Getting Covid in the Middle of a Job...

Yes, you read it right, I only went and got COVID-19 nearly 2 years after it was cool.

I’m currently across a production where all crew are regularly tested, and you can’t imagine my disbelief when I was sent home early from work and told to isolate last week.

I felt really bad because I’ve literally JUST moved from Belfast back into the family home, so now my entire family/household had to isolate too.

I was also gutted because I had a Miss Northern Ireland event that week, it was the week of the Rosie’s Closet event where the girls all got to go down and try on the beautiful dresses and gowns at the Newry store!

Counting my blessings, I am very grateful that I didn’t get very (as in hospital level) ill, I just felt like I had a nasty head cold/hay fever symptoms for a few days and was feeling back to myself soon enough.

Luckily my job is 99.9% digital, so I was able to work from home with little disruption, and it was actually a nice change of pace to be able to cut commute time out of my morning routine for a bit, and be able to do my Hot Girl Summer (by Athena Athletics, buy the guide it’s only £5!) workout over lunchtime without stressing about stinking up the office.

Whilst I am grateful for my health and the fact there were definitely enjoyable aspects, being back to WFH with the entire family trapped inside did bring ‘Lockdown 1’ Flashbacks, but this time it was worse because I got to see everyone else out and about on their insta stories!

Luckily, I didn’t miss out on all the Miss NI fun, as I’d asked my boyfriend if he would grab and drop off a copy of the latest Local Women magazine, and I was really surprised and pleased to see that myself and the other Miss NI girls who’d got through the heats that month had got a wee feature!

Seeing myself in print is still crazy and my imposter syndrome is going into overdrive, I’m still waiting for someone from both work / Miss NI to phone me like ‘Hi, there’s a mistake, yes, we’ve realised you’re not proper, so the end, bye.’ 

On my 10th day of isolation, I had to head back to work to have a covid test taken from my car, this is to check my ‘viral count’ to make sure that I’m definitely safe to come back to working in the office (although I’ll be allowed to at least leave the house again which’ll be great!) 

When it comes to testing, if you’ve had Covid, you’re likely to test positive for up to 90 days after you first contract it, even though you’re over the virus and are no longer contagious, it’s still in your system and shows up on tests.

I’m not sure about what this means for me when it comes to travelling, I was hoping to get away with my boyfriend in September, but if I keep testing positive does that mean I can’t go even though I’m no longer ill/infectious? A lot of research to be done on my end now before booking anything which is great craic

As much as I did enjoy the benefits of this wee disruption to my routine, I can’t wait to get back to the office and on my grind again. As gutted as I was not getting to Rosie’s closet, I’d have been even more gutted if it was the Final I missed out on, so at least I can put ‘getting covid’ to the bottom of my 'worry list' (and I still get to book my appointment to pick my dress anyway!)

Buzzing to be out and about again, see yous soon!

Stacey Xx