Day 13 QT- Final tests
The dreaded day 13 has arrived and there is an air of fear in my room. Today is when the infamous last round of nasal swabs and blood tests are taken before release from quarantine.
As a group, we are a much more informed and co-ordinated bunch these days, who use WeChat to track and communicate the nurses in hazmat suits exact locations throughout the building. They are on level 19 and headed down to level 18 imminently. Oh no.
I thought I was the only one who felt like they were aiming to rescue Excalibur without any wizardry during the previous test on day 6, I was wrong. To make things worse and really add a new level of anxiety to the fight or flight response, this time, its been worse for them. Deeper they say. How is that even possible!
I’m thinking of how I can escape from the inevitable, I can’t run away, can I talk myself out of it? Or at least negotiate to only have my right nostril violated?
The girl down in 1801 has finished, sends a message and within 30 seconds the knock is at my door. My attempts to negotiate have failed, even my phone translation of “deviated septum” brings no luck so I suck it up. Once again, outside in the hallway, I take the test. First the right side, then the left. Ok, this is an improvement, he hasn’t dug an escape route to by brain this time but it’s right there, down by my tonsils. He leaves it there for 15 seconds this time. It’s a trickle of tears rather than a flood. But the noise I’m making as I wince and shake in pain was so much louder, has altered a neighbour who opens the door for a look. She’s next!
I report my findings to the group and my pal in 1801 tells me she has just finished her bloods. Already? Damn it!
Blood is drawn, vial is checked and I know I’m done!
Later in the day, John who is quarantining in Guangzhou tells me he only has to have a throat swab tomorrow before his release. I tell him to ask for a refund because he hasn’t had the full Chinese COVID-19 testing in quarantine experience.
My get back to work in China COVID-19 tests thus far:
1. 13th November, pre-flight testing (collection within 48 hours of boarding inbound flights to China)
Blood (finger prick antibody test), throat and Nasal swab
2. 15th November, at Xiamen airport
Throat and nose swab
3. 16th November, at Wyndham Grand Hotel Quarantine
Blood drawn
4. 20th November, at Wyndham Grand Hotel Quarantine
Nose swab
5. 28th November, at Wyndham Grand Hotel Quarantine
Nose swab and blood drawn
Remaining:
6. 30th November, at Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou
Throat swab and blood draw… I hope!
