I tested positive for COVID on Sunday (3/20).....
I gave myself a home test on Saturday morning since I'd been teaching (full-time substitute teacher) all week. I tested negative. This was the first week that the L.A. schools lifted their mask mandate and, even though I wore mine most of the time, I was more lax than I've ever been.
Late Saturday afternoon, I had a pretty bad headache and a sore throat. On Sunday morning, I and my two roommates all tested positive (home tests). We then went to CVS to test there so they could be sent to a lab. Sure enough, we all found out yesterday that we are positive. One roommate has NO symptoms, the other has congestion and a mild cough, and I've had no symptoms at all since Saturday afternoon.
Most of the teachers and the high school students where I normally teach kept wearing their masks but some didn't. I should have done what I had always done and worn my mask without exception. I wasn't as careful as I normally am.
I've been vaccinated and boosted. I've been so careful for two years! I honestly believe the mask mandate has been lifted too soon.
Thank God the agency where I work has allocated 50 hours of pay per substitute teachers for those who've tested positive for COVID. I feel very, very fortunate. I'll be off work all of this week, and I hope very much that I'll be back at school on Monday. BTW, I'm going to wear my masks maybe for the rest of the time I'm subbing! Especially seeing that folks are testing positive more than once...
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I'm 99.9% sure that if the mask mandate hadn't been lifted and we all had kept wearing them while in class I wouldn't have it.....
I hear you about the 'careful for two years' statement. I'm still masking, avoiding crowds, sanitising etc; I haven't come this far to get bloody Covid at this late state.
I read this morning that a *second booster shot is about to be authorised here in Australia. I'll be first in line.
Keep well and hope it's over soon. 
That's my big lesson..... Two years and I was fine. As soon as it seemed like it may be safe, I let my guard down.
I'm being very careful hunkered in at home...
I've never even heard of the Pfzier pill but thanks for letting me know about it...
I work through an agency and that means my pay is lower than if I was with a specific district (e.g. LAUSD) but it's worth it to me. I'm able to get by because I've worked hard to keep my expenses very low.
Are you in California? A Bachelor's Degree (as well as other requirements) is a necessity to be a substitute teacher. I think (but am not at all sure) that some other states don't require a degree.
What's your degree in? I'm always curious what folks do with their various degrees.
Thanks for your feedback....
My B.A. is in Interdisciplinary Studies. I graduated from Cal State in 1998 when I was 41. I consider it the proudest accomplishment of my life!
The good news about having at least a Bachelor's is that it opened many doors for me.
For most of my career, I was in the vocational school/career college industry. I loved what I did as the Director of Student Services and the Director of Graduate Services. Unfortunately, some of the schools are owned and operated by selfish, greedy, unethical, and corrupt empty suits.
The last company I worked for wanted me to do some creative accounting with our placement numbers (falsify documents and commit fraud). The company where I was before that was closed down because of malfeasance by the C.E.O. and the C.F.O. All of the schools all over the country were closed in 2016.
I know what you mean about not being able to make a living as an artist. We have a really good art and design program at the high school where I normally teach. I think (since we're in Los Angeles) there are some opportunities in an artistic arena for illustrators, graphic artists, etc.
I'm sorry too..... I think I learned a huge lesson....
Thank you.....
Hope you've seen the last of your symptoms. Plus side, though, you do get the boost of natural antibodies to go with the vaccine-generated ones.
We're keeping our masks on. When we do go out, we're often the only people with them, but we don't care. So far no flu or colds either this fall/winter.
Thank you. I am thinking about the antibodies I now have so you're correct regarding the plus side.
I think you're doing the right thing by keeping your masks on.
Other than feeling tired, I've haven't had any symptoms...
I will keep my mask on for sure!
Thank you.
I know I will need to monitor myself from now on...
