Lessons learned from a Nancy Drew fan in quarantine

As a kid I loved the Nancy Drew series of books. Probably showing my age but for those that don’t know she was an amateur detective who in each book took us on an exciting journey as she solved each amazing mystery. OK not award winning writing but was good at the time !

As a lawyer and executive coach I love helping people work through issues to solve problems and achieve results.

Turns out these skills are useful at work and in general life.

Yesterday I identified a gap in the COVID alert notification for people that attended a COVID exposed event I attended which has put me in 14 days quarantine. I'm on day 10 of 14 as I write this - hooray !

For the sake of our keeping our community safe I worked with the venue and the Health Department to solve the mystery.

Why ?

Because one of the key weapons used by our Government against the COVID outbreaks is keeping people potentially exposed to COVID in quarantine for 14 days. The gap meant there could be some people in the community who attended the venue but have not been in quarantine, may not have been tested and were not aware they need a second test this week. I was in a gap but had used commonsense to get tested and stay in quarantine. Others may not have done that.

This gap is a risk for everyone out there in South East Queensland celebrating the end of lockdown. It is hoped the risk is small but I will leave that to the Health Department to work though and contact those caught in the gap.

I waited 9 days and was frustrated I had not heard a single thing from our Health Department even though I had checked in with the QR Code at the venue and self reported on the contact tracing list. I have been thinking about what more could I have done.

In solving this mystery (and clearly having too much time to think while I count down the 14 days of quarantine) I have learnt a lot of key lessons:

• make sure you use the QR Code Check-in absolutely everywhere you go. Yes it is annoying at times, sometimes it is hard to find but ask if you can’t find it. Make it a habit.
• check the contact tracing list regularly. This is your responsibility. Even if you haven’t been at one of the venues, think about the themes on there. What type of venues are on there all the time. The ones that appear on there regularly are probably higher risk and make it even more important to use good COVID safe practices if you go there.
• self report if you have been to any of the venues on the contact tracing list using the link on the website. DO NOT wait for your local Health Department to contact you (even though they might say they will). It is up to you to read the instructions on the website and follow them. If it says to get tested and quarantine then do it. Let those close to you know that you are in quarantine. Reach out for help if you need it. Don’t suffer in silence.
• if you know someone in quarantine or lockdown, call or send them a message to see how they are going.
• don’t be passive and wait for your Health Department to contact you. Don’t think, it’s OK I scanned in at the venue they will let me know. Our Health Department is completely and utterly overloaded. Yes we use a fancy app to check in, but the system behind it where the data ends up is likely to be as sophisticated as an Excel spreadsheet of raw data. They do not necessarily send out bulk text and email messages to everyone on the QR Code data list. Their system may not have that function or be able to cope with that due to the volume of data. Don’t rely on receiving a message.
• don’t think to yourself ‘no news is good news’. Don’t think I have had no contact from my Health Department so that means I’m in the clear so when the lockdown ends I can go out now. Quarantine and lockdown are very different. Quarantine goes for at least 14 days. There is no early mark. We stay home for 14 days and the only time out is for a COVID test or an emergency. Lockdown goes for the time your local Government decides and has different rules each time. Shout out to my friends around the world, including in Sydney (Australia) and other places doing it very tough right now with no clear end in sight.
• if you were at a venue on the list check the social media of the venue - it will be your absolute best place for information. It will give you faster information and additional information you may never receive directly from your Health Department. Contact the venue if you can’t find the information you need.
• share alerts with your family and friends who were at the venue with you. They may not have seen it.
• join a group on your social media for your neighbourhood. You will find useful local information and may also be able to help those in need. Even offering to walk a dog for someone in home quarantine is a massive help. Cooking just one meal. Picking up groceries. Running one errand. There are many simple things you can do to make a difference for someone.
• use commonsense - don’t try to be tricky with timing or wording for the contact tracing. If you feel the need to go somewhere during these COVID outbreak times don’t ask ‘can I’ do something, ask ‘should I’ do something. Remember it is not all about you. It is about keeping the community COVID safe. Think about your family and friends, those who have immune conditions, those that are older.
• use your instincts and your inner Nancy Drew - ask questions if you think something is not right. The Health Department and the venue are happy that I asked questions. Speak up.
• the COVID exposed venue does not receive the QR Code Check-in data. Only the Health Department does. So the venue has no idea who they let onto their premises. Think about large scale events you go to. Can you pre-register your attendance. Am I safe at a large venue if the venue does not issue tickets to keep track of who was there (as a back up to the QR Code Check-in data has).
• Our Health Department contact tracing staff are doing a first class job keeping us safe. However they are very short of staff and are doing big hours. Mistakes can happen. They have to make quick decisions due to the sheer volume of contact tracing. Assumptions can be wrong. If they don’t know facts to help them with their decisions and if they don’t know about errors in assumptions then they can’t fix it. So let them know. Be nice. Be respectful. They will appreciate your call.
• everyone has a part to play in keeping us COVID safe. If you choose to enjoy the freedom to be out during these uncertain COVID times then it is your responsibility to keep checking the contact tracing information, getting tested and following instructions. You’re adult, act like one. Teach your kids what they need to do. If you’re a parent, that’s your job.
• The community stays safe if we all work together. If you haven’t had to do 14 days quarantine in hotel or home, an extended lockdown or self imposed quarantine due to immune or other health issues then talk to someone who has. It will give you a new appreciation for the things in life we take for granted.
• when you take advantage of an exemption from COVID rules use commonsense. If eating and drinking at a bar or restaurant means you can sit there with your family and friends with no mask on, surrounded by strangers you don’t even know, think about other things you can personally do to keep yourself safe. Don’t assume because they are your family and friends it’s all good and you are guaranteed to be safe from COVID. They can be completely symptom free. They won’t intentionally pass on COVID. Just because they are your friends or family does not mean you are COVID safe.
• return to work in a COVID safe way. Check the rules. Tell your workplace if you don’t feel safe.

My household has mandatory COVID testing on Wednesday and if we get a negative test we are ‘free’ from our 14 days home quarantine on Friday night.

I will be returning to the world with a different appreciation of the COVID affected world and the part I can play in it.

I hope this post helps you too stay safe too.

We are all in this world together.

You may also have more tips or a different view. I’m a lawyer, parent, spouse and community minded person not a pandemic expert so feel free to comment…….

#lawyer #problemsolver #COVID #quarantine #leadership #speakup #beresponsible