This is an open letter from a Mother in the Bay Area who has lived with Covid-19 for weeks now. She, understandably wishes to remain anonymous, but we have spoken with her on the phone, and verified her story. What she says is the truth, and it is important. It is a story that is unfolding in communities across the Bay Area, the US, and the world, right now. Read it, take it to heart, and stay safe out there.
Photo by Tobias Tullius on Unsplash
Let me introduce myself. I am your neighbor. I am your friend. I am a localbusiness owner. I am a member of our community.
We go to the same gym. We shop at the same grocery stores and eat at thesame restaurants. We shared the same row on the plane. Our families attendthe same church. Our kids go to school together.
Two weeks ago I went on a trip. A day after I returned, I became ill. I presentedwith the following symptoms.. severe headache, cough, fatigue, and milddiarrhea. I did my due diligence and went to my doctor who assured me I hadthe flu. I was given a prescription, told to rest, and then carry on with life asnormal. My child and husband also had mild coughs and headaches.
I was sick in bed for four days before I returned to my office with my employees.All three of us were back in the community for a week before we learned thaton my trip, I had been in direct contact with someone who later tested positivefor COVID-19. Upon receiving this information, my family and I went to a localdrive-up clinic and demanded to be tested. We were discouraged from doingso because the technicians said we had the flu. We have an office with a dozenemployees working in close quarters. We all go out and work in peoples’homes. We needed to know if we had COVID-19. After explaining the detailsof our situation we were tested. Three days later the results came back and Itested positive.
In the last 10 days or so, I have learned that several others that were on my trip,living in other towns, have tested positive. They have families, and work intheir communities. Some had the same ‘flu’ symptoms that I had, insisted on thetest and in fact tested positive for BOTH the flu and COVID-19. Some had NOsymptoms at all and tested positive for COVID-19. This means any of us could bewalking around our communities with no symptoms, putting the people we loveand care about in danger. Today, one of my friends who tested positive lost herfather in law to this virus;
It was just reported on the news that In China 4 out of 5 people were infectedwith this virus from people who did not know that they were infected!!!!I am sharing our story publicly because two weeks ago I was not taking thispandemic seriously. I was just like you thinking, “This virus will pass. It won’t affectme. I am going to keep doing what I do.” I was wrong. I dread the thought ofwhere we will be in a week, as a global nation, if we don’t wise up to theseverity of this disease and its rapid rate of infection.
The same day my results came, our neighborhood announced the shelter inplace order, enforcing social distancing and the shutdown of all non- essentialbusinesses. This is such a blessing. I wish the nation would be put under thismandate. I wish we would learn from what has happened in China and Italyand be proactive now to stop the spread of this pandemic. I wish we would beresponsible; not only for ourselves, but for all of those that we may unknowinginfect with weak immune systems that cannot fight this virus. Lives have beenlost and many more will be if we don’t wise up to what is happening right here inour neighborhood.
If you have to go out and you see someone on the sidewalk, go to the otherside of the road. Six feet of distance is not enough. Stay away from everyonenot living in your house. Do not send the kids to their grandparents (if you can).This virus is killing our elderly population. Start doing this now, even if it’s notrequired in your area.
We have the ability to make a difference, a difference of life or death. Pleasestop! Stop working! Stop everything! Stop for those who can’t. Unfortunately, thisstory will not be unique to me, in the weeks to come, this will be the same storyfor many more people.
I don’t write this to scare you, to cause a panic, or to create more stress in thistime. I sit here sequestered in my house, watching people talk to each other inclose proximity on my sidewalk. Hearing stories of my friends, letting their kidsplay, but only with certain people. These seemingly normal interactions in theclimate of this pandemic are irresponsible.
I have COVID-19 and I didn’t know for weeks. I walked around myneighborhood. I went to the places you went. I hung out with the people I loveand care about, and I unknowingly spread this disease. I know this because myemployees and others I have been in contact with are now presenting withsymptoms as well. Even with this history some of our employees are not beingallowed to take the test!!!!!!
I have spent the past several days on the phone calling the hundred or sopeople I have been in contact with to let them know that they may now havethis virus. I am exhausted, but I am doing my best to do the right thing as acitizen of my community and inform the uninformed about what is really goingon.
I know this is going to be hard for all. To stay in close quarters with your family forso long, or to live alone and not be able to see anyone. But the sooner peoplestay in, the sooner we truly social distance, the sooner we will slow down the rateof this pandemic and save lives.
I have told all those I love and care about, to take this seriously. I write this nowbecause I care about you too.
The post Open Letter from a Mother with Coronavirus in the Bay Area appeared first on Broke-Ass Stuart's Website.
