The dreaded call came at 6 am yesterday. Health Dept contact tracers. 1/
“We have determined that you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. You need to isolate for 14 days from the day you were exposed. You need to get tested on day 11. We will call you every day to see if you have developed symptoms.” 2/
It was a patient who came to see me for a minor office procedure. A few hours later she developed a fever and turned out to be part of a family cluster.
Luckily I hadn’t gone anywhere over the weekend, so won’t have exposed anyone outside potentially my family. I feel fine. 3/
Luckily I hadn’t gone anywhere over the weekend, so won’t have exposed anyone outside potentially my family. I feel fine. 3/
I had to cancel my operations for the iso period, including a critically ill inpatient that was to have surgery that day, and two patients who travelled, only to land in Melbourne, turn on their phones, find my voicemail that their surgery was unavoidably postponed. 4/
The patients were all incredibly gracious and for that I am so thankful. Rather than express their disappointment, they asked about how I was feeling. The shoe was on the other foot- they were worried about me! This was an unexpected kindness. 5/
I have rebooked them for just after the end of the iso period, with the caveat “if I don’t get sick.” For a surgeon this creates a terrible internal conflict. Like a dereliction of my duty. But of course that feeling is illogical. 6/
My heart wants to continue working, but my head knows it would be reckless for me to care for others in this situation, and I must follow instructions. It’s not about us as individuals. It’s about the big picture. 7/
So now I am isolating at home, hoping not to develop symptoms. Grateful I don’t live alone, but hoping that should I become ill, my family has not been exposed. Feeling optimistic but a little apprehensive. It’s all so real.
❤️. 8
❤️. 8
Luckily I have this beautiful iso companion. 9/ 
For those asking, we were not masked. Cases in Australia have been v low (single digits) until this week, so droplet precautions in well patients not advised. We are having a second wave now, 60 cases yesterday and 75 the day b4. For us this is big! Had we masked, no iso needed.
We have been blessed with excellent leadership that has listened to expert medical and public health advice.
