Day 5: Our first Covid test

So this morning we had our first Covid test, which officially happens for everyone on Days 3 and 12 of their stay in managed isolation or hotel quarantine.

It was ... not as bad as we'd expected. It probably helped that the nurse was very experienced with an extremely steady hand. She also had clear access to us (which probably wouldn't be the case in a drive-through). The swab went right in and the pressure on the back of the nasal cavity could be felt but was quite gentle and not that uncomfortable. The only slight discomfort was when she was pulling the swab out and our eyes watered a bit.


So now we wait a day or two for the results to come through. If we tested positive then we'd be moved out of our relaxed managed isolation and into much more restrictive hotel quarantine, so we're really hoping we are clear.

We've found the daily walks a highlight of our days here. After calling security to book in for a spot, we're allowed out onto the fenced in perimeter of the hotel for 45 minutes. The path goes around about half of the complex and a back and forth journey lasts about 7 minutes. Security guards are spaced out along the path, some in little booths, to keep an eye on us and presumably in case someone tries to jump the fences.





We get to see into other peoples' rooms and see how they're living their lives which is kind of interesting as well as voyeuristic. Everyone waves back with a smile though because, hell, we're all in this together.

At a few spots along the path there are tantalising glimpses of the outside world, but most of it is blocked off by trees or plastic sheeting ...


On our first couple of days walking we saw that some kids had been having fun using chalk to draw out a hopping-spinning-backwards walking circuit. It turns out that even grown men can take part 😊 Sadly the rain came and washed it all away, so I look forward to those kids getting out there again with chalk in hand.


Walking back and forth on a concrete road is the last place I'd normally choose to go for a leisurely stroll but this daily ritual has been quite a blessing. We know that other isolation facilities let people up on building rooftops for short walks or take them into caged-in areas by the wharf, so from that perspective we count ourselves quite lucky.

In another highlight of the day we had a delivery from the local New World supermarket, delivered to the front desk and then brought by hotel staff to our room. We now have fresh milk (not the UHT stuff the hotel provides) and some very tasty Kapiti blue cheese and crackers to enjoy in our 1.5 metre deep outside paving area. Rubbish bin flipped upside down and fashioned into an outside table.

Living the iso dream here.


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