On December 31, my husband came home with news that we had both feared for months: his test was positive for COVID-19. A seemingly common seasonal cold actually turned out to be the virus. Three days later, a doctor confirmed that I was also a COVID statistician from New York City. Somehow, even after nine months of the pandemic, we do not feel fully prepared.
Here’s what I would like us to know.
Be prepared with a homemade COVID kit. Fortunately, my husband and I had relatively mild cases that looked more like colds in the early days. He had a fever briefly and none of us had a strong cough. It wasn’t until the sixth or seventh day in our COVID timelines that we lost taste and smell – that would have been our big indicator that this was COVID if we hadn’t been tested before.
I say this because everyone needs to take even the basic cold symptoms seriously. It is essential to isolate until you are tested, which means that you want a “COVID Kit” of non-prescription drugs prepared at home. That way, you don’t have to go to the pharmacy – and risk infecting others – for basic products like Tylenol, antitussive, cough drops, VapoRub, sinus decongestants and nighttime relief medications. We read the labels to see how the ingredients interact with each other and follow when we take the drugs with a notepad in the refrigerator.
Other things you will want in your kit are a thermometer and perhaps an oximeter, rubber or latex gloves and wipes or spray to disinfect common areas. This is particularly important for those who live in apartment buildings and may still need to leave the house (for example, to let a dog out).
Create a support plan. Many families create “disaster plans”, establishing a protocol on what to do in an emergency. It is good to have an outline, if a family member, especially someone you live with, is positive. If the parents are sick, but the children remain healthy, discuss a strategy to keep them safe and isolated from you.
Realistically, not everyone in the same house can isolate. Like many New Yorkers, we don’t have a second bathroom or a guest room, so when my husband tested positive, it seemed like a matter of time to me. But at the very least, everyone can wear masks and gloves in common spaces at home. You can also make a plan on how to get food left by friends, neighbors or delivery services. You should also keep some canned or dried products on hand if it takes a day or two to get everything sorted out.
Look for free trial sites. Part of your COVID plan should include knowing exactly where and how you can take the test. Ideally, those who suspect they are positive should look for drive-through test sites to avoid staying indoors with others. You can also research whether your area offers free trials to reduce the potential cost. Be sure to search government websites to avoid possible scams.
By the time I got a test appointment, I was quite confident about the result. So I used rubber gloves in addition to the mask when I went to CityMD to get tested. Even for the check-in process, I used only a gloved hand and brought wipes to disinfect things like iPads that I had to touch.
Get ready to negotiate medical bills. Many people will not have the same moderate COVID experience as I did and may end up needing hospitalization or additional doctor visits. If you end up with medical bills, it is important to know that you have the power to negotiate. First, you must request a detailed invoice to check for possible errors or incorrect medical codes. Second, call the hospital directly and ask about income reduction programs. If you are not eligible, you can ask to set up an installment plan or, if possible, see if you can get a discount to pay the full amount in cash.
You should also call the doctor’s office within 60 days of your visit to follow up on any accounts to prevent items from being sent for collection and damaging your credit score.
Do not despise your mental health. This is one of the most difficult parts of having COVID-19. Isolation, combined with the shame of contracting the disease and the fear of who else you could have endangered, can be overwhelming. Then there is the stress that at any time your illness can get worse and put you on a respirator. For those who are already prone to anxiety or depression, this can be a dangerous mix. Do not dismiss the need to take your mental health seriously, especially if you live alone.
Make plans to maintain regular virtual contact with your loved ones. There are also resources available for accessible teletherapy, such as the Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine or applications such as Talkspace or Betterhelp. Your state may also offer options (the state of New York has a COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline).
I am optimistic that mass vaccination will allow the United States to reopen safely and lead us to a new normal. But it can take many more months. We all still need to be cautious, take cold symptoms seriously, and be prepared for what lies ahead.
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