I took a couple of days off because I was sick. I woke up with a sore throat, runny nose, and cough. This was a continuation of feeling weak and tired over the previous days.

I started taking over-the-counter cough medicine, but I still decided to visit a nearby clinic to have it checked and to get a cheaper supply of medicine. The nurse did basic checks for temperature and blood oxygen, and then asked if I wanted to have a more comprehensive COVID test, which I declined, opting instead for just the cough medicine.

Maybe I should have taken the comprehensive test, but at that moment, I thought it wouldn’t make much of a difference. I’d be working from home the next week anyway, with no plans to meet anyone. Perhaps I was just tired of testing for COVID every time I had symptoms. After four years of worrying about COVID, it gets exhausting.

The doctor then examined me and prescribed medicine for my runny nose and cough, which I promptly got from the pharmacy. It was definitely cheaper than the over-the-counter equivalents.

After a couple of days, I was back to normal and ready to return to work on Monday, albeit working from home. Being sick in Japan is always a hassle, especially when memories of COVID are still fresh in people’s minds.

Things are mostly back to normal, but I guess the stigma will linger for a long time.