Just when we thought the threat of the latest variant of COVID-19 was not much of a threat, cases have been growing again across the San Luis Valley and nationally, particularly since early July, according to Beverly Strnad, interim director of the Alamosa County Public Health Department.
Yours truly is one of those most recent statistics after dodging the pandemic for more than four years. The two initial “vaccinations” probably contributed to my luck, and not getting future boosters no doubt impacted my current infliction.
Checking history with the help of Courier Reporter Priscilla Waggoner, the first case was diagnosed in Wuhan, China in November 2019 and the first American case in January 2020. Shortly thereafter the World Health Organization (WHO) listed it as an issue of public concern, and in March 2020, declared it a pandemic.
Early on, many businesses were ordered closed including bars, restaurants and even barber and beauty shops. Others, like our newspapers, were declared essential and asked to remain open to provide essential services, ours obviously to provide public information.
We think we did the best we could providing daily updates both in print and online, thanks to the information provided by local public health organizations. Thousands of cases were reported in the valley in the first few years, many resulting in hospitalization and dozens of deaths, mostly impacting the elderly.
Apparently now I’m in that age group, and thankfully having healthy kidneys, I was able to get a prescription for the “miracle” drug Paxlovid. That didn’t happen easily as my regular healthcare provider was booked, but with some assistance from one of my daughters I was able to be seen by the SLV Health Respiratory Clinic on Tuesday.
Dr. Anita was very thorough about interviewing me and checking on current medications in use before agreeing to the Rx. She was also clear about possible continued symptoms and side-effects.
I have never been “quarantined” in my lifetime, aside from short-term bouts with childhood ailments like measles and mumps, but fortunately we have a comfortable home and I’ve been able to continue working from home with a lot of help personally and professionally from my wife Debbie. And a lot of advice from my children, most of which have “been there, done that.”
Orchids to my third daughter Shannon, a Certified Nurse Midwife, for her advice and monitoring. And no, I’m not pregnant.
Fortunately for me, the Olympics kept me entertained particularly the unmatched USA women’s gymnastics team. That and the horrendous wildfires across the state occupied the screen in my man cave.
What I’ve learned through this experience is that we’re never totally out of the woods. And just like the common flu, COVID may never completely go away. We still need to wash our hands and use hand sanitizer and, when not feeling well, wear masks in public to avoid spreading any contagious respiratory condition.
Stay well, and God bless our nation’s health care workers, firefighters and other first responders.
