After 840 days, I ‘officially’ tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.
Why officially? I had had several scares, and while all tests were negative, on my last visit to the family doctor when I had Covid-19-like symptoms, he said it “could be the residual effects of having had Covid-19”.
So, after all the masking up, sanitising, and being paranoid, I finally caught the virus at the worst possible time – two days before my birthday!
I had always wanted to celebrate my birthday in bed, doing nothing, and having others serve me food. That wish finally came true, but not in the way I had hoped.
I was holed up in the bedroom, lying in bed (sadly, alone), with a high fever, sore throat, headache, body aches, and feeling lethargic. It was a good thing my sense of taste did not go away. Then, I would have really been upset!
Mum made several soupy dishes for lunch, and the home minister tapau-ed some of my favourite food for dinner – including satay and nasi lemak, as a birthday treat.
We also had a blueberry cheesecake for dessert – there was no blowing of candles!
Before testing positive, I had planned to do a 10km walk to celebrate my birthday. But on the day itself, I could not complete a few hundred metres without hyperventilating like an asthmatic chain-smoker.
Hopefully, I can resume my daily walks later this month.
Most friends who had had Covid-19 told me that the first two days were the worst, but in my case, it was on the third day.
I received many wishes from family and friends, including the one below.
Unfortunately, although often sleepy, it was not easy to get sleep. Usually, it is two to three hours of sleep, followed by several hours of being awake. And repeat that cycle.
Although quarantined in the room, I ventured to the kitchen during those early morning hours – wearing double face masks, disposable gloves and socks – to get some food and hot beverage.
I then used the sanitiser gun all over the home.
Besides the above items, the home minister also bought a portable and reusable steamer – add a few drops of essential oils or menthol crystals to warm water – and breathe in the vapour. It worked wonders to clear the chest and phlegm.
Astro and Disney+ are my best friends, but mostly, the television is just background noise as it can be hard to concentrate for long periods.
The MySejahtera mobile application says I have to quarantine until Monday – seven days – but I will extend it for another three days.
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a report stating that one in four Covid-19 patients still shed culturable virus on Day 9. As my mum turns 83 next month, it is better to be safe than sorry.
For those who tested positive for Covid-19, it is advisable to have a follow-up with your doctor after six months, as up to 30 per cent of patients are in danger of suffering from long Covid.
Oh, in case you are wondering why I mentioned 840 days, it is the number of days from the first Movement Control Order on March 18, 2020, until Tuesday.
As of today, that number is 844.
COVID-19 CASES AND INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESSES ON THE RISE
There is a surge of new Covid-19 cases, and more worryingly, younger children are succumbing to influenza-like illnesses.
The World Health Organisation said there is a 30 per cent increase in Covid-19 cases worldwide, but warned that the figure is higher as nations have dramatically reduced testing.
In Malaysia, there were 21,083 new infections in the past week, including 4,020 on Thursday, the first time we had over 4,000 cases since April 24 (4,006). Total infections are 4,589,911.
On the recovery front, 16,072 patients received the all-clear, bringing the total number of people who beat the coronavirus to 4,518,912.
There were 30 deaths in the last seven days, meaning 35,80 people lost the fight. Worldwide, there are 559,830,427 cases and 532,799,801 fatalities.
Meanwhile, local private clinics and hospital emergency departments are full of children suffering from influenza-like illnesses (ILI).
The four main strains identified are: influenza A, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A, and bocavirus.
BEWARE OF EXPIRED TEST KITS
Before testing positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, I did multiple tests on Sunday and Monday. Both were negative on Sunday, but the two tests I did on Monday were duds, as the readings were blank.
According to the family doctor, the test kits were probably expired.
On a side note, test kits are now so cheap – only RM2.50. There really is no reason not to test yourself regularly.
AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3
Your automated teller machine (ATM) card is also a debit card, but I remember trying to use it once, and it got rejected (maybe I was broke!).
Seeing how easy it was – the home minister always uses it to pay for items – I tried using the card again about two months ago, and lo and behold, it worked.
Although I like my e-wallets for the rewards, using the ATM card to pay for items means fewer trips to the bank. I also do not have to carry much cash around.
On Sunday, I changed my ATM card at a machine at the Subang Jaya branch. It was as easy as 1, 2, 3.
ARE SMART DEVICES RUINING OUR MEMORY?
I read this article earlier this week and believe it to be true.
“Back in the day”, I could remember several dozen phone numbers. These days, I struggle to memorise more than five.
I am also getting more forgetful, but that is probably down more to age than my smartphone (although I prefer to blame the device!)
WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY
Great things, and people, ‘happen’ on July 7. World Chocolate Day is celebrated on this day each year, so here are four recipes to try out, as a day without chocolate is a day not worth living (some say the same about me!)
STAY AWAY
The great Randy Newman closes out this week’s Diary.
The 78-year-old is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Younger people may know him from his work on Toy Story, where he provided the score for all four movies.
He also wrote songs for five other Disney Pixar movies and was recognised by the Walt Disney Company as a Disney Legend in 2007.
Newman has a long and storied career, but one of my favourite tunes of his, was the one he wrote for the finale of the beloved television series, Monk.
Newman’s raspy voice and touching montage at the end of the episode brought a tear to my eye.
But for this week’s entry, here is Newman’s Covid-19-inspired song, Stay Away.
Until next week, stay safe.
