Staying Healthy

Daily and sporadic health monitoring during quarantine.

Temperature Taking

Knowing we would need to take our temperature often, I brought my own digital thermometer. Every hotel guest, upon checking in, became part of a group chat on the Chinese messaging app WeChat. Twice daily, before noon and 4pm, we take our temperatures and send a picture of the thermometer showing the result to this group. The hotel staff responds with "收到" for "received". This chat is also where we can request additional toiletries and supplies. All requests must be received by 6:30pm and deliveries occur that same evening. We were also given a slip of paper with a QR code which opens a separate app, when scanned in WeChat, to manually report our temperature twice daily.

Wellness Checks

Never predictable by day or time are the telephone wellness checks. When you answer the phone a kind woman says, "Hello, this is the doctor. Are you feeling well today?" I always respond honestly that yes, thank you, I am. "Thank you," says the doctor, and hangs up.

Short, sweet, and to the point.

PCR Testing

Nasal PCR testes are conducted efficiently, and somewhat surprisingly.

My first test was the day I arrived, September 2. A doctor and his assistant in full hazmat gear knocked on my door as I unpacked and asked me to confirm my name on a small test tube of pink solution. The doctor inserted a tiny bristle brush into each nostril (for what always seems like forever but is probably only two seconds with several turns) and was done. I thanked him, pulled my mask back over my nose, and sneezed.

My second test occurred on September 5. This time we received a phone call the day before, informing us that a doctor would come to our room to administer the test. I appreciated the heads up and tried to drink water ahead of time thinking this would ease the insertion process. I'm not sure if that worked but the test was equally as quick as before, including the same name confirmation process.

My third (and fourth) tests were September 12. No warning was given this time, and I initially thought the soft knock on the door at 8am was breakfast until it kept knocking, gently but persistently. I jumped out of bed, attempted to look presentable, and opened the door. This time the doctor was female. She asked me to confirm my name and quickly inserted the pipe cleaners. When she was done I thanked her, but instead of walking away, she gestured with her hand and said, "two times" as her assistant approached. Fantastic. Her assistant had me confirm my name once again and conducted the test quickly. I thanked them both and shut the door, mildly perplexed. I have never before received two PCR tests in a row. Perhaps they're being cautious or trying to avoid false negatives? Whatever the reason, it was a first for me.

My next test... is as yet a mystery.