What It’s Like To Live With Someone Covid-Positive

Don’t play with the devil if you don’t have to

If you’ve been following my chronicles, you know I’m currently digital nomading through Spain. And as with traveling in this day and age, the inevitable was bound to happen. Covid, the uninvited second cousin, has decided to crash the party.

The friend I’m traveling with succumbed to Covid this past week. Before he joined me on my trip, I was managing just fine. I was masking up, avoiding crowded places, washing my hands as soon as I got home — doing everything recommended not to contract it. And so far, all was fine and dandy.

But with his arrival, I let my guard down. I didn’t feel like being anyone’s mother or telling other people what they could or couldn’t do. So I didn’t.

I became lax and didn’t adhere to the standards I had set with myself. We still adhered to the law and wore masks outside, but we also went to meetups where people, including ourselves, were maskless. (That’s a recipe for Covid if I’ve ever seen one).

Somehow, his argument that “we’re all going to get it anyway, so might as well get it now” made sense to me. I suppose if you’re going to get it eventually, why not get it now, right?

Wrong.

The downhill after testing positive

He was feeling the symptoms and decided to get self-tested. Lo and behold, those two lines lit right up. I self-tested right after him, but somehow, I was negative.

From the moment of his positive test, I have been on a determined mission to not get it. Having separate bedrooms helped, and I beefed up my vitamin, ginger, and lemon intake while spraying down common areas like the bathroom with alcohol religiously.

Four days later, I still tested miraculously negative while he unsurprisingly continued to test positive. As I’m writing, we’re on day five, and playing this game of dodgeball has really taken its toll on me.

The mental toll of this infinite game of dodgeball

Because he’s the one with Covid, I feel like I’m the one who always has to be alert. I might as well walk around with my bottle of alcohol as an extension of my arm now. I spray the light switches and door handles. I spray the kitchen area after he’s been in there. I spray the pillows on the couch, hoping that the mists of alcohol will do something to pacify this disease.

I do appreciate that he wears his mask when we’re in common areas at the same time and he’s mindful of it all. But it doesn’t negate the fact that I am heightened and have to think twice about every movement I make because everything he touches is potentially infectious.

I feel like I’m in a video game where I’m at a dead-end and the walls are closing down on me. Turn right, Covid. Turn left, Covid. Stay still, still Covid!

The lack of freedom to be at ease in your own home is not one I am used to and frankly, I’m eager for my space back. A home should be somewhere where you can just be and let your guard down without having to second guess your every movement.

My friends, let’s think twice about Covid

It sounds stupid that this incident had to happen before I could come to this conclusion, a conclusion that I should have known all along. Trust me, I wish it didn’t take my friend getting Covid and living with him to realize that we should all be safer.

Maybe you’ve already learned this lesson that Covid ain’t no joke (great for you!). For my part, here are some lessons from living with someone Covid-positive that I’d like to offer to you.

• Getting Covid puts a strain on not only yourself but those around you. I don’t think my friend anticipated how this experience would have been for me and the repercussions that ensued. I don’t mind running out to pick up food and whatnot, but not being able to be myself at home has been a lot.
• You’re only as protected as your laxest person. If you’re hanging out with folks or traveling, you’re only safe if you all adhere to the same standards. Don’t be afraid to voice your boundaries and needs to those with who you’re with. It’s not silly, it’s important.
• Let’s banish the “might as well get it now” mindset. You don’t know how you’re going to react to getting Covid. You might think you’re young and healthy, but everyone reacts differently so no, it’s not better to get it over with.

I don’t want to place blame on anyone for this incident. It’s also my fault for going to the meet-up and getting too comfortable there. But rather, I’d like to use this as an opportunity to learn from so we can move forward in a safer, more responsible manner.

Stay safe, y’all. Don’t play with the devil if you don’t have to.

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Speaking of other incredible writers, here are some pieces across different genres I read recently that I really enjoyed. I invite you to dive into something you might not read usually and give the Medium community some love!

Feminism and Sex: Danielle Loewen

Inspirational, positive vibes: Art Bram

Light reading and a bit of humor: Maria Garcia