As coronavirus begins to have more of an impact on the day-to-day lives of Santa Clarita residents, KHTS Owner Carl Goldman has received yet another positive test for COVID-19 as he enters week six of quarantine.

Back In The States With The Coronavirus – Day 37 (Thursday)

“It’s the grim reaper.” My doctor handed me yet another positive Post-It Note. Apparently, my doctor is enjoying my online journal way too much. I now have seven Post-Its. My body still has the coronavirus, COVID-19.

I have been quarantined at three locations since Feb. 4. Currently, I am in a lower level of care at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. When I first arrived in Omaha, my wife Jeri and I were separated. Our relationship has been virtual ever since. Before Omaha, we spent 12 days, including, Valentine’s Day, quarantined together in our cabin on the Diamond Princess Cruise ship.

In Nebraska, I was placed in the bio-containment unit for ten days. I’ve fallen in love with Omaha, even though I am only seeing it from my 650-square-foot room. I’ve been quarantined for 37 days, 25 of which I’ve spent at Nebraska Medicine. I have the coronavirus, COVID-19. My body isn’t ready to shed the virus, my heart and brain have been wanting to return to Jeri and our home in Santa Clarita, CA.

Jeri returned to Santa Clarita on March 2. She never picked up the virus. She’s taking on a big load. She’s continuing to go to work at KHTS Radio, and then heads home and lies low each evening. Some Santa Clarita businesses and friends still don’t want her around. She also has the extra burden of handling all my household chores, including picking up the dog poop in our backyard.

After being in quarantine, I wrote about my missing so many things I took for granted, even picking up the dog poop in our backyard. I’m surprised only one reader volunteered to relieve Jeri of my unpleasant chore. Fred Elam from Valencia Pharmacy is the only one who offered his assistance. I now know the first stop I’ll make the next time I need a bottle of aspirin.

Readers kindly offered to allow me to clean up their dog’s poop. Others thrilled at being able to use their poop emoji for the first time in their comments. I suspect they are fibbing, having seen many emojis attached to political comments from both sides of the aisle.

Other than still testing positive for the novel corona virus, COVID-19, I am continuing to feel fine. I walk my minimum 10,000 steps. I exercise on the stationary bicycle in my room and I’m working on both my finger and teeth dexterity as I struggle to open each mustard packet with dinner. Usually, I’m only able to achieve a small opening. Very little of the mustard hits my hamburger. Most of it squirts out all over my Michigan shirt. Luckily, mustard is their team color. My clumsiness is hidden well in pictures.

Jeri and our stellar KHTS news team put together a short, three-minute video, “How to Prepare For A Coronavirus Quarantine.” It’s well worth the watch. Jeri’s message: “Look at it as a gift.” She tells a powerful story.

Chris Seidenglanz sent me a news video of our local Costco. The line outside looked like it was extending from Canyon Country to Nebraska. Our KHTS news team ran a news story, “Shoppers Call 9-1-1 For Line Cutting At Canyon Country Costco.”

See Related: Shoppers Call 9-1-1 For Line Cutting At Canyon Country Costco

If the incident happened in New York, where I grew up, instead of Awesometown, that line cutter would have been the one to call 9-1-1 after dealing with hundreds of pissed off New Yorkers.

Another reader asked if I’m allowed to discuss what the CDC and doctors tell us in our daily town hall meetings. The answer is yes, I can and have shared much information. I do not talk about comments from other patients, nor do I share any names of my medical team.

Our doctors and the CDC are scratching their heads on why so many of us in Omaha, Travis Air Force Base and Lackland Air Force Base are still testing positive with the coronavirus, COVID-19. One theory is that maybe our virus cells are dead and we are no longer contagious, but still showing positive on the “PCR” tests we are all receiving. To test that theory, they are flying our samples to the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta. Instead of a “PCR” test, our samples will be placed in a petri dish, allowing the virus cells to grow for days.

Hopefully, by the time the Petri culture is tested, we’ll be negative. However, if the Atlanta test shows we are negative while our “PCR” test in Omaha remains positive, their theory of dead cells versus live cells may be correct. There are still enough of us in the same boat to give them a good population sample. Either way, it will provide answers even though it may pose more questions.

The number of coronavirus, COVID-19 recoveries worldwide continues to outnumber new patients. As I write this, there have been 137,445 total cases. Of those 69,999 are now free of virus. Most others are in the same situation I’m in, feeling healthy, but still testing positive. Total deaths are now at 5,088, representing 3.7 percent of victims dying from the virus. Each day, for every two new patients, three are recovering. The media loves to highlight the deaths and new victims. They might calm us all down a bit by also stressing the recovery totals.

Stress is our body’s worst enemy on our immune system, so look at the glass half full instead of half empty. Many readers have commented my journal is reducing stress by giving comfort in all this chaos. That is the most gratifying thing my wife and I, along with our friends Jerri and Mark Jorgensen, can possibly do to assist.

While I am walking my daily minimum of 10,000 steps, I am adopting my wife’s mantra of our quarantine being a gift because I only hit the wall after 14 paces instead of the 7 when I was in my bio-containment room.

Alexis Robbins urged me to be happy I have a fresh supply of toilet paper. The stores in the SCV have been wiped clean. Alexis shares my sense of humor

As I turn out my light, I ponder if one of the gifts my wife discovered while in quarantine was being removed from me. I miss her. I’m often guilty of taking my wife for granted. I believe I will see her from a different lens when I return. I’m just not sure as I wrap up 37 days in isolation if I’m ready yet to see my quarantine as a gift. I suspect once I return to Santa Clarita, I’ll join Jeri in seeing all the positives of our journey.

Read All Of Carl’s Journals Here: Carl Goldman Coronavirus Journals

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

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