As Illinois, the federal government and the World Health Organization announced the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency earlier this month, the unexpected happened — I tested positive for the coronavirus.
After dodging the virus for more than three years, it finally caught up. For me, it was diligently masking, slathering hand sanitizer daily and avoiding large gatherings when Gov. J.B. Pritzker first declared the pandemic emergency in March of 2020.
Catching the virus was somewhat disheartening seeing as I have been vaccinated five times with the Pfizer serum. Maybe those anti-vaxxers were right all along.
But I don’t think so. My quintet of jabs may have abated the symptoms.
I was compromised at a gathering of folks, three of whom also tested positive after feeling punky. When they notified me they came down with the virus, I picked up home test kits.
I tested negative last week and this week with two at-home tests, but still felt crummy. Off to Walgreens for what turned out to be a not-so-rapid COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test, manufactured by Lake County’s own Abbott Laboratories.
Seven hours later and $128.99 poorer, the results came back: Positive.
Time to panic? Not yet.
COVID symptoms vary among individuals, but mine included a nasty, raspy sore throat; runny nose; coughing and sneezing; and fever — similar to a wicked head cold or the flu.
I haven’t lost my sense of smell or taste. So far.
A call to the doctor’s office, and the physician assistant said they would prescribe an antiviral medication. I also was instructed to quarantine at home and stay hydrated.
One now has new empathy for Lake County employees, including sheriff’s deputies and correctional officers, who worked during the health crisis. About 1,000 of them will be getting $1,200 bonuses, the County Board decided the other day.
The money totals $1.2 million. It is part of the $31 million in federal largesse the county received during the pandemic emergency, according to Gavin Good’s front-page News-Sun story earlier this week.
Since the end of COVID-19 restrictions, many of us have noticed little change, unless one comes down with the virus. Most of the restrictions imposed upon us concluded last year.
The end of the federal emergency means private insurers and Medicare no longer will have to provide eight free at-home COVID-19 tests per month. Also ending is the requirement that insurance plans cover COVID tests. Vaccines will continue to be free as long as federal supplies last.
The Illinois Department of Health will stop releasing COVID-19 case updates weekly. Instead, they will be every other week, with the next update set for May 26.
The North Shore Water Reclamation District, which treats sewage for most communities east of the Tri-State Tollway, also will continue to monitor COVID-19 concentrations at its three treatment plants in Gurnee, Highland Park and Waukegan. The district’s wastewater twice-weekly sampling program is part of the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System, which covers more than eight million residents.
Since the start of the pandemic, the virus has claimed the lives of some 1.1 million Americans. Globally, 6.9 million died.
As of May 11 in Lake County, there have been 179,480 coronavirus cases logged. Mine will probably be included in the next update. According to the Lake County Health Department, the recovery rate is 99.2% for those who have been infected.
There have been 1,544 county deaths since the pandemic was declared, including 573 in long-term health care facilities. Cases in long-term health care facilities in the county have totaled 4,213.
Statewide, there have been 4.1 million COVID-19 cases. Deaths topped 36,850 as of May 11, according to the state Health Department.
Beyond the human toll, the pandemic has had a major impact on the U.S. economy, two University of Southern California economists determined. They estimated the economic toll of the pandemic will reach $14 trillion by the end of this year.
During the health emergency, sales lost were due to mandatory business closures and shoppers avoiding brick-and-mortar retail stores, air travel and restaurant gatherings.
At the height of the pandemic, in the second quarter of 2020, the survey indicated international and domestic airline travel fell by nearly 60%, indoor dining by 65% and in-store shopping by 43%.
The losses were offset to a degree by expansion of online purchasing, more Americans working from home who otherwise might have been laid off, along with major government stimulus and economic packages.
While the health emergency may be over, according to officials, the virus remains ready to pounce at any time. Just ask me.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
Twitter: @sellenews
