What changed in my understanding of COVID:

1) It's *extremely* contagious. I got it from an event I didn't attend, effectively the same day with my relative who attended this event and brought COVID home. In total more than 20 people got positive from this single event.

2) The earliest symptom in my case was an incident of sweating "out of the normal". It reminded me the famous "B symptoms" by activated B-lymphocytes. It was so strange that I immediately suspected COVID and isolated myself almost a week before fever & other symptoms appeared.

3) What also changed is how I see the viral threat. I used to think in terms of masks, elevator buttons, strangers in the metro etc.

Now I realise in most cases the virus takes a friendly face: friends & family, and comes through the door. Like any castle, it falls from within.

4) Calling friends and sharing the results of COVID tests proved to be an amazing help. We talked on the phone and compared, made connections and could limit the spread of a new cluster. Word of mouth & a single positive test makes even sceptics more alert and aware.

5) The main question: with whom do you spend more than 15 minutes in the same room without any protection? People you feel absolutely safe with! That's the main root of the virus, not from strangers in the street.

6) Reasonable people avoid gatherings in a pandemic. But may get into a cluster in minutes without realising it. We underestimate how extremely contagious this is.

Example: You visit a friend/office and in minutes more than 10 people appear in the same room. *Leave the place!*

7) While only few will have complications, I didn't know how *common* it is to experience dyspnea or chest pain with COVID. But dyspnea is "subjective symptom" rarely linked to hypoxia.

My best investment: pulse oximeter (~ 20 €)
Dyspnea + SpO2 dropping (< 90%) → call for help

8) By reading covid testimonies I have a growing suspicion: a significant part of covid hospitalizations may be due to lack of common sense & basic info in primary care, how to treat a "bad flu" in house isolation. Let me explain...

9) In hospitalized young patients I see a pattern of staying home with high fever for days, inability to sleep to the point of hallucinating and strong debilitated vomiting (then stop eating). I had similar symptoms. Constant insomnia with fever & headaches is debilitating.

10) I consulted my MD & took antivomit medication (it works miracles), loads of paracetamol (to constantly drop the fever) & sleeping peels (act of emergency). Also had diarrhea drugs in any case.

Uncontrolled fever, vomit, diarrhea and insomnia may send anyone to the hospital.