DAY 495: "Updates"

     It's happened as predicted: America has passed its one millionth death from COVID-19 as of May 4th, 2002 (National Renewal Day, whatever that is). We're some 30 months since this slowly-unfolding crisis began.

     Worse still, the World Health Organization has calculated the actual number of under-reported deaths from Covid, thus expanding the overall fatality count to 14.9 million worldwide.

     Here at home, we have finally had some negative test results, and no one developed any appreciable symptoms over the past few weeks. All of us are double-vaxxed & boosted. 

     We used the antigen home-tests, which detect the presence of live viruses. These tests initially resulted in positive findings; then some 15 days later, the newer results were neg. No live viruses.

     Being thorough, we also went to local UW Med/King County walk-up sites, which use PCR tests for live and dead viruses. This meant that previous positive tests are even now still pos, as dead viruses still turn up some 90 days after initial exposure, even though no live viruses are present.

     In the meantime, we are still being cautious, wearing masks and testing again, occasionally.

DAY 488: "Infections: Orange Alert"

     AJ has officially tested positive for Coronavirus. His symptoms are rather like allergies, he says, as he settles-in for a 10-day stretch of isolation & PS5 gaming.

     To know where the rest of us stand, we decide to get tested too. Luckily there is now a UW Med site no more than 6½ blocks away, via hypotenuse. Appointment preferred, but not necessary.

     Brando was the first to go: Positive. He has a migraine that lasts a couple days.

     Bat: Positive, nothing worse than a runny nose.

     Me: Negative, but with a lightly-sore throat.

     Joel takes the home test: Negative. The control line is clear, indicating that he performed the test correctly.

     Masks are kept on, and one bathroom is cordoned off from those unclean. Everyone's isolating for nearly 24-7.