Omicron

 After three vaccines, the third one only three months ago - I finally got the Corona virus, the Omicron variant. It was a shock. I felt like I had a cold - but just to protect people around me wherever I go, I did the test, expecting it to be negative, thinking it was only a cold. However, it wasn't just a cold. FYI, the first symptoms are voice related - the voice starts to sound strange, heavier, coarser. Then the throat starts to be sore, then you feel cold and weak, and when you're already in bed for a few days - headaches appear. It takes longer than a regular cold to go away. I still have it and it's been 8 days already. 

When I went to do the test - I didn't want to go by public transportation, because then I would infect everyone on the bus. I didn't want to take a taxi either, because if I am positive to the virus, the driver would have to lose days of work and stay in quarantine after that, because of me. My only other option was to walk. The nearest testing station is one hour away from here by foot. So I walked one hour until I got there. I was weak and I was walking relatively slowly, going through some Arab neighborhoods on the way. It amuses me how they are always surprised to see a Jewish person on their streets. I'm probably one of the few who walk there. 

After I did the test, I then waited for 45 or so minutes there, to find out whether I was positive or negative. They send you the answer as an SMS message on your phone, but because I didn't want to walk back for another hour if I didn't have to, I wanted to first get the results - If I were negative, I would take the light-rail or the bus back, or even a taxi. If I were positive - then I'll have to walk back the whole way again. And this is exactly what  happened. After 45 minutes or so of waiting, I got a text message on my phone - the results of the test were that I am positive to the Corona virus... It changed all of my plans for the next 10 days, because now I was obligated by law to stay in quarantine... And so, weaker than before, I started walking the one hour back home, knowing that I won't see the outside for at least 10 days... (now they changed it to 7, but they may change it back). 

A day or so later I got a message from the police on my phone. They sent me a link and asked for my permission to monitor my geographical location, to make sure I'm in quarantine and don't go out and about. Otherwise, they said, they will have to patrol the area where I live to make sure I'm staying indoors. Funny, because if they did that to me, they would have to patrol 25% of the population of Israel that is now infected with the virus, despite 3 vaccines... I OK'ed their request, and now they are monitoring my whereabouts. I feel important... 

I'm too weak to write, and when my hands are out of the blanket, it makes me colder. Every little thing is an effort, so I'll stop here. 

Just wanted to share this. 

Stay well...!