A week ago I wrote a column(below) to hopefully help folks know more about the free COVID testing in Crawford County. I also wanted to chronicle some of the decisions I went through making while deciding t get a test and how the whole test experience went. It wasn't scary other than this whole damn virus is scary.
I was told by the testers to expect my results in two to seven days. So I quarantined. I got only curbside delivery of groceries and stayed far away from everyone. A nerve-racking anxiously awaiting results vacation from humanity.
Today I learned I was negative.
Now I'm not thrilled that I didn't hear anything after two or three days. Then four, five, six, seven..... I'm assuming if I was positive I would've heard sooner, but I think the stress of not knowing requires an equally speedy return. I understand there are literally millions of people tested each day and we just don't have the human power to be a perfectly run machine, but I have been worried especially since I do have a cough still (that I think now I can attribute to seasonal dryness and probably being cooped up inside more than usual -though thank god for back yards.)
I was told by the testers to expect my results in two to seven days. So I quarantined. I got only curbside delivery of groceries and stayed far away from everyone. A nerve-racking anxiously awaiting results vacation from humanity.
Today I learned I was negative.
Now I'm not thrilled that I didn't hear anything after two or three days. Then four, five, six, seven..... I'm assuming if I was positive I would've heard sooner, but I think the stress of not knowing requires an equally speedy return. I understand there are literally millions of people tested each day and we just don't have the human power to be a perfectly run machine, but I have been worried especially since I do have a cough still (that I think now I can attribute to seasonal dryness and probably being cooped up inside more than usual -though thank god for back yards.)
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I am also disappointed that I had to call to get my result today on day eight from my test.
All that said, water under the bridge, but the feeling I have is oddly not exactly relief. I'm not sure getting a positive result would've been so bad given that my symptoms were so minor. Had it been positive and I was one of the lucky ones who only had very minor symptoms, that would almost seem better as I await my turn for a vaccine. Reports are circulating that a built up immunity that comes from having the virus once, can perhaps protect one from getting the virus again. Those now famed anti-bodies keeping us safer. Now I'm still going to have to worry about contracting the virus and spreading it. Almost like back to square zero.
That said, it is somewhat a weight off for now and I can't wait to get out there tonight to photograph a little school sports and try to remember what it is that I do.
Column of 1/4/2021
So, I did a thing.
For a few days I've been self-isolating because.... well you know....sniffles and stuff. I keep getting called a liberal, afraid of my own shadow, snowflake who lets mass media network fake news scare me into giving up all my rights blah, blah, blah.
Right now Crawford County is averaging around 50 new cases a day and Venango around 40..... Since January 1.
I don't which 40 or 50 people those are and are they the ones who walk to stand right next to me in the supermarket with their mask down under their nose?
I don't know?
I get pretty tired of listening to numb between the ears know-it-alls spouting all their vitriol about their rights while spewing their hot breath all over place. Especially when reading or listening to them right after learning an old friend and a cousin both died within a couple days of one another last week.
Yes, from 'complications due to COVID-19." Well let me try to tell all of you out there reading this who think that the numbers are heightened because they include people who died from an affliction while having COVID, that because COVID took over their body and prevented them from fighting off their illness - COVID made them die.
So shut up!
So the last few days I have not been feeling well. I'm a relatively healthy middle-aged man. But I don't know if I have a little bug, or a really scary big one?
My whole life I get colds and flu, perhaps more than others, because I an high energy and forget to take care of myself. But now everytime I feel the slightest bit ill, I fear it is something to worry about. Not for me so much, but for others who I might pass it too.
For years I would apologize for not shaking hands if I was sick. I know I've gotten nearly all of my colds over the years because we have this cultural way of showing respect called shaking hands. I'm not sure I can even break the habit and I'd give my left hand if only I could shake my dad's hand one more time. But we spread a lot of germs through this cultural greeting.
So COVID-19 admittedly scares the crap out of me. I do not ever want to kill anyone.
So today....
For a few days I've been self-isolating because.... well you know....sniffles and stuff. I keep getting called a liberal, afraid of my own shadow, snowflake who lets mass media network fake news scare me into giving up all my rights blah, blah, blah.
Right now Crawford County is averaging around 50 new cases a day and Venango around 40..... Since January 1.
I don't which 40 or 50 people those are and are they the ones who walk to stand right next to me in the supermarket with their mask down under their nose?
I don't know?
I get pretty tired of listening to numb between the ears know-it-alls spouting all their vitriol about their rights while spewing their hot breath all over place. Especially when reading or listening to them right after learning an old friend and a cousin both died within a couple days of one another last week.
Yes, from 'complications due to COVID-19." Well let me try to tell all of you out there reading this who think that the numbers are heightened because they include people who died from an affliction while having COVID, that because COVID took over their body and prevented them from fighting off their illness - COVID made them die.
So shut up!
