Wearing A Mask

Interestingly, surveys indicate that approximately 13% of US population wear a mask all the time, fearing COVID-19 infection. Moreover, about 33% of the US population consider an infection with COVID-19 to be a "large to moderate" risk to their health. The same surveys have reported that 1 out 5 people in the US have taken an at-home COVID -19 test during the past 7 days. 

I got covid again! (Days 5-8)

Day 5, August 7, 2024: The night of Day 4/5 was kind of rough. I only slept a few hours mainly due to congestion and cough.

Day 6, August 8, 2024:The symptoms began to subside, but the nasal congestion lingered. I slept during the day and night. I was glad I did so as I needed some rest.

Day 7, August 9, 2024: I began to feel better today. The sterile saline solution mist has been helping clearing up my nasal congestion. I began noticing that my sense of taste has almost 95% gone. I am not sure about my sense of smell, although I think it has been affected greatly as well. I did not realize that I had lost my sensation of tasting and smelling until today because earlier in this illness I did not have the appetite to eat. My sleep continued to be good.

Day 8, August 10, 2024: All my symptoms are, but gone today, except for tasting and smelling things. I went out for the first time since last Friday, August 2. I even took my dog for a ride in the car. My appetite came back today, but my sense of taste is still lacking and so does my smell sense. I plan to go back to work on Monday. The CDC current recommendations are to isolate for five days and return to normal life after five days if symptoms have decreased with no fever. Luckily, I've never had fever during this covid episode. When I was out today walking my dog, a boy was yelling to his friend across park telling him he had covid! I guess young people don't get it as bad as old folks like me.

Thankfully, none of my household (my wife, my three adult sons, and my two dogs) appear to have the virus, so far. In fact, my dog stayed with me the whole time downstairs, whereas the others came downstairs as needed and remained there for a short period. I used the half-bath and all of them refrained from using it. I tried whenever I could to cleanse my hands with alcoholic gel.  I also tried to limit my touch to surfaces with my bare hands as much as I could. I do not think there is a typical covid case as each one of us experiences it differently. The bottom line, remain vigilant and conscientious, and most of all considerate to others. If each of us isolate while sick, we will all win. The good old saying "an once of prevention is better than a pound of cure" applies nicely here, and if I may add "and being considerate to others by limiting contact with the outside is key to control this miserable disease." Lastly, I plan to get vaccination against this virus every six months from now on. I do not want to go through this misery again.

I got COVID, again! (First Blog...Days 0-4)

My first experience with a covid-19 infection was in February 2021, almost 8 months after receiving my booster shot for covid. My symptoms then were mild. My last vaccination was in November 2022.

The starting week of July 29, 2024 (Monday), a colleague of mine said that he had covid, but now he tested negative. He was back to work in 5 days, shaking people hand and all. Another colleague of mine I think caught that virus, but kept his daily routine chatting with people (including me) for hours (in less than a 6-foot distance). He never tested himself, nor was he planning to. I saw this colleague for three days (Monday-Wednesday), talking, chatting, laughing, for a total of some three hours. Needless to say, I too caught the virus and here is my story so far (days 0-4).

Day 0, Friday, August 2, I went to work as usual. In fact, I arrived to work as usual early by 6:30 a.m. By 1 p.m., I felt fatigued, so I decided to drive home (some 35 minutes away). That afternoon I was so tired and I went to bed early, not feeling well at all.

Day 1, Saturday, August 3, My wife told me to take the antigen-covid-test that we had at home, around 10 a.m. It was positive, and the sample line was much wider and denser red than the control line. It appeared within 30 seconds. I slept most of the day and felt "like a truck had hit me." In fact, a truck hit my car while driving in May of this year, and I felt fine, but that is another story to tell. I also began to take 1,000 mg of vitamin C along with vitamin D gummies and zinc. I also started spraying saline solution in my nostrils. That helped tremendously.

Day 2, Sunday, August 4, My muscle ache almost completely gone and replaced by runny nose. By the end of the day, the runny nose was accompanied with cough. I never smoked, but my cough sounded like I smoked 3 packs a day. So far no fever, no headache, and no sore throat. However, I could not sleep at all because of the cough.

Day 3, Monday, August 5, The Sunday's symptoms continued. I called my doctor at 9 a.m. in the morning and texted them to request Paxlovid. I also called my pharmacy and was promptly told, "this med is on backorder for months." Needless to say, I could not get the med. Paxlovid is only effective if taken within the first 5 days of infection, and definitely helps if you have bad symptoms. Mine were borderline bad. I discovered a bag of menthol lozenges that I bought a couple years ago. They helped to sooth my cough. Still, no headache, no fever, and no sore throat.

Day 4, Tuesday, August 6, I am writing this blog in the evening. The runny nose has almost all gone, the frequency of cough is also reduced, and no new symptoms have appeared. I feel much better today. I continue using the vitamins/minerals and the nasal saline mist. To be continued...

 

COVID-19 Vaccine

 I got my Covid-19 vaccination (Moderna) on Friday, February 5th (2021) at 12:15 pm. My booster shot is scheduled for March 5th. No symptoms at all, except for a little bit of mild pain sensation at the injection site (middle deltoid muscle). When you get a chance get yours as well. It is good to have for you, your family, and everybody else around you.

The First Shipments of Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Is Being Done Today (Pictures from TV)

 

Halloween 2020 (It was NOT that happy this year due to COVID-19)

 

COVID-19 Update (North Carolina)

 

My Son EG Tested Positive to COVID-19 on Thursday

 On Thursday, October 15 (2020), my son, EG, tested positive to COVID-19 (coronavirus). He is 26 years old and doing okay. The first sign was he lost his ability to smell things, then he lost his sense of taste. The first night of the viral infection he had a fever of 101.3 degrees F. He had body aches and felt extremely tired. We think he caught the virus at work on Monday, October 13. He took the test on Tuesday and the results were available on Wednesday night. The clinic where he received the test also called him to inform him of the test being positive. He has been in isolation at his condo (a 30-minute drive from my house). I bought him ibuprofen in case he needed it for fever spikes. Thanks to God, so far he does not have pulmonary (lungs) symptoms. We will keep updating his condition on this blog.

COVID-19 Symptoms (Source US CDC)

 

COVID-19 Update

 

North Carolina Had the Highest Single Number of One Day Deaths from COVID-19 on September 30th: 54 People Died of COVID-19

 

North Carolina Had 5422 New COVID-19 Cases on September 25: Why?

 

Quick News: The number of death cases due to COVID-19 just reached 1,000,000 cases

 

COVID-19 Update in North Carolina, USA

 

The total death cases in the world are approaching a grim mark of 1 million. The World Health Organization is predicting that this number will double by the end of next year. The population of North Carolina as of 2019 is 10.49 million people.

COVID-19 Update

North Carolina has been in Phase II since May 22nd, 5 pm. Phase II is suppose to last 5 weeks until about the end of June. However, COVID-19 cases are on the rise. In the US, the total death toll from COVID-19 has exceeded 115 K as of today. There are over 2 million cases in the US, and the numbers do not seem to slow down. The models are predicting the number of death cases to reach 200 K by September. I am not certain if NC will go back to Phase I or remain in Phase II another 5 weeks. We shall see.

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS 2019

I left work on Tuesday, March 17 around 9 am. We were told to work from home due to the worldwide contagion/pandemic with COVID-19, a virus was first discovered in China. I am still working from home up to today. Our state is on lock down until May 8. However, this might get extended. The US has close to one million cases as of today and around 55,000 deaths. More updates are coming up.