WHEN MY HUSBAND BEGAN TO SHOW SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, about a week after we found out one of his co-workers had a positive test, I wasn’t particularly worried. He’s a middle-aged, athletic, healthy guy. Our kids live elsewhere. We would just hunker down for a few days and get through it together.
After all, the pandemic has forced many people to do work that they have traditionally outsourced: homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, home repairs. Even if nobody in their home has fallen ill, people have had to behave more like health workers, by maintaining a hygienic environment, avoiding contamination and wearing protective garb. So, big deal, I would get to be a nurse for a while. (I had symptoms too, but they were much milder.)
Admittedly, the talents nursing requires—compassion, patience,…