A few months ago, my goal was to try and blog twice a week. After my son was born a little over a month ago, I got busy and my goal was to try to blog once a week. I'm still trying and it's tough, especially now that we all have Covid.

Everyone Has COVID-19

First, it was my son, then my wife, then me. We didn't even know he was sick at first, we are very inexperienced parents and don't know him that well and he can't really talk to us about symptoms. Frankly, I'm surprised I didn't catch it first. In any case, we are survivors, and #Iamnotavirus lol (this kind of stuff was so early 2020 and seems redundant now).

The middle one is mine, I passed, but it was too late to bother isolating myself from my family.

The Baby

My infant son is 5 weeks old today! He is an anti-masker and an anti-vaxer. He was also the first one to get COVID-19 in my family. Fortunately, he is doing alright as far as infants are concerned. I think the elderly get it far worse than anyone else. The younger you are the less severe, but at his age, just like the elderly, everything is concerning.

Babies can't get vaccines or wear masks. He isn't an actually anti-vaxer. Giving a 5-week old baby a covid vaccine is illegal. Even though 5-year-olds can get vaxxed here starting April 1st and I've heard 2-year-olds are getting it in some places, he doesn't come close to qualifying in any case.

He also isn't an actually anti-masker FreeDumb!!! He doesn't wear a mask because he is too young. Generally, if you are old enough to walk and be out of diapers, you wear a mask while in public in Korea, especially indoors. No one will say anything to children under 3, but especially to 5-week old babies. I guess you could try and he wouldn't understand anyway.

I think he caught it while at the hospital getting a vaccine for a different issue - BCG for TB (It's still given in Korea, I paid extra for the good one that doesn't leave a bump). They made us wait in a small crowded 'recovery' room filled with other little anti-maskers. Perfect place to catch Covid-19.

My Wife

My wife is an anti-vaxer, but not an anti-masker. She didn't want to get a vaccine because she was pregnant. Actually, it wasn't even allowed for pregnant women in Korea until November 1st and by then she was like 7 months pregnant, so I don't blame her for not wanting it until after.

She got her first vaccine (Novavax) 2 weeks ago Wednesday, or about 1 week before showing obvious signs that she caught Covid. It probably wasn't very effective at that point. I've heard a lot of stuff about the vaccine, but needless to say, her symptoms are by far worse than mine and probably our baby's (hard to tell with that little guy). In my non-expert opinion and single case point, this is evidence the vaccine works.

She had a fever of up to 29.4C on the weekend, and she refused my home cure of garlic juice, ghost peppers and vodka. I don't blame her, but fortunately, she did take some medicine that she was prescribed and that helped with her fever. She didn't do the full 7-day course and is now on OTC stuff but that is cool. I don't know why they are prescribing anti-biotics for this stuff. Also, she said it was making her high.

She caught it 2nd I think and our baby gave it to her. He likes coughing in our faces. Actually, spit is the least gross fluid he has hit us with, lol.

Good to say, my wife is now feeling a little better which means she isn't sleeping 15 hours a day and can help me a little with the baby. Handling that on my own was a handful to say the least.

My Self

I failed my test 2 days later. I knew it was inevitable. I probably caught it from them, but who really knows? Korea has it bad now with Omicron-2a (or whatever).

I got Covid last. Actually, I tested negative Thursday night on a self-test when my wife tested positive, and then I tested negative again on Friday at a hospital test. Then I failed a home test Sunday and a hospital test Monday.

In Korea, you need to do a rapid test with a certified medical professional if you want any government support. It's worth paying a couple of dollars to skip the line and get one at the local clinic instead of the district health office where it is free. Technically, I can also get a free PCR now, but why bother when failing rapid tests?

I got a test in a little booth outside the local clinic. She stands on one side and I stand on the other. It is similar to a confession booth, but she is handling me with giant rubber gloves instead of hearing my sins. I'm sorry I caught Covid - 1 week paid staycation!

