You examine every possible symptom and exposure.
1. A “dry cough”: at night, a present tickle in the throat, could it be the antihypertension medication? ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors are notorious for a side effect of cough. Or is it a lifetime of chronic nasal congestion, exacerbated by central heating and being cooped up inside with dogs?
2. Was I standing too near the friendly neighbor with the adorable pit bull named Andre?
3. Did I forget to wash my hands after a trip to Costco?
4. Was I too close to the guy jogging through the cemetery while I was on one of my walks?
I no longer fear packages delivered from east coast cities. I trust that our friends and my family, (the husband’s family is a different matter) are safe and uninfected because we share the same political view about mask-wearing, and because several are registered nurses. (Like me.)