How I Get Myself a COVID-19 Virus?
The first feeling I was having is surprised, but in another way, I was relieved because I didn’t take this badly so it won’t get me to stress out for the other two weeks of self-quarantine.
November 2nd, 2020, 10:50 AM
I guess that was the most surprising but well-prepared moment I had in my life. I was working on preparing some things to do before interviewing candidates several hours later. I got a call from an unknown phone number which turned out from Lavalette Hospital, they informed me about my PCR swab test result. I was so nervous but at the same time preparing for the worst to come.
“Hello Mr. Vicky Farhan Hakim, we would like to inform you that you are positively infected with the COVID-19 virus. Please take the result and you need someone to take the result for you. We also wished you to get well soon, sir.” said the caller to me on a busy Monday morning.
Then, I asked what things I should do next to the caller and hung up the phone. The first feeling I was having is surprised, but in another way, I was relieved because I didn’t take this badly so it won’t get me to stress out for the other two weeks of self-quarantine. Also, I prepared for the worst when I took the PCR swab test.
After having that phone call, I told my Human Capital team in my current office that I was positive COVID-19. Fortunately, they encouraged me to take care of myself, working from home, and even sending me hampers full of fruits which I couldn’t eat all of it and share it with my dormmates that night. One day after, I got another package full of snacks, drinks, and food to eat during the quarantine period from my best friends in college.
I told my family that I got COVID-19 and their response was worried, as usual. But I didn’t want to make them exaggerated my condition, because I was okay and not having any symptoms so far. Furthermore, I was mentally strong to cure myself of this unexpected situation.
I also declared myself that I was positive COVID-19 by using Twitter, Instagram, and Whatsapp and using it as a platform to raise awareness that COVID-19 is real and we could get infected any time we want whether we realized it or not. The response I got from posting on Twitter was so heart-warming. They wished me to get well soon and there is one person who sent me a Direct Message (DM) just to checking out my condition and wishing me to get well soon like others.
Maybe during the recovery process takes things a lot such as health, mental, and patience. But, I believe it will be the best way for me. I still have my doubt whether I could fully recover or not, but I don’t want to think that way and just focusing on what I can now.
When I decided to go back to the laboratory around 3:00 PM to take the result, and I was shocked that my result was reactive.
October 20th, 2020, 08:30 AM
The day it began. I was asked by my current workplace to have a serology test to detect whether I am reactive ofCOVID-19 virus or not. I went to the SIMA Laboratory and having my test there. After the test, I continued working from outside the office until I got the result. When I decided to go back to the laboratory around 3:00 PM to take the result, and I was shocked that my result was reactive.
I told my director that I got it reactive, and he asked me to work from home until October 27th. On October 30th, I took a special leave for one day because I wanted to focus on my swab test. Although my special leave was granted, I was kinda disturbed when I got a message from Telegram that I was asked to join the interview at that time. I sent a message to my co-worker that I couldn’t join any candidate interview that day.
I realized that I could get infected somewhere in Bandung or during the trip to Malang. I didn’t know the precise moment when I got infected, I tried to remember it but to no avail. As far as I remembered, I followed the safety protocol by wearing the mask all time except for eating or drinking. While I had no idea, all I could do now is helping others to prevent the COVID.
Realizing that we could get infected with this virus, all we could do is preventing by breaking the cycle. Wearing a mask is not enough to prevent it, you should wash your mask with warm or hot water to kill the virus. Another thing to add, wash your hands with soap and not just using hand sanitizer. Eat healthily, take care of your body by having an exercise, taking a bath, and exposing your body to the sunlight for around 10 minutes in the morning. Sleep well could be a great factor in your recovery process. One last thing, taking natural vitamins so you could create the immune system works against this virus.
So, I hope this story could help you in many different ways. Take care of yourself first before you could enjoy better things at the end of this pandemic. It takes time and patience, but it is a worthy process.
