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Possibly Utah-specific and anecdotal:
Last week I thought I had a fever 2-3 days. Mild, but I dont own a thermometer (and can't buy one now, bc have you tried?) and I wasn't sure. No coughing, but scratchy throat, headaches, more tired than usual. 1/
Last week I thought I had a fever 2-3 days. Mild, but I dont own a thermometer (and can't buy one now, bc have you tried?) and I wasn't sure. No coughing, but scratchy throat, headaches, more tired than usual. 1/
I've been food socially distancing, but also have immunocompromised family members that I couldn't put at risk.
Last week Utah said we have enough tests that they essentially lowered the bar for testing: if you have *any* of the symptoms, come on down and get it done. 2/
Last week Utah said we have enough tests that they essentially lowered the bar for testing: if you have *any* of the symptoms, come on down and get it done. 2/
So I called the @UtahCoronavirus hotline, talked to someone and explained my symptoms and situation...again, they were very mild (and gotta say, if this wasn't like, Pandemic Tyme, may not have even "felt sick") and they pre-registered me for a test. ~ 10 min on the phone. 3/
Chose a @UUtah clinic, they had a drive thru testing place where you drive into a parking terrace, stay in your car the entire time, complete paperwork through closed car windows. Set up to test 3 cars at a time. At 5 PM Friday, no wait at all. 4/
Checked my blood oxygen level, which was lower than they wanted, so they were glad I was getting tested.
The nurse administering the test said "you know when you're swimming and you inhale through your nose, that stinging you get? It'll feel like that."
It did. 5/
The nurse administering the test said "you know when you're swimming and you inhale through your nose, that stinging you get? It'll feel like that."
It did. 5/
They insert a "swab" (I imagined a gentle cotton swab, but it was more like a tiny bottle brush) until they hit that sweet spot somewhere between sinus and brain, and then rotate the swab for 20 seconds. It's uncomfortable, but intubation is more uncomfortable so okay. 6/
Bc my blood oxygen level was low, they had me step out of the car so they could listen to my lungs w stethoscope (they're all in protective gear), and I'm okay. They did offer a chest x-ray, but were more like "uh self-monitor, if ___ or ___ happens, come back" 7/
They said expect test results in 24-48 hours.
I was tested about 5 PM Friday, got the results by noon Saturday.
Results were negative, so
Literally. I couldn't have seen my son on his 18th birthday if they were positive. So yay. 8/
I was tested about 5 PM Friday, got the results by noon Saturday.
Results were negative, so
Literally. I couldn't have seen my son on his 18th birthday if they were positive. So yay. 8/
All of this is just to praise the medical workers who are doing everything they can to keep us safe. In Utah, we're fortunate to have the capacity to test people who need testing.
If you have symptoms, get tested, it will help them track spread. 9/10
If you have symptoms, get tested, it will help them track spread. 9/10
Thx @UtahCoronavirus + news outlets for keeping us informed, @RobertGehrke posts a great Utah-specific daily summary. @SpencerJCox is good at explaining where we are as a state, and it feels as transparent as it can be right now. Thx for doing what we can to keep us safe. 10/10
