New Corona Infection Diary-My Wife Becomes "Corona"-June 26, 19:49
My wife, who is in charge of housework and childcare, is infected with the new coronavirus. The diary on SNS that spelled the messy days after that from the viewpoint of her husband is a topic. "Fighting household chores", "Taking care of young children" etc. The diary tells us what to do in preparation for a family infection, as the number of sufferings that a wife suffers from can be read in chronological order. (Asako Wada, Reporter, Network News Department)
Husband gradually becomes anxious
I found the diary on Twitter. A diary that begins with the onset of my wife on April 11. It was an "infection diary" spelled out from the desire to connect with people whose family had an infection. At the beginning, it was such a start that does not doubt the infection.
“4/11 (My wife) has a slight fever of 37.2 degrees and a little fatigue. If you think about it now, this is the onset. But I don't have a cough and I think I have an ordinary cold." (From Twitter)
The beginning is a common cold symptom. However, the new coronavirus gradually begins to show its characteristics.
“On April 15th, I read an article where I had a fever of 38 degrees suddenly a week after repeating a slight fever and normal heat, and I'm very worried. I talk to my wife and worry that I'm doubting Corona. Feeling tired becomes stronger. And finally, at night, a high fever of 38 degrees comes out” (from Twitter)
My husband is afraid
The next day, when I went to the hospital and had a CT scan, a slight shadow was found on the lungs on both sides. Doctors diagnosed pneumonia, and there is inflammation in both lungs, and it is pointed out that this is a characteristic of the new coronavirus. Although he had a headache and malaise, he did not have a cough, and he was shocked. It happened when my wife rarely went out.
Husband
"I realized for the first time that the threat of the new coronavirus was approaching in front of me. I have no idea the infection of my wife."
"When I go out, I go back and forth between home and supermarket several times a week to shop for ingredients. I didn't even know where I was infected, I was scared."
Become husband and wife
From this day, my wife's home treatment will begin. Although no positive result has been obtained, the husband decided not to go to work because of the possibility of infection.
"4/17 I suddenly became my husband. Suddenly I was overwhelmed by housework, childcare, sanitization, and mental anxiety, and I couldn't get anything. My wife separates me into a room and has her spend there. However, I was worried about how to spend the tableware when eating, taking a bath and brushing my teeth because I enter the living space of my family” (from Twitter)
It was the first time in 20 years since I lived alone in college.
Taking care of my children was almost entirely up to my wife.
“For the time being, I downloaded the app with the recipe, and struggled to make a pork ginger grill. Then, while letting the child eat, I served the meal in front of my wife's room. Then, take the child in the bath, brush their teeth and put them to sleep."
"And then wash the dishes, take a bath for myself. Then wash my wife's dishes and fold the laundry. Handle the bathroom, bath, and door that my wife used. Thorough"
Husband and husband will cry in 2 days
Children who are unable to swallow often try to enter the isolation room to meet their wife. I have a hard time stopping it. He told me how he felt at the time.
"Too many things to do, I feel like I can't get anything, and I'm fainting. I'm almost overwhelmed by the feeling of having to do it. I felt like crying in just two days."
Think husband infection as a disaster
The third day after starting home treatment. From the public health center, the result of the PCR test will tell you that your wife is positive.
The family became close contacts and were instructed not to go out for two weeks. The problem was shopping. I unavoidably told my parents who lived near me by phone over the necessary ingredients and daily necessities, and left the purchased items at the front door.
When I asked for shopping, I was worried that my parents were in their 70s and old. In order to reduce the risk of infection, I had them buy in bulk every few days. As for children's favorite items and daily necessities, even if I explained what I wanted, I could not understand them, and sometimes different items were in the bag. Men recall their experience that they needed to be prepared for the infection.
"I was keenly aware that the infection came suddenly like a disaster. The family should talk about what to do and how to prepare for the infection."
"Preferences and essentials vary from home to home. If it seems difficult, I thought it would be better to have at least the disaster reserves.
My husband finally tears
4th day from home treatment. The hospital bed was vacant and my mild wife could be hospitalized. And, the result of the PCR test of my husband and my children came out. Men were negative, but all children were positive. It is said that tears came out naturally.
“4/22 It was a very sad result, but the child is very healthy and I have measured the fever, but it is normal. It is completely asymptomatic. I think it was good, but I felt that there were many people like this in the world.” (From Twitter)
Husband cry again
After that, he went to the public health center many times to allow his wife and child to be admitted to the same hospital. On the day of hospitalization, the children were delighted to see their mother again, who they had never met before. On the other hand, a man who returned home and became the only one. I was posting my feelings at that time.
“4/23 After my child left, my home, which had been alive for a while, became a scene and became lonely. And sanitization work in the house. I wipe everything and clean it.” (From Twitter)
"It was more painful than I thought it would be to disinfect the part that my cute child touched as contaminated, and tears naturally overflowed. I'm a little embarrassed that I've become so crying. I don't want anyone to see it." (From Twitter)
I'm scared of bullying my husband
April 28, just five days after the child was hospitalized. It was said that he felt encouraged when he found out that the larva of the swallowtail butterfly, which had been carefully raised by his child, finally emerged on the morning of the day when his second son was discharged and the lives of his father and two sons began.
"April 28, this morning, the swallowtails in the cage have emerged. I found it as a larva in October last year, but today it is finally. I was surprised because I thought it was no good. I'm glad I was shown to my second son at the last minute" (from Twitter)
After that, my eldest son continued to be discharged from the hospital, but was unable to return to work immediately. Initially, I was planning to return to work after the long holidays in May, but I couldn't leave my young child at home, and I couldn't because I couldn't leave my old parents at risk considering the risk of infection. The man had new anxiety after the long holidays that were gradually returning to his daily life.
“5/14 Now, the world may be feeling relaxed due to the movement to cancel the emergency declaration. But I'm afraid that if it is released in this situation where there may be asymptomatic infected people, it will spread again” (from Twitter)
“I'm very worried about my child restarting school. If I find out that my child is infected with corona, and if anyone gets infected with corona, isn't my child a target for bullying? There is likely to be more worry in the next stage in the future.” (From Twitter)
Husband encouraged
Just over a month after the onset of my wife, in late May my wife was finally discharged and my family was ready. The man said he wanted to know through posting that he could be so confused when his family got infected.
Posts were spread one after another, and received 20,000 retweets. Some of them even sent me advice. "How to cook soup that anyone can easily make". Recommended home delivery services and disinfection methods practiced at home. In addition, we received encouraging words such as "Do not try too hard and not put up too much." It is said that the man who became the husband of the words of those who had similar experiences was encouraged many times.
I asked him what he could prepare for the 2nd and 3rd waves that might come in the future, and the man answered.
“When a family member gets infected, it's best to think in advance what to do and what to do in advance. Is there anyone who can ask for shopping and which home delivery service is easy to use? I think there are many things we need to discuss about what kind of food and daily necessities we should stock up in advance.”
Let's simulate the situation when we "did" the infection without paying attention to "preventing" the infection, for each family member. I felt that the diary conveys its importance.