Our recent experience with covid testing made me think about some of the issues involved. For the sake of the record, our tests came back negative (next morning, after being tested in the afternoon).
I realise that others have been tested many times, whereas this was the first time for me.
I see that the rules in NSW are to be relaxed, but check in will still be needed at pubs, so our issue as a result of checking in at the Coogee Bay Hotel would still have occurred under the new rues.
But, as I’ve already mentioned, what’s the point of sending a text message informing us that we were a “casual contact” 10 days before? This really have would led to a big “catch up” had we actually contracted covid. Would it not have been better to contact us more quickly and suggest we self-test? In fact I self-tested (negative) before going for the PCR test.
Another issue is, logging in with a QR code really is just a form of “self-incrimination”. Yes, we have a responsibility to society, but I’ve been left thinking, perhaps we ought to treat the symptoms of covid rather than endure all the isolation issues that now arise. With vaccinations, perhaps that’s where we’re getting to?
In the meantime, while the 10 days lapse raised many issues, in one way it worked greatly in our favour. We were able to work through the implications of being a “casual contact” from home, and didn’t have to worry about getting cleared to take a flight and to isolate in a hotel room.
This has really led us to reflect on the downside of travel in the present environment. Our present inclination is to postpone the idea of travel, especially overseas but possibly even interstate, until the “downside” of being diagnosed with covid is more bearable. The emergence of a new variant (news of which arrived after I first composed this post) certainly reinforces these feelings.
Musings and Mutterings 