Bill Ellzey: The test says we're positive for COVID, but, fortunately, we're not sick
“Sorry to hear you have COVID,” wrote a friend early Thursday. But she was wrong! We don't “have COVID” if that means we are actively suffering from the recognized symptoms. We DID get swabbed at the doctor's office Monday. Result: My wife and I both tested positive for COVID.
That means, the doctor told us, we somehow encountered the virus sufficiently to acquire antibodies that triggered a positive test.
What to do? The doctor said we should carry on as before: washing hands, maintaining social distance, masking whenever in public — all measures to avoid infecting others. Only if we suffer from serious sickness should we seek medical attention or hospitalization.
More: Insurance now covers at-home COVID testing kits. How to get free tests or reimbursement
Of course, all the television stations have been busy talking COVID to death, spreading information and distortions of the real dangers and what to do in the case of positive tests.
More COVID encounters: Our contractor, Joey Russ, finally, after months of “hurry up and wait,” sprang into something resembling action on our house, which was damaged by Hurricane Ida.
He visited Bellaire with one of his subcontractor bosses and determined that the work inside the house could resume, as soon as we got out of the house completely. Even though Russ's wife had suffered from COVID-19 weeks ago and since recovered, he thought that our mere cautious presence might infect workers.
Meanwhile, the in-laws with whom we have lived since Ida, fearing for their own health, wanted us out immediately, so we packed up, with our dog Cali, and found pet-friendly lodging at a hotel near Gulfpor, for a brief “mini vacation” four-night stay.
Temperatures here are little different from Houma. We are not beach people, but there is an ample collection of “outlet” centers to keep the shopper in the family occupied. And we are entertained by frequent noisy take-offs and landings from the adjacent Gulfport airport and whistles and rattles of a nearby active railroad.
Therefore: We have swapped days of passing time, doing nothing at home for similar inactivity in coastal Mississippi. We would have preferred to stay closer home, but nothing suitably affordable was available.
I still intend to handle all publicity requests for as usual, provided I receive them in time for my deadlines. Call or write with information or suggestions for events you'd like me to spread the word about. My submission deadlines are early Mondays for Wednesday columns and early Fridays for Sunday columns. Send full details about a week in advance of your event or announcement.
Responding? Contact Bill Ellzey at (985) 381-6256, ellzey@viscom.net or billellzey312@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Bill Ellzey: Test says we're positive for COVID, but we're not sick
