My Friend Might Have Coronavirus

A friend and I planned on doing something fun this weekend, and she said she’d get in touch. When the text came late this evening, I went on high alert.

I regret to report I am stricken with a horrid cold. It first attacked my eyes with tearing, then assaulted my sinuses so that my teeth hurt. It seems to be marching down through my scorching throat where it will set up camp in my bronchial tubes and light a bonfire! I shall be indisposed on one of the most pleasant days to be predicted in quite some time. I am feeling rather sorry for myself just now and cannot sleep!

The good news is that she wrote, as she often does, with a formal sort of language I jokingly call “literary speak.” It’s a fun, silly thing we’ve done since we were kids, and that means she’s just a little under the weather. More or less.

The bad news isn’t that she’s at high risk of serious illness or death from coronavirus. Even if this is just a bad cold or the flu — which it most likely is — she’s in great health and well able to fight anything. She’s active and fit, she eats incredibly well, and she has no medical problems to speak of. But her husband does.

Her husband has lung cancer.

He’s amazingly healthy after his diagnosis over two years ago, and there’s every reason to believe he has years to live, even though he’s not in the clear yet. But if any kind of virus — COVID-19 or otherwise — settles into his lungs, he’ll likely have a tougher battle than most.

No need to panic, of course. I asked her where she thought she might have picked up whatever pathogen might be causing it.

Airport, grocery store, work…

Airport. Right. She had a quick trip and got back earlier this week. I quickly Googled the state she visited and checked for coronavirus cases. Affirmative. Confirmed cases in the county.

I Googled for information on coronavirus symptoms, just to be sure, though I know it’s fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to information from the CDC and other reputable sources. So my friend’s symptoms don’t sound like coronavirus.

But I thought about it. If lungs are the main organ typically affected, at least at first, how does that work? When I’ve had a bad cold or what I figured was the flu, lung involvement starts with a sore throat or at least some scratchiness or irritation in respiratory passages above the lungs. Then the cough sets in.

Could the coronavirus set up camp in the lungs right away? Are the nose, throat, and upper airways inhospitable to the virus? Maybe the little buggers want things warm, dark, and super moist, and they don’t slow down until they get there.

So I kept searching and found a scholarly article that lists headache, sore throat, and runny nose among other symptoms typical for cold or flu as well as coronavirus.

It’s probably not coronavirus; it could be anything.

But even though COVID-19 is unlikely, she’s recently been in an area where cases have been reported. She was on a plane packed with people from that area and probably others, especially if it was a connecting flight or layover for some passengers. Plus, surfaces may have been contaminated during previous flights, and they might not have been disinfected.

On top of that, she’s been working with people here in our home state just a few miles away from a county where cases have been reported.

I’ll just wait and see.

Meanwhile, I’ll make sure she’s taking every precaution to avoid infecting her husband and others, just in case. She probably is, though it’s a little late since he’s already been exposed. But the usual handwashing, sneezing in a tissue or against your arm or inner elbow, and surface disinfecting still applies.

I suggested they both stay away from others for now (self-isolate) and see a doctor as soon as possible. Overkill? I don’t think so. It’s just the right steps to take based on everything I’ve read so far.

Here’s the thing. She was in two areas with known cases in less than 14 days (the incubation period). Let’s call it an abundance of caution, especially since her return flight from her trip was only 6 days ago and she worked all week, including today.

There’s no need to worry or panic.

It’s probably just a cold or, at worst, a typical case of the flu. Even that could be tough on her husband, but there’s no reason to think it’s coronavirus.

Besides, there’s nothing I can do except the usual thing we do for friends who are sick: offer to go grocery shopping or perform other tasks, bring prepared food, and be supportive. And she’ll understand if I bring something to the door but don’t come in.

I’m not likely to get sick.

Even if COVID-19 spreads to my area, which it very well may (or might have already), I’m in good health. I rarely get sick, even when I’ve worked in a crowded office and people are hacking their brains out.

Maybe I have a strong immune system, and maybe my longtime habit of washing my hands regularly helps. Maybe not touching anything, including door handles, without a paper towel (or the sleeve of my shirt) in public restrooms helps, as well. Who knows? But I’m not likely to contract the virus with just casual contact. It’ll take more than that.

And if I do come down with it, I doubt it will be bad. My friend’s husband is a different story, but we’ll cross that bridge when (if) we get to it.

Meanwhile, breathe.

Photo by Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis on Unsplash