About a week ago the Philippines reported its first case of the Omicron Variant as it originated from passengers that came from Japan and the US.
It started with two people and then became four to then increased to 10 known people. The numbers are still climbing and maybe in part due to the holidays that people started having get-togethers once again but from having 319 new cases on December 28 to yesterday's, January 4, 5300 new cases.
Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash
Another factor that is being looked at is because one person decided to ditch quarantine procedures and go out and party with her friends.
This led to several people in the parties that she went to test positive.
The said person had come from the US and was supposed to follow quarantine procedures and wait for the results of her test before being allowed to go out of the quarantine hotel.
Apparently rich and well-connected so the person decided that the quarantine procedure does not apply to her and she went to two gatherings, sharing photos of them without masks or any social distancing. So yeah partying like the pandemic never happened.
The Omicron Virus is said to be more infectious than the Delta Variant. This led me to double precautions again so even though it was the holidays I did not go out to gatherings nor had any visitors.
Honestly, I miss my siblings. I haven't seen them in person for two years. I haven't seen my nephews and nieces aside from video calls and photos. I miss the meals we would cook together and the boardgames that we would play to pass the time and make fun of each other.
It was another year of not being with them but since I am critical condition Covid 19 survivor and have an unhealthy fear of getting exposed again so as much as possible I don't leave the house. I could count in one hand the number of times that I have left the house since coming home from the hospital.
I am set to start a new job next week and this week was set to finish submitting some of the onboarding papers and requirements. Then I heard the bad news.
One of the people living here who had dinner with churchmates was exposed to someone that exhibited symptoms and by contact tracing found out that they knew someone that was in one of the two parties that person of interest that ditched the quarantine procedure was present.
The same parties that several other people tested positive.
Man, I felt my world crashing again. Just the thought of being rushed to the hospital, tubes in my nose and throat, needles in my veins again made me shiver.
Whenever I see hospital scenes I cannot help but cringe as I remember the time I spent helplessly.
I wanted to get mad but knew it was something out of her control and we couldn't live like this, isolated from everything. I knew she was careful and would disinfect whenever she went home from church. She knew how deathly I am afraid of getting sick again.
So I am wearing a mask in my own home. Spraying alcohol on everything and will self-quarantine inside my room, alone.
Tomorrow I'll get tested in my house. Paying for testing since it will be done at my convenience. I hope that it is negative.
I don't know if I can handle getting sick again. Yet for now I am alive and with no symptoms.