With ambiguity around Covid protocols & guidelines often under revision, not only doctors but also public go on trumpeting without sense what the existing protocols warrant.
When my son-in-law in Mumbai suburb was tested Covid-positive, like many others my wife lost her peace, “Our daughter Silogi and the two darling under-fives are at risk of being infected”. My information that over 94 per cent of positive cases are outside risk zone, and recover shortly did little to ease her tension.
“Had the daughter’s family been around, she would have sure done something”, she said pensively. “I must rush to them and manage those found negative, in separate part of her home”. I suggested an alternative. I alone shall proceed, pick the negative ones just from the door, and bring them along to Delhi with us.
Seats in trains were easily available as never before, due to very few commuters. The sole hurdle was an RT-PCR clearance that took at least a day if not two. We agreed on both first procuring that document, an essentiality for travel to Mumbai, and deciding later who shall proceed.
Next morning, we both gave our sample at a government facility, and anxiously waited for certificate. Just the same evening, we learnt that remaining three members were also detected positive though mildly, with CT value around 28. Our plan to move to the all-positive family was abruptly abandoned. We no more required the RT PCR clearance either.
For several days, without iota of any complaint viz. cough, fever, throat sore, body ache, loss of taste or smell I continued my normal routine carefree that included attending office in a healthcare organisation that is not liberal in allowing work-from-home practice, duly participated in an uncle’s Terahvin and disposed of essential outside chores.
Passing through the same Covid test centre 13 days past our test, I just felt to collect our RT-PCR reports. The official at the counter passed the judgement with the report, “You are positive, your wife is not. So rush home, get quarantined forthright! By the way, what are the symptoms?”
“None” I quipped. He repeated, “Nevertheless, avoid all contacts and follow the protocol strictly for two weeks”. To my query, besides quarantine, what should I do since the paper says I am Covid-positive, he advised me to take medicines. “Give it to me, then” I requested. He said, “As per protocol we can give it to your negative wife for you”.
I rang my wife to appear. The aged lady doctor gave her paracetamol if there is fever, vitamin C and multivitamin tablets containing zinc. My wife told that we are already taking latter two since a month as immunity booster. For further action, doctor said: “Go for next RT-PCR after 14 days of being found positive; that’s the protocol”. When revealed it’s already 13 days since, the doctor was nonplussed, looked left & right and spoke in hushed tone, “Baba, let him be quarantined for one day remaining, then retest and wait for negative report. We educated folks must honour the protocol!”
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