Day 1: Tuesday 2/23:
I found out that someone I had been in contact with tested positive. Urgent Care told me I should quarantine at home and get tested five days after exposure, which for me will be Saturday. It was a pretty calm night. I watched basketball in my room and wore a mask outside the room. I’ve been watching the Knicks and Nets more often this season since both teams are doing really well. The Knicks have been a pleasant surprise.
Day 2: Wednesday 2/24:
Today was an uneventful day. I don’t think I have any symptoms yet, but now that it’s on my mind every time I sneeze or clear my throat it makes me wonder. I took our family dog for a few walks to get some fresh air. I tried to pay attention to everyone else I saw and most people were wearing masks. The last time I had to quarantine, which was about a year ago, there were fewer people wearing masks but also fewer people going outside. Yesterday the whole thing was like a shock, but it has sunk in now and I’m getting used to staying in my room.
Day 3: Thursday 2/25:
I got some terrible news early this morning. A close family friend and his wife both died of coronavirus yesterday. They were ok and then they felt a little sick and then they were gone. It definitely serves as a reminder for everyone to get medical help if you’re feeling sick. It’s also a reminder for me to take some time to stay in touch with people during the pandemic even though I can’t visit anyone right now.
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Day 4: Friday 2/26:
After the tough day yesterday, I decided to be proactive and get a rapid test. Quarantining can get a little bit boring and it’s not like I had much else to do. I got the result back about 15 minutes and it was negative. It doesn’t clear me yet but it’s a good sign. I’ve been looking out my window more often nd life seems somewhat normal out there. It was a nice day so there were lots of people walking their dogs or jogging and kids playing ball. It just still looks weird seeing everyone wearing a mask. I don’t feel sick at all so today feels like a step in the right direction.
Day 5: Saturday 2/27:
The restlessness of quarantining during the pandemic is beginning to set in for me. I’ve been reading Agatha Christie books, which has helped make the time go by faster. So far I’ve finished “And Then There Were None” and “Murder on the Orient Express.” I just started “Death on the Nile.” I’ve been spending my time reading, writing and watching sports. I got antsy so I did some home exercises to keep me busy. It was nice to move around again but I really miss playing sports.
Day 6: Sunday 2/28:
I put off getting my PCR coronavirus test one more day so it would be five and a half days since I was exposed to it instead of four and a half. Today ended up being a pretty lazy day and I didn’t do too much. I looked up coronavirus statistics and saw that about 15% of the U.S. population has gotten at least partially vaccinated so we’re getting closer to herd immunity. Things seem to be heading in the right direction. I also watched some basketball. I’ve been following Maryland’s team all season (I went to the University of Maryland) and they got a big win over Michigan State. I watched the game with some friends from college on a zoom call.
Day 7: Monday 3/1:
Today was the big day. I finally did the test but I won’t find out the results for a few days. I went to an Urgent Care on Court St. and the line took awhile but the actual test was really easy and quick. I was a little worried about going to an Urgent Care because there’s a chance that some of the patients have coronavirus so I stayed careful about not touching my face while I was there and used hand sanitizer as soon as I got out. The rest of the day was pretty relaxing and I ended up watching a lot more basketball games.
Day 8: Tuesday 3/2:
February was a rough month so I’m glad to be in March. I watched the movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer.” That got me interested in chess so I looked up all of the rules and ended up playing online for an hour. It was fun and it helped pass the time. I don’t have any symptoms so far but I’m still waiting on the test results.
Day 9: Wednesday 3/3:
I got the good news that my test came back negative. I took the test after less than a week so the doctor said that while it was very unlikely I’ll get sick, I should quarantine for the full 10 days to be sure. Other than that it was another day of writing, reading, playing chess online and watching sports.
Day 10: Thursday 3/4:
I’m avoiding going inside of stores until I’ve finished 10 days, but I’ve been able to go outside and get fresh air. I took the dog for a long walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park. He’s a blonde cockapoo who loves other dogs but is terrified of people. He’s really sweet and a lot of fun and has helped keep my spirits up during the pandemic.
Day 11: Friday 3/5:
I woke up with a bad stomach. I get that occasionally, so I’m not worried that it’s a sign of coronavirus. Restaurants are able to have indoor dining with partial capacity again. It’s probably helping restaurants get through the cold weather but I didn’t see too many people inside.
Between that and fans being allowed back at sporting events, things are starting to look a bit more normal. I’m holding off on going to games until I’ve gotten the vaccine. Seeing fans on television reminded me how much I miss going to games. It’s been more than a year since I’ve been to one.
Day 12: Saturday 3/6:
Today has been easygoing. There isn’t a ton to do while quarantining but getting some fresh air always makes time go by quicker for me. I did some home exercises to keep from getting too antsy then played chess online again to pass the time. I also got another rapid test which came back negative (I waited a couple of extra days to be sure) so I’m officially cleared and healthy. What a relief!
