COVID-19 🦠🌡️😷

😷 (This was a few weeks ago, but I'm finally getting caught up on my blog!)

It finally happened.

I guess I was getting a bit cocky. Even after an unvaccinated trip to the United States, a close call in Cambodia, and an international business trip to Vietnam, I still somehow managed to avoid coming down with COVID. I guess that somewhere in the back of my head, I was starting to think I was one of those lucky ones with a natural immunity to the virus.

Alas...

 

I had a headache the other day, but it had been a stressful day in and of itself, and I wrote it off. The next morning, my throat was a little scratchy, but I had the aircon on all night, and I wrote that off as well. In the afternoon, my wife asked how I was feeling. I admitted that my throat was still a bit scratchy, and she asked if I wanted to take an ATK test. I decided to humor her. I've taken dozens of these with no positive results.

However, almost instantly, that second line appeared. 

So, I rushed off to self-isolate. My symptoms weren't so bad. I had a fever, a cough, and a scratchy throat. Mostly, though, I was just very tired.

I had been so careful. I've been wearing a mask literally every time I've left the house since the early days of 2020. I guess it will come for us all eventually. I was joking with my wife earlier about how I've been feeling left out as the last one in my family not to get COVID. I guess I'll have to eat my words!

Fortunately, I am fully vaccinated with four doses of mRNA vaccines. I had two doses of Pfizer and two of Moderna. I also had access to a strong Indian anti-viral, which is easily available here in Thailand. 

My wonderful, concerned wife sent me a bag of medicine and food via parcel delivery. Although I was alone, I was well-taken care of. I wasn't that sick and continued to work more or less as normal. I ended up sleeping a lot and working on some business classes in-between work and sleep.

After six days, my symptoms had abated, and the test returned negative. I gave it a seventh day just to be safe.

It's not the most interesting post, I know, but I very much hope it will be the final bookend to the COVID-19 saga here on my blog.

You can catch up with my previous posts about the pandemic over the last several years below:

1. First reports of the virus in Asia
2. My student in China and Thailand's early response
3. Panic-buying masks, but no deaths so far
4. The first death in Thailand
5. My pandemic visa problems
6. Thailand closes its borders and Bangkok shuts down
7. Some assistance from the US Embassy
8. An emergency visa extension
9. My first quarantine
10. Easter, Booze Bans, and More
11. Another visa extension
12. Coronation Day and ongoing restrictions
13. The end of the first wave
14. Visa amnesty and more ongoing news
15. New Year, New Wave, New Lockdown
16. COVID Songkran
17. Things are worse in Thailand
18. Another visa extension at Chaengwatthana
19. Vaxcation Part I
20. Vaxcation Part II
21. Vaxcation Part III
22. Quarantining back in Bangkok (immigration during the pandemic)
23. 3rd Dose (Moderna)
24. Test and Go: Thailand's new immigration procedure
25. Fully Vaxxed! (Finally!)

I guess I didn't realize how much of my blog the pandemic has taken up....

It's a full 2.5%. Maybe it's not a lot numerically, but considering that my blog has nearly 1100 posts, it's a bunch. It really goes to show how much of an impact the pandemic has had on our lives. One of my very favorite long-term students (who lives in China) has been vastly impacted by the virus. It has been really interesting teaching her throughout this ongoing situation. She's been able to tell me about the situation in her country regarding lockdowns. Her dreams to study abroad during high school were dashed by the virus, but I really hope her dreams to study abroad during university may materialize yet.

I really hope that this will be my final post regarding COVID-19. 🤞

Now, I'm well.

I've fully recovered. My wife and I are both fully vaccinated with four doses and have both had the virus. We should be fine from now on. We still continue being careful. Although masks are no longer legally required, I have yet to see a bare face in Thailand. They are still very much a societal expectation. I hope not to get COVID again, although I understand that it may very well likely become an epidemic; returning year after year.