Jared Gibson was not aware that he had any symptoms of COVID-19 when he lined up to get tested last Sunday. He felt fine. He simply wanted a test before attending a friend’s wedding.
But, instead of going to that wedding this weekend, the 26-year-old Ottawa retail worker will be confined to his room in the duplex he shares with two roommates.
Much to his shock, Gibson tested positive for the virus. He received the results early Monday morning, just hours after getting swabbed.
In some ways, Gibson represents the new face of the virus in Canada, which after initially being concentrated in long-term care homes and among the elderly is increasingly spreading among younger adults and teens.
Young people now account for the majority of new cases in Canada, according to public health officials. People between the ages of 20 and 29 account for 25 per cent of new COVID-19 cases.
The trend is being seen in Ottawa, too, where a higher proportion of new transmissions in recent weeks have been in people between the ages of 20 and 29. In fact, more than one out of every four positive cases since the middle of June has been between the ages of 20 and 29. Ottawa Public Health has adjusted its messaging about COVID-19 to better reflect this group.
Still, Gibson doesn’t fit the stereotype held by some that young people are at risk because they are ignoring rules about social distancing and infection prevention.
Gibson said he has been fastidious about hand washing, mask wearing and limiting his contacts to avoid infection, even staying away from people who he thinks aren’t taking the pandemic as seriously as they should.
He does have a risk factor, though, one shared by many people his age: He works in retail.
“I have done literally all that I can to avoid it and I still got COVID. Just a reminder that retail workers, minimum wage employees and all sorts of folks are not necessarily working because they want to, but because they have to,” he tweeted.
“If you do not need to go out to bars or go out for dinner every night, don’t You not only have your own health to take into consideration but the health of all those you may be jeopardizing.”
Gibson is now concerned about the people he could have inadvertently passed COVID-19 on to before his positive test.
He did not believe he had any symptoms, but after talking with an Ottawa Public Health nurse, Gibson said there are some potential symptoms that he might have had as early as a week before he got tested.
He was feeling a little more fatigued and lethargic than usual and had a sore back — both things that he assumed were related to his work. He also had some headaches and hadn’t been sleeping well, but everything was relatively mild.
Gibson said he is hoping it stays that way.
And he thinks his case underscores how important it is for people to think about others before they do anything that could put them at risk.
“If I were to give advice, it would be, essentially, think about how important your trip to a restaurant or things like that could be and consider the impact.”
Among the impact on many retail workers is that they don’t get paid when they can’t work. Gibson said his employer has covered his wages for this week.
“While I’m appreciative, there are so many others that would not have the same benefit because there is nothing to hold businesses accountable for the safety of their employee.”
Gibson said his roommates have been supportive and will bring food to his room so he doesn’t have to spend time in the common spaces in their apartment. Ottawa Public Health has advised him to wear a mask, including when he is in the shower.
He said he is grateful for the close support he is receiving from local public health officials and the fact that they will be checking in daily to see how he is doing.
Meanwhile, “I will be locked in my room until further notice.”
"avoid it" - Google News
August 26, 2020 at 05:30AM
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Young retail worker positive: 'I have done all that I could to avoid it and I still got COVID' - The Kingston Whig-Standard
"avoid it" - Google News
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