I came down with something… 

It was on my penultimate day in Nicaragua. It began with a dry cough and progressed to a wet cough. I’m fatigued. Otherwise, okay. I’m treating it by drinking liquids and resting. It feels like it will be over in a few more days.

What I haven’t done is get a COVID test. And I’m wondering why. If I had the same symptoms a year ago – even six months ago – I would have been tested. But I don’t feel the need to be tested now. I don’t feel in mortal danger. Nor do I believe I’m a danger to anyone else. When I’m with other people, I take the precautions I have always taken when sick. I bump fists and keep my distance. I stay away from old people and sick people.

Is it a cold? What is a cold? Is it the flu? Isn’t the flu a virus? And aren’t most viruses coronaviruses? I don’t know. What I have feels very much like an ordinary cold or flu. Nothing much to worry about. But is that true? Should I take a test? I don’t know. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m continuing my research on how we responded to the initial COVID outbreak, and on all the “facts” we were told that just weren’t true. (See “Worth Considering,” below.)