Disclaimer: Photo used for Featured image is not mine.
Two Saturdays ago, June 12th, the restrictions here in the province were lifted. New restrictions include: outside gathering of no more than five people outside of no more than 2 households allowed (does that make sense?) Anyway, I made plans with my girlfriends already to meet them that coming Friday, June 18th. I was excited to meet them and their babies because the last time I saw them in person was when they were in the hospital (after giving birth). My parents also made plan to meet their friends that Saturday. I was hesitant to let them go because they’ve been pretty good with distancing themselves for their own safety. I had this gut feeling, but I told them that it’s up to them if they would still meet their friends. Long story short, they met them because one of their married friends are going to move out to another province. So it’s like a send away get together.
Tuesday evening, after their walk with our dog, my mom asked me, “What should we do?” I’m like, why, what happened. They told me that one person in the group that they met last Saturday tested positive when that person had a swab last Monday (June 14th)—he wasn’t feeling well Sunday. I couldn’t help myself but say: I told you so! They were in a group call or group video chat, asking each other what should they do—who’s going to call who etc. In the end, my mom had to phone public health to inform them about the situation. We also had to call occupational health for further instructions whether it was safe for us to go back to work since my mom and I were already fully vaccinated. Apparently, my mom’s vaccine wasn’t long enough(?) to be considered “safe”. Something about: it has to be 14 days after second dose for it to work, etc. My parents had to isolate for 14 days and they were advised to get swabbed Wednesday then another on the 10th day of exposure which was yesterday. And thank God both results were negative. They were both asymptomatic.
I didn’t had to isolate and they cleared me to go back to work. But I had to basically stay away from them. Good thing we had a second bath downstairs. The challenging part was the dining area. My mom had to sanitize everything after they use it the first day. Then I told them to use mask when cooking and if I’m home I’d be bringing them food upstairs. Good thing that is finally over now. We are all asymptomatic, thank God.
One thing to take away from this though, is to make sure you know the people who your friends meet outside their household. And maybe to double check with them and tell them to be honest if there’s anyone in their family who got swabbed or if they were exposed to anyone who had Covid and/or if they have flu-like symptoms even though they weren’t exposed to a covid positive person. My parents were really careful—they abide with social distancing and other stuff, but because of that tiny mishap it almost caused them their health.
I am really grateful that aside from not leaving the house for 14 days—they were both healthy and still to this day, stays asymptomatic. I know and read a lot of stories about the ugly and horrible effects of this pandemic to the humankind. It is indeed very terrible. So please, please guys—if you can, get vaccinated. If you are still having second thoughts about the vaccine, please do your research, educate yourself—and please base your decision to an actual fact that was already proven. Wash your hands, and stay safe. Really hoping for this nightmare to end.
