fever. Today was the first day I went out to the bank drive-through and to buy trash bags. I hate that I felt guilty about going out.

It goes back to everyone having different thoughts and opinions, expressing them, sometimes shaming people for their own views.

According to the CDC, I had no reason to feel guilty but did because I let others’ opinions get into my head.

We all have to trust each other and have faith people are doing what’s right. We’ve decided to postpone production until next week, so our customers feel safe. I am staying home from dance class tonight for the same reason, even though I could have taught only with a mask.

When you feel sick, it’s easy to stay home, but being isolated when you feel healthy and full of energy is maddening. It’s like watching your life go by while you stand there watching it drift away.

This morning we both hit a wall. We had to get up, get dressed, and start doing projects around the house again. Marty is working on the outdoor electricity for the pool while I am cleaning closets.

I haven’t written for the past couple of days since I haven’t had a damn thing to write about. No one wants to read when someone is bored or having a pity party for themselves. I’m right about this, aren’t I?

I am about to close the chapter on my covid sickness and move forward to live my life unapologetically to the fullest. 🙂 Thanks for your support, care, and kind words during my illness; I appreciated it.