Delta blues

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I have a bit of the Delta blues. Although, it never went away, there was a semi-sweet reprieve from the omnipresent talk of COVID-19 for some Texans. For me, that period started as soon as vaccines were open to all and the need for masks by the vaccinated were deemed unnecessary. My husband and I traveled. We went to weddings. We saw relatives on the Fourth of July that we had not seen in over a year. Last weekend I even held babies after two rapid COVID tests proved I was not positive.

But now I have the Delta blues. This Delta variant is quite frankly different from the previous COVID-19. I am not complaining though because for many there was no reprieve from COVID. There are many out there dealing with a real thing called long-haul COVID. Longhaul COVID presents itself with many serious issues that have to do with the lungs and heart that could prove permanent. There are some who are still dealing with the strange and often quite serious after effects of COVID, that while not life-threatening, are debilitiating. Those include chronic tiredness, brainfog and flu-like aches and pains. The strangest of these to me are the people who had very light COVID symptoms when they tested positive, but who later developed serious side effects.

I am speaking of people I know personally that have been impacted by COVID – the first round and now the Delta variant or second wave. People dear to me. My brother-in-law died from COVID. I have a family member right now who has long-haul COVID-19 and possible heart damage. I have friends who currently have a seriously ill child. There are several children and a teenager I know who have recently been hospitalized with COVID-19.

I have friends who are vaccinated and unvaccinated. I have friends who believe COVID-19 is 100 percent real and wear a mask, but who will not get the vaccine. I have family members who are shocked by those who do not get the vaccine and some who are shocked by those that do.

I have young relatives that are nurses in hospitals that have seen literally hundreds of deaths from COVID-19. It is not an easy death. It is brutal. My young relatives stayed COVID-free during the worst of it without being vaccinated, but were loaded up with PPE. They told me there was a typical type of patient for the majority of the first round of COVID-19. This new round coming to the ICU are not as typical. They are seeing more young people and those under 35 without underlying conditions who are being gravely impacted.

ICU beds across the state are filling up. In Austin on Tuesday, there are only three ICU beds left for the 2.3 million-populated capitol of Texas. Gov. Abbott on Monday released new measures to respond to the spread of COVID-19:

• Bring additional medical personnel to staff hospitals • Expand antibody infusion centers to prevent hospitalizations of those with COVID

• Make it easier to get a vaccination

Schools are starting back. I know parents are excited for their children to start a quasi-new normal school year as compared to last. But I can also imagine for many there are fears spoken and unspoken. There are so many unknowns.

I am a great believer in doctors of medicine. Not so much in pharmaceutical companies. I want to trust the government, but they make it really, really hard. I don’t fear COVID for me so much, but I take precautions. I am more concerned about my loved ones. I am vaccinated. My family is vaccinated. I am still a major hand washer. I happily wear my mask when it is required.

The Pleasanton Express is doing our first COVID-19 story update in months due to the rise in COVID-19 numbers locally and in Texas. We are not fear-mongering. We are reporting facts as we know them from the reporting sources that are approved to give information. My prayers are that the numbers do not rise as school starts. The Pleasanton Office of Emergency Management is hosting a free vaccination clinic on Monday, Aug. 16 at the Pleasanton Fire Department, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The choice is yours.

NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES is the Publisher and Managing Editor of the Pleasanton Express. You may reach her at nwilkersonholmes@pleasantonexpress.com.

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