A smiling heart for COVID test

By Lenny Mata Cuevas | Published by October 7, 2020

 

Remember, to keep your windows up!

Do you remember visiting the doctor’s office as a child and leaving with tears in your eyes after a nurse took blood to test God only knows what? Remember being confused and wondering why your parents were all smiley faces with the nurses and doctors after solemnly promising to visit again within the next four to six months? What about the doctors thinking they could make things better by just giving you a lollipop?

Honestly, I remember. The struggle, Lollipops and all!

When you grow up your parents are not supposed to take you to the Doctor’s office anymore. Therefore, no lollipops or rewards for checking on your health. It is all about self-care, self-discipline and taking a step forward for yourself and for the people around you.

Taking this idea into consideration I decided to be proactive and responsible and went to get tested for COVID-19. The virus has taken over everyone’s life and health style in a way that hand sanitizer and masks are as necessary as the keys to the cars. On Sept. 16th, 2020 I took advantage of the visible lab installed at Kean on our Union County campus.

The Drive-Through [only] Test Center, opened on March 23, 2020 and to date “has administered over 43,000 tests,” according to Kean News. The facility is meant to help all county residents in need of a test, “Whether they are or not experiencing symptoms.” “It is free of charge, regardless of whether you have insurance or not,” the County of Union

assures on their site. Same site, where I booked my appointment for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

I cannot say I was nervous, nor was I 100% relaxed. It is a short drive from home to the center but long enough to think about the possibilities of being a contagion agent. I could not stop thinking about the chances of an unwanted result.

The entrance is located at Morris Avenue and as soon as I turned left into the campus an officer was waving his hands as a sign for me to slowly drive towards him. He asked for my driver’s license and confirmed whether I scheduled an appointment or not. Then, he told me to follow the arrows to the next checkpoint emphasizing “from now on keep your windows up.”

At the first tarp the staff corroborates names and appointment dates. For a moment I could not listen properly to the questions and by instinct I lowered my window just a little. Loud and clear like an alarm, they reminded me “Keep your windows up!”

Then a lady drew an Ⓐ on the left bottom corner of my car’s front glass, I had an Ⓐappointment and I was good to go.

At the second tarp I had to wait behind some cars and I understood why when it was my turn. A gentleman approached with a sheet of paper that contained my appointment’s date and all my information. He placed it on my car’s window and asked me to read it and confirm it. He wanted to validate my address, phone number, email, and any other contact details. Then, he left the printed sheet on my windshield.

On my way to the last tarp another gentleman crossed his arms over his chest as a sign to stop my car. Then, he drew a smiling heart on my window. That simple gesture calmed me and made me understand that I was doing the right thing. I was being proactive. I was caring for my health and I was caring for others.

After that, it was all downhill. The last tarp was farther from the previous one. I thought that probably they were looking to have enough space and maintain proper distance from the rest of the crew. Since it was there where testing takes place.

Once it was my turn a health care provider picked up the sheet of paper from my windshield.      Again, I was asked to verify my name, address, phone number, and email. Then, she handed me an envelope which contained details on how to access my results and what to do next.

After, she handed me a tissue and asked me to blow my nose, it was surprising when she said, “Please lower your window halfway, look straight, hold your breath, and count to ten”. She rolled and rolled the Q-tip into my nose and I admit it is an uncomfortable sensation, similar to when one is about to sneeze or cry.

Lastly, the medical staff said, “That’s all. You can put your window up.”. I thanked her for what she did and simply like that the test was done.While driving to the exit located at the North Avenue side of campus, I thought it didn’t take more than twenty minutes. After that I was on my way home, serene and optimistic.

Even though Kean University Test Center is exclusively for patients who are driving, the county has arranged Walk-up Locations for those who can’t drive. Anyone can always contact  908-214-7107 to get in contact with  Union County TeleHealth service. On campus, the Student Health Services is offering “both TeleHealth and in-person appointments during the Fall 2020 semester.” They are available to answer any “general questions about COVID-19”, as informed on the Kean website.

Two days after visiting the center, I received a call from the county to tell me that my results were negative. The choice to get tested was scary, especially knowing I would not receive a lollipop or any other kind of reward after except for the smiling heart on my window and the satisfaction for being proactive. For the moment, that is all the fighting back anyone can do.

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