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Last night, upon landing in Korea, I turned in a questionnaire of current symptoms in which I checked the box for "nasal mucus" because of my chronic rhinitis. Despite my confirmation that I don& #39;t have cough or fever, I was isolated from other passengers for testing. /1
I got tested immediately, even before making it through immigrations. I was placed in temporary quarantine until my results were released at a business hotel designated close to ICN for this purpose (temporarily housing incoming travelers). /2
I had my & #39;wake-up call& #39; this morning at 5:30 telling me that my test results came out negative and I should get ready to leave by 7. I took a bus again specifically designated for incoming travelers like me run by a driver heavily clad in PPE head to toe. /3
After another temperature check and form completion at a local public health center camp set up outdoors, was I driven home on another designated bus. /4
From the moment I landed at ICN, the change of atmosphere was palpable. Through all my bodily senses, I came to a realization that I had just spatially moved from one country where the threat of this disease is disputable at best to a country where this is a dead serious deal. /5
And when I say all my bodily senses, I mean it. I literally smelt a nasal swab while simultaneously experiencing how painful it was. Oh, and wow, who knew nostrils were that deep! I& #39;m still awestruck. /6
When we say risk is socially constructed, this is what we mean, at least partially. When authorities and people around you treat a threat seriously, the threat becomes a "risk" inviting a matching response. /7
As of today, I enter a 14-day quarantine period, locking myself down at home. It& #39;s surely inconvenient but absolutely tolerable because I understand the social value and necessity of these measures. /8
