Cruise Cancellation & Current Covid-19 Thoughts

If you follow along on Instagram, you may know that the past two weeks have been a rollercoaster of a mystery GI bug running through our house, ending with Margaret finally getting it, who we thought had avoided it. Even though we’d all been negative on our at-home and in person antigen Covid tests, and Flu A/B tests, we still tested her when her symptoms started. Her first and only symptoms so far have been headache, body ache, fever, vomiting and diarrhea – exactly what Curtis, Catherine and I experienced. Her at-home test was negative but we decided to get her flu tested at Walgreens, just in case she’d managed to pick up something different than us. They threw in a Covid test that we were sure would be negative and but, of course, it was positive. I was due to leave on a Disney Cruise with my friends today, and I quickly did another rapid test at home – again it was negative. Since I was about to be traveling, and in an interest not only to protect the group I’d be with, but also anyone I might come in contact with,  I scheduled a rapid NAAT test and just like Margaret’s, it came back positive. Our next steps included: 

• calling the pediatrician’s office to see if there was anything else we should be doing for Margaret
• contacting our school nurse to update them and confirm that based on Catherine’s timeline she could remain in school which she can because she’s past her 10 days, is fever free, and symptom free. Updated Guidance Here 
• figuring out what our symptom/isolation timelines are now that we know what we’ve been dealing with for the last few weeks

We’re all so over this. I know you’re exhausted by all of the changing guidelines, new variants, overall confusion, and devastation caused by this virus, as are we.  But – it isn’t over. We’re just living in the middle of a shift while also experiencing the “Tripledemic” – as result of “Pediatric Immunity Debt”. Most experts agree that we’re turning the corner, from pandemic to endemic or are already there, and as we experience this gray area in real time, I thought I’d put this post up here with: 

• Updated guidance
• A few details of our recent encounter that may be helpful 
• Some general takeaways of how our family will try to cope during this phase of Covid-19. 

TESTING 

Over the past two weeks, we all evaded MANY rapid antigen tests of not only different brands, but even some administered by healthcare professionals in the urgent care setting. For now, the assumption is that antigen tests are still catching the new variants but they are acknowledging that doctors are finding delayed positives as well as false negatives that may be due to the virus multiplying more rapidly in places other than the nostrils. I think our toilets would agree this has been the case for the Hamlin family and may explain all of our negatives. A takeaway from our experience is that, especially given the new variants NAAT tests are the most sensitive if you’re looking for the most reliable results.  That said, it doesn’t mean the antigen tests are useless. And the government is still providing free tests to have on hand. 

Something I’m surprised to keep hearing is, along the lines of, “But why does it matter if you test positive or negative? Just treat the symptoms!” Which I agree to a point. And we can only do what we can do. Many people can’t as easily access an NAAT test. However there are a few reasons why I’d encourage pursuing the most accurate testing possible if you’re exposed or start showing symptoms. For starters, while we may be in a gray area, at least there are antiviral options that may be right for you and that can significantly reduce the more severe complications of Covid. While those are reserved for people 12 and older, even for the girls I want to know whenever possible, what they’re dealing with – which isn’t a new thing for me. So at this point our first move with significant symptoms is always Flu/Strep/Covid tests. When those were all negative for Catherine we assumed it was just a nasty GI bug that somehow eventually came with Upper Respiratory symptoms too- which can happen, albeit rarely, from some GI bugs like rotavirus. But still, her pediatrician treated the symptoms and she was eventually on antibiotics, steroids, and Zofran plus probiotics. We babied her stomach with the CDC recommended diet for diarrhea for a while, though she barely had any appetite and frankly we are all still recovering with minimal interest in eating. If they hadn’t thrown in the Covid test for Margaret, we never would’ve known even after multiple antigen tests. Which leads me to masks. 

MASKS 

I got used to wearing masks over time and it got to the “no big deal” point for me where I could wear them for hours and barely think about it. But eventually we stopped wearing masks in almost all situations except healthcare settings. These past two weeks, after I was fever free for 24 hours and my symptoms had vastly improved, I had a hair appointment and needed to run a few errands. Even though my tests had been negative, I wore a mask because I figured no matter what it was, I wanted to minimize the risk of spreading it if I was still infectious. I canceled a spray tanning appointment because I knew I couldn’t wear a mask during it and that would’ve put the technician at risk. Maybe where you live, masking is back more significantly, but in my area of Florida, it is pretty uncommon, so if I am being honest I felt a little weird wearing one. Is that a good reason to not wear one? No. But it is the truth. When I got the positive NAAT result I was so glad I’d been wearing a mask. I’d say a key takeaway from our experience is that even if you are testing negative, if you are symptomatic the most considerate approach you can take is to wear a mask. The reality is that as with most viruses, individuals are contagious even before they are symptomatic, which is why the mass masking worked in settings like schools. I’m not proposing we go back to that, but we don’t need to deny the efficacy of them. And so for the Hamlin family, we’ll be bringing them out more often. The good news is that the numbers of the “Tripledemic” we’ve had going on seem to be on the decline and I’d bet we see a lighter spring. 

VACCINES 

All four of us are vaccinated and boosted. We got the flu shot too as we do every year. But none of us had received the bivalent booster yet, which are currently demonstrating a reduced infection risk of 50% even for the most recent strain. Our family’s interest in staying up to date is about reducing our risk of infection and also reducing our risk of severe complications since each infection increases the likelihood of long term consequences, such as the Long Covid Crisis we’re seeing. So we personally will be continuing to follow vaccine and booster guidelines for all four of us and will do so in concert with our primary doctors. We’ll also be doing so in order to responsibly participate in decisions that positively impact public health. While vaccines do not prevent infection 100% of the time, they do decrease the risk. We know that every infection in the general population is an opportunity for mutation. As the virus mutates, natural infection isn’t providing as much protection from reinfection as before. We’re hearing more and more people who are reinfected a month or two later, which while it is still on the rare side, didn’t used to be the case. If you’re interested in the updated forecast for Covid vaccines, leading public health officials have been meeting to chart the course ahead and are looking to move toward an annual shot model much like the flu. 

WHAT’S NEXT 
Plain and simple we’re just going to keep doing our best and hope others do the same. We’re coming up on the fourth year of Covid. Catherine was a true baby when it started and next year she’ll be in Pre-K, and turning 5. It is wild to think about how this has impacted our family but we remain deeply grateful that relatively speaking we have been incredibly fortunate. We will continue to travel to see people and places. We will continue to throw and attend parties. We’re back booking concert tickets and live performances. But for now there may still be ebbs and flows of all that I just described, times where we know we need to pull back and be more cautious, like in this instance. And as we step into this next chapter of Covid, and as it continues to be a leading cause of death in our country, my prayer remains that you and yours are safe and healthy.