GEORGE NEWS - While many people have undergone a Covid-19 test, there are still many more of us who have only heard rumours of what the procedure is like. George Herald spoke to a George woman, whom we'll call "Debbie", to hear how she experienced it.
Debbie recently had to be tested for Covid-19 prior to being admitted to hospital. She was given forms to fill in before admission, and these were sent to PathCare, where the test was done, along with the samples.
She was scared and a bit anxious but knew she was going to be okay. "I had to tell myself it was just hospital procedure and that I know myself. As an essential worker I roam around a lot and pass by different people everyday, which meant I had to be strict about sticking to the rules of sanitising and keeping my mask on and keeping my distance." Still, she took her husband along for moral support.
"You do not even enter the building. It is done while you sit inside your car," she said. "A person, in my case a woman, dressed in full lab attire (space suit) with goggles, gloves and a mask came outside to my car."
The whole procedure gets explained to you, including the angle at which you should hold your head. "She told me that a stick that looks like a earbud will be put up my nose and I will feel it in my throat. She then opened it in front of me to show it is new."
The test had to be done twice because they could not get a proper sample the first time, which meant that a stick "almost as long as your forearm" went up her other nostril.
"Oh, I could feel it go up my other nostril but had to close my eyes with tears running and my gag reflex pushing up. It was not a nice experience," she recalled.
Her husband said he felt a bit queasy on her behalf, but teased her through the tears to keep the mood light.
Debbie said she is glad she did the test and encouraged others to have it done if they have symptoms. For her, it provided peace of mind.
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