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Well Here's an UPDATE:
Its like my worst fears came true. My daughter (8 months along) called me yesterday and told me she was feeling sick. Stuffy, sore throat and thought she had a fever but didnt have a thermometer. I asked her if she felt so sick that she needed to go somewhere and she said no. I asked if her boyfriend could go buy a thermometer but he still hasnt straightend out his license yet so I told them to just stay in. (this was in the morning)He works for Wayfair and they sent everyone home Sunday night. I checked in with her around noon and called and woke her up and she didnt sound too good but said everything was fine. NJ instituted a curfew so at 630p she calls and asks me to bring the thermometer. I told her to wait for me in her car and my brother had given me a mask (he is an ICU nurse) and I had gloves and alcohol swabs for the thermometer. I took her temp and at that point it was 99.6 so a low grade temp but she has never handled any elevated temp well. (she also has chronic lymes). I am not a doctor. I told her to call his service, explain what was going on and see what he says. I told her DO NOT show up at an urgent care. If she is sick she exposes people and if they are sick she gets exposed.
The doc told her to go to the ER and called ahead to let them know she was coming. I advised her to have the BF go in and tell them who she was and who sent her to see how they wanted her to enter. They got her into isolation. Masked up and they suited up. They checked the baby and he was ok. The did a flu test because even though she had a shot there in another strain. (I have seen flu and this was not it). Later on they came in an told her that they would not test her for corona because she was not over 60, she hadnt flown and she wasn't knowingly exposed. This, even though the BF had someone in one of the warehouses test positive. And his mother's boss test positive. She said they were at a loss and she felt bad for the staff. She could tell that they wanted to be able to test her and figure it out but thanks to the "powers that be" there are not enough tests. Even though 7 pregant women have tested positive, even though we just had an ER doc who is 43 and healthy die from the virus- the archaic unprepared health system around here has no idea what to do and has to follow the health boards' protocol. NJ nearly trippled in positives yesterday.
I asked them if they told her to quarantine and she said they didnt use those exact words, almost like they were trying to avoid saying them but advised her to stay home which I know makes sense. I called the BF while they were there and told him to try and nail them down more specifically. So he said : " So its ok if she visits her mom and dad or my dad because she cant spread anything dangerous right?" And they sort of tripped over their words and said no that is not what they meant. They told her it was best if she didnt interact with anyone at all, even her upcoming check up until all her symptoms went away. Now what the hell does that mean?
I got a late night text when she was released that I saw this morning and she said they thought she "might have a UTI". I plan on asking her did she or didnt she because they can see that and would have sent her a script or given her one. She is obviously asleep since I have seen this but I told her to call me and I will drop off the toilet paper I have for her and go get her script filled. I feel bad for all the healthcare workers and hospitals because its not their fault. They dont want to commit because what if they are wrong? Worse, what if they are right? They need those beds for critical patients and I get that. I get that most people have mild symptoms and I am not even sure if she is considered a part of the vunerable population or not. I do not know what governments expect these front line workers to do, especially if they have pretty good suspicions or gut instincts. I hope I advised her well, and her doctor is the one who made the determination for her to get checked but its so scary to do all the right things and protect yourself and the public as best you can and then given no reassurance other than to call if symptoms get worse. I am done running around to stores I got what I needed for a few days. I have to drop my son's car off at the shop for car repairs and then I will either pick up any scripts she has and drop them or pick them up if they were already sent over.
I am not an irrational person. I wasnt in a panic yesterday. I did everything at the crack of dawn and stayed home after. But what will people have to do? None of us have deep freezers where we can store months of food. I will need stuff for dinner in about 5 days time and I hope by then they have some kinks worked out. NJ had its first store with an armed guard and special hours for over 60 people and healthcare workers and I think this should be done everywhere in addition to limiting the amount one person can buy of things.
I mean I am so unsure. Did I tell her the right thing? Did I follow the right protocol? Am I overeacting? I have been playing the second guessing game all night.
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"I carried a watermelon?"
President of the no F's given society.
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