We arrived Haldwani followed by Champawat at 10C but with a bonus view of Himalayas
Our 15 days sojourn ended on a terrific note of cancellation of Sampark Kranti express with 1 month advance prediction of the fog on the Haldwani-Delhi route. We had to re-plan another train that also made us re-plan my IIT Delhi visit which had to take place a week earlier.
The problem in India is also the population explosion which we used to dream of about 30 years back. Everything is overfull, institutions are full, activities are full, sports, culture, travel, food scarcity- you find everything in place. The only things is it has come on its pace, so people have learnt to adjust. So, the guest houses are overflowing with the activities, the workers are stretched to the limits- it all affects the quality of life- and we were one such soul as we could not get access to the guest house due to some activity of the institutions.
No room even for advance booking in a hotel
We had booked a hotel right from 6 AM till 5 PM by extra payment for the early booking on the day of arrival at Delhi. After the terrific train ride of December 22 night, in the early morning by contributing to welfare of kali-pili taxi without going 'in line', we arrived the hotel only to find that there was no booking. The hotel was fully booked. There was not even tea around the hotel even when I searched fanatically for a tea shop with the thermal flask in my coat pocket. We decided to rush to Airport and see if there could be any early flights and if these were affordable.
Shuttle in the terminal and expensive early flights: heartless Delhi
We had to be on the so called "unpredictable shuttle' as our terminal was different. The early flight change was costing us 3 times the airfare we had paid, so there was no question. Airport generally do not allow passengers inside early unless there is any emergency. Unfortunately, it looked as if we had some emergency as I started developing some discomfort and we were let in. After checking in and so on, the whole day was to be spent in the airport- it was considered as fine. Reminder that a city like Delhi can be so heartless often- or at times.
Return back to 24 C:
Tired to the extend possible, a bit feverish , even though re-masked during the Delhi AIRPORT stay, we arrived back to the city. The good night's rest was enough to plan the day at office, several of activities were completed and others were planed for the next week.
However, the next day the fever started, throat pain followed by the body pain. I was almost sure that finally, I have had the exposure to the virus! Isolated immediately after a day- but by the time it had also exposed the family, although we were able to isolate our young boy.
3-factor attack:
In science, when we authenticate a principle, we often express it with its properties: Firstly, secondly and thirdly. Similarly, there are 3 levels of security in any device- such as an airplane. I found somewhat similarity with this disease. 1. there was cold (and cough) with throat felt like cut by a knife, lung capacity affected badly, 2. Fever, and 3. There was also an stomach upset. All these were at their best possible attack. I realised that the volume and the rate of phlegm formation was all time high as I had never experienced it before. I also realised the fact that the people who died during the second wave or any time during the pandemic, could not have imagined that they will die so soon with this 'viral fever- cum cold-cough'. The rate of infection and volume of the attack is extremely high that does not give time to escape.
Gargle and Neti-Kriya combo: Not the salt -water but the betadine gargle was affective. Combination of Neti Kriya was an effective tool in the fight. The combo was carried out for 5-6 times during the day and at least once in the middle of the night during the first 9 days. It reduced to 2 times per day on 18th day. In general, during the cold-cough if you take some honey/toddy/Tulasi/ Pan leaf- you get some relief; however, in this case these were just not affective at all. It looked as if its highly technically smart virus which is supposed to attack with its every part of its structure, even after its dead (I have no knowledge of Virus). Another 3-factor attack come with its 9 day survival- that its continues to hit you for 9 days followed by >9 more days which carries the dry cough.
Testing: Somehow there are untold regulations that there is no need to test if the cough and cold is due to pandemic related problem. When I informed my friend about the terrible throat- he asked me a question if I had tested for the disease? It struck me. Suddenly I remember that we actually had the test kits. The tests were positive for me and my wife.
- Finally, even after booster dose, if this was the suffering, it is always better to please avoid the exposure to this deadly disease.
- We never know which strain was this? I do not think it was Omicron as the reports were it was mild.
Questions:
I am still upset at the modelling of the medicines. I mean, on the similar lines of Tamiflu, why were we not able to develop a medicine till now? History will question the modern science of 2020s. Remember, we are already 3 years in the disease.
Wish :
Wish you all- no exposure to the virus.
Prem
Jan 6, 2023
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Special note after a year:
P.S. Jan 6, 2024: This is just to add in 2024 (even
after 3 years) there is another wave (one could call it nth wave) of
COVID19 all over the world. However, there is no panic.
Administration is asking people not to worry at all. We do not see so many
people wearing masks now. The events are crowded as usual, meetings in
closed auditorium etc goes without any fuss. Rarely we can see one out
of 1000 person wearing a mask. Hospitals are taking appropriate
precautions and one can see staff wearing masks.
I quote from the WHO website https://www.who.int/
"As of 18 December 2023, JN.1, a sub-lineage of BA.2.86 Omicron variant
has been designated a separate variant of interest (VOI) apart from its
parent lineage BA.2.86 due to its rapid increase in prevalence in recent
weeks. Globally, EG.5 remains to be the most reported VOI"
Prem
Jan 6, 2024-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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