Member-only story
Tests For All in the “High Risk” Group Called Humanity.
So, we were tested for COVID-19 this week, not because we had any symptoms, but because we had the option which all should have.
The public health policy wonk in me, wanted to experience the testing process, the way I went through the HIV/AIDS testing process year after year, when I was running a national HIV/AIDS education organization, and fighting another epidemic. My mantra during my days of fighting AIDS, was “Take the Test,” the same message being used now. I took the test then, to learn what kind of fears and feelings people experienced who were being tested.
In the battle against the HIV virus, we knew that “education was our only vaccine,” and, sadly, 40 years later, it still is. Now, with testing finally available in Napa County thanks to a public health partnership with actor Sean Penn’s CORE non-profit — I needed to learn whether I was COVID positive: to discover if I was as “high risk” as my entire age group was being stereotyped.
Additionally, the possibility exists that we can see our three granddaughters at the end of this month — the first time in 10 weeks. Sure, I know my status could change between today and tomorrow, but I felt compelled to know what my COVID status was now, and find out how high a risk I actually was.
