Yesterday I decided to book an appointment for our 11-year-old son. He had this nagging sore throat and I thought it best to seek medical attention in case of an imminent lockdown. Just as well I secured a slot for today considering the President’s announcement last night, the 21-day lockdown.
We arrived at the health centre and I struggled to find parking, my assumption being that everybody else had the same idea to mine. Medical consultations, follow-up appointments and prescription meds refills before the lockdown. We were greeted by two gentlemen, one spraying sanitizers on the hands of all those who walked through the doors and the other was pointing a thermometer at the forehead. We got the nod to proceed and noticed a red line, a metre away from the reception counter. It read: “please stand behind this line”. The ladies behind this counter were wearing surgical masks. I was impressed by all these precautions and health measures. The waiting area was full but all the seats were a good metre apart. Noah’s appointment was at 11:00 but the Dr only saw him at 12:15, another indication of an influx of patients and possible complications and emergencies. Luckily for us, Noah’s was a minor infection and he should be feeling brand new in a couple of days.
My relief was short lived as we approached the queue to the pharmacy. It looked super long, that is, until I realised people were standing a good distance away from each other. I overheard the two gentlemen stationed at the door call out to a woman. She was walking away from them and she totally ignored them. I locked eyes with her and told her to go back towards the door to get her temperature checked.
Woman: “I am here to see a Dr anyway”
Me: “My son and I also had our temperature checked at the door and he was also seen by a doctor”
Woman: “What’s your problem?”
Me: “Respect procedure and protocol, get your temperature checked, at the door, like everyone else in here. There’s nothing special about you”.
By now people in the queue were urging her to just get her temperature checked and one lady even shouted, “stupid inconsiderate b*^ch”.
She refused until a manager spoke to her, she stood her ground and it seemed she was eventually told she could not enter until her temperature was checked. What followed next was rather concerning and stomach churning. She wrote something on the health centre’s logbook and then a surgical mask was handed to her. This could only mean her temperature was high and the manager obviously decided it was in everyone’s best interest for her to wear the surgical mask. Looking back, I can only attribute this woman’s behaviour to someone who was consumed by terror, thoughts of a possible Covid-19 infection. I hope and pray her Dr’s observation and tests (if done, if necessary) reveal nothing sinister and that we were not exposed to anything disconcerting ……………
A gentleman wearing the health centre’s uniform came up to me after this exhausting altercation, “Thank You for that, much appreciated”, he said. I was not expecting a Thank You. I did what every mother does to try and protect their offspring. I am ultimately responsible for my son’s health and wellbeing.
My Humble Opinion: The only way to curb Covid-19 is for all of us to apply common sense, courtesy and adhere to procedures and protocol. The smell of sanitiser is overwhelming but hey, take consolation in that it is mostly alcohol based, a little something to mellow us down can‘t be that bad. On a serious note, only a narcissist will continue to walk around in public without a surgical mask and gloves, especially someone who suspects they might have been exposed to the virus somehow. Moreover, someone who has observed or experienced the known symptoms.
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make it a better place
For you and for me
♫♪
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