Just a few days ago, I experienced fatigue and when I checked my temperature, I had a fever of 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. Seeing that it’s been the first time in at least 3 years I had last gotten a fever, much less sick from anything, I knew I couldn’t take any chances. I only knew in the back of my head that there were test sites for COVID, so I spent some time looking up information online. After finding the right website and reading through all the Japanese, I scheduled an appointment to get tested that same night at a temporary testing site that had been set up in early August 2022 in response to the 7th wave of spikes in infection rates in Japan.
I had been fortunate in that the test site services were offered to those who were in the “young” age group of up to 40-some year olds who aren’t also in the high risk category (obese, pregnant, preexisting conditions, etc.) that have experienced only fever and/or coughing, which were considered “mild” symptoms. Although the test site was supposed to be the nearest of the temporary sites to my home address, it was still a ways off.
Burning up with a fever that at times felt intensified by hot flashes, I got myself ready to make the trip and went out the door. Just getting to the intersection right outside the steps of my apartment itself felt a bit strenuous and I was glad the bus stop was just a couple minutes down the road on foot. I had only taken a weak pain reliever/fever reducing medicine I bought many months ago before getting the COVID vaccine in case it caused some side effects, and it hadn’t really done much to help.
In recent years, time seemed to go by so fast for me. But now time seemed to move so slowly when I was suffering. Despite having a fever, I wasn’t really sweating at all. This meant my body wasn’t releasing heat properly, and I had to wrap a wet towel around my neck most of the day to help deal with the fever. Having the air conditioner on was helpful, but electricity costs money and it doesn’t really help with the environment. On top of that, I’d feel chilly instead if I lowered the temperature too much, and it’d be more miserable feeling hot and freezing at the same time than just hot. Once the bus arrived after what felt like an excruciating wait, I was just glad to be out of the heat and inside a bus with the air conditioner on full blast, however.
I’ve only taken the bus on several occasions during my 10 years in Japan. A few of them were when the train on my line had been stopped due to accidents or weather conditions. I had been to the bus stop that stopped at a subway train station that would be the closest stop to walk to the test site before, so there wasn’t any fear of not knowing where to get off. The map app on my phone said it’d be a 10-minute walk from that stop to the test site. I knew I should give myself more time than that since I’d be moving slow with my fever and fatigue, so I opted to take the bus that’d get me there ahead of the scheduled appointment.
I had worked remotely that day as well since I felt okay at the start of the day. By the end of the day I started to regret that choice, but I needed to take the test to make sure it wasn’t just my body reacting weirdly to the sudden temperature drop that morning compared to the night before as well. Perhaps it was because I felt comforted by the thought that I was on my way to knowing the truth of it all that the slow walk to the test site wasn’t all that bad. The sun was setting and it was starting to cool a little, but there was still light out.
Once I got to the test site, I wasn’t quite sure what part of the oddly organized building housing several different operations I was supposed to go to. I saw other people coming and some parking lot attendants as well. I remember overhearing one asking if someone on their scooter bike was there for the PCR test, so I walked up to a big sign to check if it was the test site. Sure enough it was. The website saying for people with “mild” symptoms sure felt like they made it just difficult enough that your symptoms won’t kill you on your way to get tested in my mind.
Knowing I was ahead of my appointment I checked at the front just in case, and fortunately they were okay with letting people in early ahead of their appointment. Maybe it was because it was near the end of their operating hours, or maybe it was due to the location not having a lot of traffic. But in reality it was most likely the tiny size of the rented space that they just streamed people with an appointment in. I showed a screenshot of my appointment reservation on my smartphone, showed my Residence Card for my ID, and waited in line as a small group before me finished listening to an explanation given by staff.
When the group I was in came up for the talk, we were given a clipboard, three paper forms, a pencil for filling them in, and a little test kit bag. After getting told what to fill in and waiting in line for the group ahead to clear out, I went in to the next room and filled out the sheets. The group was told to take a photo of the forms and check off the boxes to make sure everyone didn’t miss a step. That extra double checking seemed especially important for people with a fever that might not be at their best in paying attention.
After the paperwork was done, I read the instructions just to be sure how the test is to be done. I took out the plastic vial and straw out of the kit. With everything in place, I passed some saliva down the straw into the vial and sealed it. Proceeding it in with my forms, I recall the staff rewriting some of my numerals just so it was unmistakable for any other number. Out of habit of entering and exiting the same door, I thought to leave the way I came in, but the staff quickly reminded me that the exit is out through the back.
The walk back to the bus stop felt better as I felt like my day was coming to an end and I could soon go get some rest. But that was just the first day and things were only going to get worse before they get better.
To be Continued.
One Chance Works 