COVID UPDATE:

As you may have already heard, both the Admiral and I have contracted COVID. She got it first and I got it three days later. We are both vaccinated, so symptoms have been less than if we were not vaccinated, and of course, you have a much great chance of a full recovery if you are vaccinated. All this said, I have been very ill.

Neither of us knew we had COVID and we both thought it was a very nasty summer cold. I even took the COVID test out of precaution and it came back negative. My symptoms, however, continued to get worse and worse, the Admirals hit a wall and her symptoms never went past it. My symptoms were complete fatigue, a high temp of 101.8 with hallucinations (black bugs scurrying across the floor), body aches, an extreme soar throat, headache, nausea, non-stop runny nose and congestion, dizziness, loss of appetite, insomnia, and a very swollen throat. So swollen, that on the third day of my symptoms, I could not speak for the first three hours when I got up and I had to write on a pad of paper to the Admiral: TAKE ME TO HOSPITAL NOW. 

The Admiral suggested I see the doctor first. We went immediately and they tested me for everything and all tests came back negative – except COVID. That was highlighted POSITIVE. The Doc said the first time I was tested, the COVID had not manifested itself and the test was negative. She said that I was now within the window time-frame of my diagnosis to be immediately put on a new drug recently released the the FDA that blocks the enzyme needed for COVID to continue to progress in the body – IF you start the medicine within 4-5 days of your first symptoms. Otherwise, the drug is useless. So, I took the drug and have been on it now for three days. I would say my symptoms have all been reduced by 50% or better and some have completely gone away ( no more fever and my appetite is returning).

We are in quarantine through Thursday. I will see how I am feeling at that point before I start up my charters again. Thanks to all for the kind e-mails and concerns and your prayers. I am happy to err on the side of caution with something that has the potential to be quite dangerous.

Sincerely,

Capt. Dave, BAYMEN, www.baymenlife.com