Literally.

Our Older Daughter Tested positive for COVID one week ago. I made her get a rapid test after she told me a coworker was waiting on results. Seven months of being cautious, mostly staying home, and wearing masks. And it all flew out the window with the word “positive.”

I’ve said it before. I’m at increased risk. I have underlying conditions, and I’m on a medication that suppresses the immune system. The older daughter is the only one of us who regularly leaves the house, since working from home isn’t an option for her. She’s supposed to wear a mask. However, she’s 22 and well, we know that age group doesn’t always listen. I don’t fool myself.

I ordered her to come straight home when she told me the test results. She’s spent probably 99.5% of the past week in her room. Her first words to me were, “I feel fine. Why do I have to quarantine?” Because my dear, you and all the other invincible people are the reason we’re still in this mess. Because it’s the right thing to do. Because I don’t want you to unwittingly kill someone.

So far, so good. She’s had no symptoms. Husband tested negative. The other kid and I have not been tested, but we’re staying home. If she comes out of her room, she’s masked, and we go behind her with disinfecting wipes. We’re on the downside of quarantine, and no one else has symptoms. Still, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

So it’s not a story of woe. It’s not a story of someone being so sick from the virus. It’s also not a story of it being no Big Deal. Because it is a very big deal. If she had continued to go about life as normal without being tested, and without us insisting that she stay home, she would have infected others. She might have inadvertently killed someone.

Yesterday, there was a new daily record of new cases. It’s spiraling out of control, and people are going to die. Why? Because people can’t be bothered to do a simple thing like wear a mask? Because people refuse to get tested? Because people think they’re entitled to pre-COVID lives?

Do the right thing. Please.

Feel free to comment and/or share.