I’m really baffled by those private GPs who are still reluctant to test for COVID in front of what obviously could be a COVID infection. Saying that your brother has a bronchitis is omitting to say that’s it could well be a Covid bronchitis… the Dr has NO WAY to make the difference except by doing the swab. In fact, this behaviour contributes to spreading the misdiagnosed infection
My brother went back to the GP yesterday, because he's still coughing. The luck of the draw got him an appointment with the other GP in the practice. She thinks that he either has or had COVID. Test results due today. Meanwhile, she prescribed cortisone for his cough.
So here we have two GPs in one practice. One says it's bronchitis and it's unnecessary to do a COVID test. The other thinks it could be COVID and does a test. Bottom line - your health care/life depends on the luck of the draw. Insane.
She (the second GP) told him that he doesn't have to quarantine, as he's obviously had it (if he has) for more than 10 days already.
But here's the thing. If my brother has/had COVID, has he unknowingly infected others? He doesn't socialise much, other than neighbourhood braais, which stopped at the beginning of the third wave. However, he doesn't wear a mask when he chats to his neighbour across the wall (the neighbour who was hospitalised because of COVID - and I wonder if that's not where he picked it up, if he has/had it).
Nor does he wear a mask when he walks his dog. The people in his street all love his dog and come out of their house - without masks - when they see him to give the dog a treat. I told him a long time ago he should wear his mask and he replied that it's OK - it's only the people in his street .
My brother is fully aware of the extent of the third wave and yet ... I just don't get it.