Masking-up for the Holidays

It’s so frustrating. This whole virus. This whole pandemic. This whole uncertainty.

What are we even supposed to do anymore? Cases are rising. Schools are closing. Sports are canceled again. It has been nine long months. Nine very long months of wearing masks, spending more time on ZOOM than ever imagined, and watching reruns of old TV shows. I have been "doing my part" for so long!

Why hasn’t this problem been solved yet? How much longer will this go on? Where's the "comeback"?

Trust me. I have my frustrations, too. This is not fun. I miss seeing family. I miss spending time with friends. I miss being able to travel. I miss going to restaurants. And with the holiday season just around the corner, will I even be able to spend time with family?

There are many questions about the coming months that just have no answer. There is just so much uncertainty about how this pandemic will affect families, travel plans, and holiday traditions. Trust me, I know how much we need to be together this holiday. Many of us are burned out, lonely, tired of the same routine, and frustrated with school from home. A hug from an aunt, cousin, grandma, or friend is a distant feeling that many of us are longing for. I was hopeful that a little holiday cheer could brighten the spirits of those struggling mentally and physically through these tough times.

I am writing this blog post from my couch. I will be here for a while. I was exposed to someone who tested positive last week. The scenario may be similar to what many of you have planned for the holidays. So I wanted to share with you how COVID-19 has affected my family. For those who know me well, you understand how much family means to me. We are so close! So last weekend, my sister and I took a trip home to visit our parents. We just needed to get away from school. On Sunday, the extended family got together for dinner. Since it was so beautiful outside, we ate on my Nonna’s back patio. It was a lovely dinner with 10 of us gathered around the table. We had not been together for the longest time. It was so good to laugh and hug and catch up. We all needed it.

Then 4:30 PM came along. Do you know what that means? It was time to watch those Pittsburgh Steelers on the big screen TV in the basement. Wave those terrible towels, the Steelers won again!

Let me mention that while we were eating and watching the game, we neglected to wear our masks. We are a family. We know where each other has been. Forget the pandemic. If we haven’t seen that thing in 9 months, then we probably won’t ever see it. WRONG!

Within 24 hours, one of us developed a headache, cough, and fever. Then another, then another, and another. And finally, on Wednesday, we got our first positive test result in the family. How did this happen? We were just trying to spend some quality time together.

My family story illustrates the mystery that is COVID-19. We have no idea where it is hiding. Once you get it, what is done is done.

Since I was exposed, I will stay at home for 14 days. This is what my county and university have advised that I do, even if I test negative. I am only leaving to get tested at the WVU testing center. I have thoughtful friends to deliver my groceries and study with me over Facetime. Thus far, I have no symptoms. The family is recovering and doing alright.

As many health officials are already advising, now is not the time to become complacent with your holiday plans and health status. The scariest thing about the virus is that we do not know who has it. And as I learn more about it in medical school, I begin to understand the toll it will take on the health and wellbeing of our nation this holiday season.

We had a lecture on COVID-19 last week. It is surreal to learn about a virus that is making history and affecting our lives in so many ways. I would like to highlight a few important characteristics of the virus and reiterate why we have these regulations set by our counties and local governments.

1. WEAR YOUR MASK - the virus spreads by respiratory droplets expelled during face-to-face contact with others

2. STAY AT HOME - there is a higher risk of infection with prolonged exposure (>15 minutes) within 6 feet of an infected person

3. YOU CAN SPREAD WITHOUT KNOWING YOU ARE CONTAGIOUS - the virus begins shedding 2-3 days prior to symptom onset

4. QUARANTINE – the virus can incubate within 14 days following exposure, with most cases occurring 4-5 days after exposure

5. SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR – cough, fever, loss of taste, loss of smell, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue

6. AT-RISK POPULATIONS – diabetics, chronic lung disease, elderly, cardiovascular disease, and immunocompromised

So maybe you have heard all of these facts over and over and over again. Turn on the news and every other word is COVID-19 or pandemic! I know we are all sick of it. When will good news come?

There is talk of a vaccine early in 2021. It could help. Once it is developed, we must continue to be patient. It will likely be distributed to at-risk populations and healthcare workers before the general public. Creating a vaccine this quickly is unheard of! Usually, vaccines take 5-10 years to create. We want it to be safe and effective. You can read more about it in this article about "Operation Warp Speed".

Unfortunately, no medication can make COVID-19 miraculously go away. Dexamethasone is the only anti-inflammatory medication that proved to reduce mortality. Plasma and Remdesivir have been approved to treat the sickest of patients. But for most of us, we just need to let the virus run its course. It presents with symptoms of other respiratory tract infections with pneumonia being the most serious manifestation. Some other complications include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), cardiomyopathies, pulmonary embolisms, strokes, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome (primarily in children). Unfortunately, there is not a lot of data on how this will affect us in the long run. Cases of reinfection have been reported but are rare thus far.

This holiday season, I encourage you to follow the guidelines. Stay at home for 14 days if you have been in contact with someone who tested positive. Get tested. Watch for symptoms. Wear your mask, and try to get the little ones to wear theirs, too! And while wearing those masks, remember your manners. You can still smile with your eyes, you can still say please and thank you, and you can still be compassionate. Think about these things when you go to the grocery store or see your local post worker!

The CDC has some really informative guidelines on how to spend Thanksgiving this year. Utilize Zoom and Facetime. Wear masks. Know your “bubble” of friends and family members. Utilize online shopping.

Let’s take it one holiday at a time. If we want to spend the holidays with everyone gathered around the table next year, we may need to change our plans for this year.

I care. I want everyone to be happy – every day and all the time. Life is hard. The pandemic has made things harder. I am hopeful that we can get through this together. We are strong.

In closing, I encourage you to count your blessings every day. Go for a walk. Reach out to those spending the holidays alone. Being apart doesn’t mean we cannot be there for each other. We need each other now more than ever.

Stay well, everyone!