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THREAD: If you notice an uptick in COVID cases to the Virginia, MN area, you can blame me. My wife and I are already in the totals, but our four kids will soon be added 1/
I’m not sharing this to get attention or sympathy, but rather I don’t think a lot of people take things seriously until they know someone that has it. If we can be those people that changes behavior, then great. 2/
Thankfully, our kids haven’t shown a great deal of symptoms and they are all business as usual. In hindsight, my two older ones had very mild symptoms, and we’re pretty sure that’s where it started. 3/
My wife has had it the worst of the six. She has had every symptom you have heard of except shortness of breath (thank god). She is regaining her taste and has now exited quarantine. 4/
My symptoms have been overall tolerable. They have ranged from intermittent headaches, inflammation in my big toe and thumb joints, a feeling like I had 100 acupuncture needles in my back, a “dry cold,” and now a loss of taste. Like I said, all manageable 5/
Because we have taken this pandemic seriously, distanced, worn masks, etc. we have thankfully kept the “spread” to our 6 in the household plus two outside family members. Overall, here are some of our thoughts: 6/
ONE: while yes this virus shows signs of influenza, it is not influenza. Our bodies had no clue what this was and reacted accordingly. My symptoms would ebb and flow and change on a dime. I am thankful I am good health and could handle this. 7/
TWO: I would NOT want this if I had underlying health issues, especially respiratory issues. You will have no idea how this effects you. Of the four adults in our circle, we all had different experiences. 8/
THREE: Masks work. On my wife’s last day of work before being symptomatic, she was in close contact all day with a co-worker. Both of them wore masks. Her co-worker tested negative. I wear a mask at work, and did not spread it there. 9/
FOUR: This could have been so much worse from a spread standpoint. I could have gotten this first, been non-symptomatic for a longer period, gone to work, and potentially spread it. Luckily my wife was symptomatic earlier and on a weekend. That helped our spread reduction 10/
FIVEa: School is going to be very, very difficult this fall. Not from a standpoint of the kids getting sick, but because of the adults. This thing will spread like wildfire, and to the adults. Teachers, aides, bus drivers, parents, etc. Get ready. It’s coming. 11/
FIVEb: Call me a pessimist, but I think this is realistic...be prepared for full distance learning at some point during this school year. Again, I think (and pray) the kids will be mostly fine, it’s the adults that will be put out of work due to illness. 12/
SIX: if you are showing ANY signs whatsoever...get TESTED. Don’t bury your head. Don’t ignore it. I am guessing our overall reported cases are low due to people “toughing it out” and not wanting to get tested. 13/
If you’re still reading, thank you. Again, if this thread helps one person decide to wear a mask, social distance, avoid crowds, get tested, or just simply become nice and empathetic, then it was worth it. 14/14
