One Person In A Leaky Boat Can Jeopardize Everyone - Same In A Pandemic

When Jim Jones' cult members drank the Kool Aid, it was a terrible tragedy.  An example of mass delusion resulting in many deaths.  But the people drinking the Kool Aid were only endangering themselves.

But when people don't self-isolate now, they endanger everyone.  Including themselves, not only through getting the virus, but through overburdening health facilities.

Then people with normal, treatable problems, may not have access to the health care they would normally get.  Car crashes, falls, fire victims, shooting victims, overdose victims, and on and on.

AND IT HAS ALREADY BEGUN

When you call the Medical Practice I go to here in Anchorage, Alaska, you get this message on the phone:

"Due to COVID-19 our visits are solely focused on the sick who need urgent care.  People scheduled for wellness visits are asked to postpone their visits."

So since I'm overall improved - three steps forward, two back - I'm not bothering them.  My coughing  is less frequent, my temperature lower (though it varies greatly and was 99˚F two nights ago, 98.4 last night), and today I don't feel as weak as I did a couple of days ago.

I also got the lab test report back.  They tested me for a lot more things that I realized and a quick glance shows that everything was negative.  The only thing I really wanted to be tested for was COVID-19, but that they didn't test for.

RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN PANEL,NAAT - Final result (03/11/2020 4:45 PM AKDT)

RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN PANEL,NAAT - Final result (03/11/2020 4:45 PM AKDT)
Component	Value	Ref Range	Performed At	Pathologist Signature
Respiratory Pathogens Panel	Negative Comment:  A negative result does not rule out the presence of viral nucleic acid below the limit of detection of this assay or the presence of PCR inhibitors and does not rule out infection with these viruses. This test is FDA approved and is intended for in vitro diagnostic use.	Negative	PAMC MICRO LAB
Adenovirus	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Coronavirus 229E	Not DetectedComment: This test does NOT detect the novel Coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Follow your local Public Health Authority's guidelines for COVID-19 testing.	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Coronavirus HKU1	Not DetectedComment: This test does NOT detect the novel Coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Follow your local Public Health Authority's guidelines for COVID-19 testing.	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Coronavirus NL63	Not DetectedComment: This test does NOT detect the novel Coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Follow your local Public Health Authority's guidelines for COVID-19 testing.	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Coronavirus OC43	Not DetectedComment: This test does NOT detect the novel Coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Follow your local Public Health Authority's guidelines for COVID-19 testing.	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Human Metapneumovirus	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Rhinovirus/Enterovirus	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Influenza A PCR	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Influenza A 2009 H1	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Influenza A H1	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Influenza A H3	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Influenza B PCR	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Parainfluenza 1	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Parainfluenza 2	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Parainfluenza 3	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Parainfluenza 4	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
RSV	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Bordetella Pertussis PCR	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Chlamydia pneumoniae	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB
Mycoplasma pneumoniae	Not Detected	Not Detected	PAMC MICRO LAB

Stay healthy everyone.