El Gouna - Antibody Test

 

El Gouna Town Centre

The night before I heard about Maria’s death, I’d decided to get a covid antibody test. I’m wary of the vaccine (I’m not anti-vaccine, just pro-choice, so don’t get all annoyed with me!) and would be happier if I had natural immunity (but I don’t deliberately want to get coronavirus, of course). Ever since I heard about Maria’s illness, I’ve been wondering whether I had coronavirus but was lucky to be asymptomatic. It’s been going through my mind a lot. This could have the benefit of providing me with antibodies and (in my view) me not needing a vaccine. Problem solved.

The question of whether or not to get the vaccine is becoming acute, because I have to get to the UK to collect my new bank cards. If they require me to have a vaccine, I need to get it now, so I can get the second shot in before my Egyptian visa runs out and I have to leave the country (current vaccine available is AstraZeneca, but will be Sinovac soonish). So I was keen to find out if I could claim existing immunity instead. I asked at the local clinic if they could do the antibody test, but they said I’d have to go to El Gouna (about an hour away).

I used Uber for the first time. It was a little confusing as the driver wanted to charge me for coming to El Andalous to fetch me (by adding an extra fifty percent to the agreed price!). I said I’d meet him halfway on the cost (I thought myself very generous). He still tried to push for the full amount but settled when I handed over what I said was a “fair price” and didn’t back down from that. Other than that, he was extremely pleasant. No hassle. Very good English and teaches as his proper job. Everyone needs a bit of extra money these days.

Funnily, he moaned to me about how his previous customer had got very angry with him when he charged the extra and how silly it was for the customer to ruin his holiday by stressing over a few pounds. He praised me for being such a nice customer (which made me feel like I’d been conned!). I explained that it’s not normal to have to pay someone to come and pick you up. However, the driver was adamant that if people didn’t want to pay, that’s fine, they can have another driver. He was the only driver available. It was the last day of Eid.

Security coming into El Gouna was very strict. There was a queue of vehicles and all cars were checked. My driver got a bit worked up that I didn’t have an appointment. He claimed he told security that I needed an x-ray and that security had said no-one was working in the hospital on Sunday. However, we got in.

Much to my astonishment, I was able to walk into El Gouna hospital and get the test done without appointment (that’s what I’d been told, but reality is often different). The procedure was quite Egyptian, with going to reception, then getting a form from the Lab, then to the cashier desk, then return with the receipt of payment, and then wait in a room. I’d hoped it would be just a finger prick of blood, but it was a syringe. The doctor kept on telling me to relax when he was taking my blood (from my hand), but I hate this kind of thing and found it hard.

I also hadn’t realized that I’d get the result on the same day, so he told me to return in two hours’ time. I arranged for the taxi driver to return at that time; he took me into the town centre, where I wandered about. I bumped into Essam, who has a flat in El Andalous, just as I was looking at a restaurant menu. He recommended it to me, so I went in. Small world.

I didn’t have much money with me as I hadn’t reckoned on having a meal (and I don’t like to carry too much money), so I ordered the super duper breakfast. However, they didn’t have the chef for the breakfast. By way of apology, they gave me a free melon juice and a free salad. They treated me like a princess! It made me wonder if they thought I was some kind of restaurant critic. I felt bad because I only ordered a kebab sandwich and a diet pepsi. They then also gave me ten percent off! I gave them a good tip and said I’d definitely return! Maybe Essam told them I wrote a newsletter.

The antibody test result was ready for me when I arrived back at the hospital. It came back negative. So I can’t claim immunity, but the good thing is that I never did have covid. The whole thing still remains bizarre.

On the way back, the driver had his 14-year old son with him, so we got talking about his family. His daughter manages a hotel in Alexandria. I mentioned that I’d never been and would love to go there one day. The next minute, he was on the phone to his daughter telling me I must speak to her! That’s so Egyptian. They love phoning people up and telling them who they’re with and handing the phone over. Personally, I find it a bit of a nightmare! Anyway, he made me save her number on my phone so that I can get a good deal when I want to stay there.

It was a bit of an exhausting day (venturing out of Sahl Hasheesh is always a trauma!). And I’m still left with questions about what to do next regarding travel. Ho hum.

Anyway, next week, I’ll get back to talking about the Desert Trip.