In my case, I don't feel sick at all. I had a bit of a sore throat and I thought it was because of air pollution, especially after testing negative. This also means I probably caught the coronavirus last. That's odd, I'm the one going to work all day and riding extremely busy public transportation (Seoul is busy where the standing room is barely available) while eating in the company cafeteria and being in a somewhat crowded office and elevators.

By the way, I'm fully vaccinated (Pfizer) and had a booster shot in late February. I wear a mask religiously and change it every day. I keep it on more than anyone in my office.

I assume I have the mildest symptoms in my family because I'm fully vaccinated, but maybe it's all that garlic juice with hot pepper powder and vodka I've been drinking. #homeremedy!

Rapid Tests

At first, I was a little confused about how rapid tests work. No, I'm not talking about failing to read the instructions or digging deep, I'm confused with the lines. Even the faintest line is positive as long as there is something on both C and T. In any case, we have to do hospital checks here if we think we failed a self-test. Sure you can lie to avoid quarantine when testing positive (currently 7 days here), but being responsible, or not, is a choice.

We also had to go to a children's clinic to get the baby checked. Not too many general doctors or nurses want to do a covid test on a small infant. Oddly, my baby didn't cry, he is a big boy! But I did see a 30-year-old lady cry another time I had to take the nose swab. No one likes the test, but I was embarrassed for her. After about 12 years old such reactions to uncomfortable situations are inappropriate.

Treatment

TL;DR if you catch Covid-19 you need to stay isolated for about a week and keep yourself comfortable.

We couldn't go to the pharmacy after testing positive, so we asked my mother-in-law to go. Basic yummy OTC medicines like this are running out. My went overboard, lol. I think she felt guilty she couldn't stay and help out since she cannot be exposed to coronaviruses which now thrive in my house.

After following regulations (I'll probably lose my job if I get a fine for being stupid), we got the medicine from the pharmacy. Our child hasn't been prescribed anything, but my wife and I have been prescribed the same gauntlet of medicine. It involves anti-inflammatory, anti-biotic, painkillers, decongestants and fever reducers. My wife took hers for 2.5 days out of 7. I got a 5-day prescription. I specifically told them I only had a sore throat - not even enough to gargle saltwater, but they still gave me everything. Much science, score another point for home remedies.

Anyway, the treatment that actually works (antivirals developed specifically for covid) is only available for inpatients that cannot breathe on their own or people over 70. It's a shame, maybe my wife could have used some. She was looking awful on Saturday.

With such mild or non-existent symptoms, I'm not even sure I need my garlic, pepper and vodka remedy, just a nice cold beer is fine, lol (they can legally deliver beer now because of covid).

OTC Care and My Experience

We bought a lot of cough syrup (Colddaewon blue), throat candy (Ricola and Halls) and Theraflu (lemon tea). The cough syrup and Theraflu tea are a cocktail of medicines. Acetaminophen (paracetamol/Tylenol) is basically the main ingredient. I'm not even sure I need it, but heck, I haven't had this good of an excuse to chug cough syrup and painkillers for years.

Now that it's Tuesday, we are finally feeling better. Our baby is still not sleeping, but what can we expect from an infant? My wife no longer has a fever. I'm feeling the same. But we are all stuck indoors for a few more days. They will be free Friday, but I'm stuck until Monday.

Lesson Learned

I felt we did everything reasonable to avoid this. Unfortunately, Korea is getting like 300k cases a day out of a population of 50m. Something like 20% of the country has caught it since mid-January. For a while, the government was doing well with contact tracing, treatments and quarantine and even made up a stupid K-quarantine propaganda campaign with K-pop stars to brag #toosoon. However, omicron wrecked the zero-covid policies that existed in Korea and a few other places.

Having a sick wife and a sick baby really suck. My wife could barely look after herself and obviously, my baby can't do anything sick or well. It was an awful weekend. I'm glad I didn't have it that badly.

Masks and vaccines work. Not sure about the treatments, typical cold remedies worked for us. Be safe.