The first thing I noticed was a heavy feeling.
It was a Friday. I tried to convince myself it was something else, maybe unusually high levels of pollution or the result of living in an air-conditioned box all summer, but fear of what it might be lingered in the back of my mind.
I called a COVID-19 helpline the next day. They asked about my symptoms; had I been vaccinated? My ward had only just opened vaccinations for my age group and I was due to get my first dose that week. The operator offered the number of a doctor 30 minutes away and then, without any further information, the call ended.
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