When I wrote last month about the impending storm coming from the Coronavirus, I don’t think I realized the full impact it would have on me personally. I’ve never suffered from triskaidekaphobia, but that may change. In the month ending on March 13, I did four speaking engagements, which necessitated crossing the continent three times, with a total of 18 airplane rides. What is significant about March 13? I arrived home from speaking in California at midnight of March 12. The next morning, I was in my office and felt slightly unwell. I looked online at the symptoms of COVID-19, and realized that they were consistent with how I was feeling. I called Public Health, and based on my symptoms and travel schedule, they sent me for testing right away. The next evening I got the call telling me that results were positive and that I was Nova Scotia’s first confirmed case (which is not how I wanted to enter the history books!). Last week, after quarantining myself and with symptoms gone, I was retested. This test showed no coronavirus, so I also became my province’s first “recovered” patient. For me, the symptoms were exceedingly mild, and not enough to even want to make me stay home from work. I’m so grateful that, after checking with the people I encountered before I had my first test, I do not seem to have infected a single person. I was particularly worried because I had sat with my octogenarian father at a basketball game, and had contact with several other seniors as well. Fortunately, all of them are well. With a vaccine still some distance off, and infection rates climbing in the US and Canada despite the efforts of the authorities, the carnage from this disease is far from over. I’m thankful that my own COVID experience was unremarkable, but I do fear for humanity on this one. I wish for your continued health and safety. Sincerely, David Harris
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