Welcome to Your Covid Nightmare

I’m officially a superspreader

I was in a play and I have Omicron. I can’t be sure but it’s probably variant ba.5, the super contagious one. On Friday night, I spread it around — but I want to tell this story because you may have to face a similar dilemma.

I bowed to the external pressure to show up, combined with internal pressure not to let everyone down, in a state of uncertainty. Yes, I tested negative five times before the positive test came through.

Here’s how a full week of Covid drama played out, and why it led to an impossible set of choices:

Monday: I went to a goodbye lunch with 10 friends, where we sat in a crowded restaurant for about an hour.

Tuesday: I heard from a lunch friend who sat across from me she had Covid, and her doctor had told her “everyone at the table” will have it because this version is so contagious.

Wednesday: I developed a scratchy throat, hoping it was allergies or a reaction to loads of rehearsal make-up. I took two at-home Covid tests, one in the morning and the second in the afternoon, and both came out negative.

Thursday: Took two more at-home tests: both were negative.

I felt like crap, with a sore throat and fever.

I texted the director about my symptoms and exposure, and she said others were sick but not with Covid. One cast member wasn’t showing up, so her small role was filled by another actor. I told the director and my Foley Table* supervisor (I was the Foley Assistant) that I thought I had Covid but so far four tests said I didn’t. The Foley Artist had the same symptoms as me.

We had a full dress rehearsal with a scheduled audience from the local nursing home (thankfully, they didn’t show up due to a Covid lockdown); I had a sore throat and low-grade fever.

*A Foley Table is live sound effects: this was a vintage Hitchcock radio play.

Friday: This was the first performance. I had a fever of 100.5. (My normal temp in the morning is 96.5, so that is a very high temperature for me).

I drove to our local pharmacy for a rapid Covid test around noon.

It was negative, but the pharmacist listened to my symptoms (sore throat, body aches, fever, cough, congestion, fatigue) and said I probably had Covid but hadn’t tested positive YET. She strongly suggested I isolate myself for five days.

I conveyed this to the Director, who suggested I come and wear a mask.

My role consisted of four lines, but I was the only actor without a mic, which meant speaking loudly to an audience of 150 — and I’m not naturally loud. I told the director I couldn’t rely on my voice and she offered to do my part or give me a mic. I opted for the mic.

The show was well-received, but meanwhile, my Foley supervisor was just as sick as me. Neither of us isolated effectively that night; in fact, we both stood in line for the “meet and greet” with audience members.

Saturday: I Just Say No

Around 8 a.m, after a lousy night of sleep, I took another Covid test. It was positive. I still had a fever but the body aches were slightly less intense. I had no appetite or energy.

I texted the director and the Foley Artist, who texted back she was Covid positive, too.

The director asked what we wanted to do. I said I wasn’t coming in because I didn’t feel I could sufficiently isolate myself.

The Foley Artist — without whom the play could not go on — elected to go and isolate herself.

The director thanked her, and the rest of the cast, for soldiering on.

We had lost one cast member to a non-Covid illness (I guess?), another was sick with symptoms, and two of us had tested positive for Covid.

I went to Urgent Care to get an anti-viral med.

Post-Game Analysis

I called a friend who was going to Saturday night’s performance to warn her most of the cast was exposed to Covid and she should wear a mask and not greet anyone after the show.

My husband, who had a ticket, didn’t go. He’d been exposed to Covid and was isolating…although even if he hadn’t he wouldn’t have gone because we can estimate much of the cast is now Covid positive!

I would’ve crawled in on my hands and knees to perform on Saturday night, despite a fever and various bathroom issues requiring frequent visits, but I couldn’t in good conscience show up knowing I could expose someone to Covid.

I’d already managed that the night before.

During our first performance, on Friday, I was in the makeup room without a mask for 20 minutes. I sat in the Green Room without a mask for another 20 minutes…because I was still “Covid negative” even though I believed I had it. During the performance, I shared a mic with the director.

I went into the kitchen to retrieve items, used the bathroom, etc.

I did the meet-and-greet after the show, where some people hugged me (as they did our Foley Artist).

I’m not a happy camper, but it's not because I missed the show, and my big summer vacation is now cut from three weeks to one. It’s not because I’m sick after years of dodging this disease. It’s not because I appear to have NOT soldiered on. In good conscience, how could I not quarantine with Covid?

No, it’s because I am now a superspreader.

Even if I hadn’t gotten Covid at the luncheon, I most likely would’ve gotten it at rehearsals, because the person right next to me had it.

I appreciate the director’s dilemma: how does she cancel a sold-out show a few hours before the audience arrives?

The show is over, and according to the Foley Artist, it went well. She pared down the sound effects. Two other cast members were Covid positive, and didn’t show, so other actors stepped in.

The audience loved it. I hope they stay healthy.

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Jean Campbell recently started her first Substack newsletter to laser focus on getting her book, City of Lies: A Street Hustler’s Omaha Journey published.