So the last few days I have not been feeling well. I'm a relatively healthy middle-aged man. But I don't know if I have a little bug, or a really scary big one?
My whole life I get colds and flu, perhaps more than others, because I an high energy and forget to take care of myself. But now everytime I feel the slightest bit ill, I fear it is something to worry about. Not for me so much, but for others who I might pass it too.
For years I would apologize for not shaking hands if I was sick. I know I've gotten nearly all of my colds over the years because we have this cultural way of showing respect called shaking hands. I'm not sure I can even break the habit and I'd give my left hand if only I could shake my dad's hand one more time. But we spread a lot of germs through this cultural greeting.
So COVID-19 admittedly scares the crap out of me. I do not ever want to kill anyone.
So today....
I'll just let this photo write my next 1,000 words.
The state is setting up weeklong free testing in 60 of the commonwealth's 67 counties. Today was the first day for the Crawford County at the fairgrounds and it will run through Friday.
Commisioner Eric Henry said there around 20 to 30 cars waiting when the testing began. On the sheet I had to fill out was written 168. It was around 2:30 and there were only two cars ahead of me. I was done in less than a half hour. Easy. Henry said they only did 192 tests Monday.
The group from AMI Expeditionary Healthcare of Reston, Va, is set up to administer 450 tests each day.
The state is setting up weeklong free testing in 60 of the commonwealth's 67 counties. Today was the first day for the Crawford County at the fairgrounds and it will run through Friday.
Commisioner Eric Henry said there around 20 to 30 cars waiting when the testing began. On the sheet I had to fill out was written 168. It was around 2:30 and there were only two cars ahead of me. I was done in less than a half hour. Easy. Henry said they only did 192 tests Monday.
The group from AMI Expeditionary Healthcare of Reston, Va, is set up to administer 450 tests each day.
This was by no means one of scenes we've seen from big cities with cars snaked through coned off parking lots and lined up for miles. This was pretty easy in and out. Now if they have over 400 people it won't go quite as fast I'm sure.
As for the test itself? I've seen videos where it looks like they're trying to dig long-forgotten childhood memories buried deep in your cerebral cortex with the swab. I admit I was nervous, but in went the swab and unless my sniffer is so big it took up the whole swab and didn't reach to that point of pain, it just wasn't bad at all. The nice lady who took my sample woodshed it around for 10 seconds in each nostril and it was done.
Now I wait for the results and stay away from people until I hear.
I'd rather know than not know. Knowledge is power, knowledge can save someone's life.
I read a social media post by a local politician who was stating how our numbers will go up because of this free testing. Not a helpful post. Numbers do increase with more testing, but it is the number of known positive cases, not the number of people with COVID-19. People not being tested can, and some do, have the virus already. It is there.
Not knowing you have the virus means you can more easily spread it to others. Our local politicians statement does absolutely nothing to educate anyone and actually serves a poor guideline for how we need to act during this virus.
We are safer if we know what we're dealing with. Again, knowledge is power.
I hope I have a cold, or just a solid case of the man-flu(wouldn't be the first time.) But until I know I'm not risking others life because of my ignorance.
Testing at the Crawford County Fairgrounds will continue tomorrow through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. The entrance is on Hamilton road and it is well marked with signage. I had to show my I.D. and medical card, but it is free.
CATA is also providing a free shuttle to the fairgrounds all week with buses leaving the Downtown Mall every two hours beginning at 8:45 a.m.. CATA requires everyone wear masks and abide the safety protocols in place.
As for the test itself? I've seen videos where it looks like they're trying to dig long-forgotten childhood memories buried deep in your cerebral cortex with the swab. I admit I was nervous, but in went the swab and unless my sniffer is so big it took up the whole swab and didn't reach to that point of pain, it just wasn't bad at all. The nice lady who took my sample woodshed it around for 10 seconds in each nostril and it was done.
Now I wait for the results and stay away from people until I hear.
I'd rather know than not know. Knowledge is power, knowledge can save someone's life.
I read a social media post by a local politician who was stating how our numbers will go up because of this free testing. Not a helpful post. Numbers do increase with more testing, but it is the number of known positive cases, not the number of people with COVID-19. People not being tested can, and some do, have the virus already. It is there.
Not knowing you have the virus means you can more easily spread it to others. Our local politicians statement does absolutely nothing to educate anyone and actually serves a poor guideline for how we need to act during this virus.
We are safer if we know what we're dealing with. Again, knowledge is power.
I hope I have a cold, or just a solid case of the man-flu(wouldn't be the first time.) But until I know I'm not risking others life because of my ignorance.
Testing at the Crawford County Fairgrounds will continue tomorrow through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. The entrance is on Hamilton road and it is well marked with signage. I had to show my I.D. and medical card, but it is free.
CATA is also providing a free shuttle to the fairgrounds all week with buses leaving the Downtown Mall every two hours beginning at 8:45 a.m.. CATA requires everyone wear masks and abide the safety protocols in place.
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