(Egalitarian News Editor Elina Nghiem is the girls basketball manager provides a first hand experience to testing as required by the Washington Department of Health for sports at high risk).

Many have been lucky to make it up to this point in the pandemic to have never needed to test, or to never have a scare. However, with the new rules for athletes, testing is unavoidable.

Whether or not you’re a player, a coach, or just a manager, the new COVID guidelines released by the Washington Department of Health on December 17th, calls for testing three times a week, regardless of vaccination status. Personally, as manager of the basketball team, it seems extreme to have to test as often as I do for somebody who rarely makes close contact with any members of the team. However, I understand the importance of slowing the spread through any means necessary. 

Walking to the COVID isolation room every other day, while a minor inconvenience, isn’t as horrible as it may seem. The worst part is going deep into my left nostril. It’s just so sensitive. Twenty full circles in each nostril and three spins in the little folder that it goes in and the aftermath is just teary eyes and a couple sneezes. Because the school offers rapid testing, I receive my results within the hour. The wait is scary, regardless of whether or not I had a chance to catch the virus. The first test I took after break, I did have a possibility of catching the virus beforehand, so that definitely was one of my most nerve-wracking moments. Even after four tests, I don’t lose that anxiety, but the relief of seeing the word “negative” is an adrenaline rush you truly cannot receive anywhere else and almost makes the entire process worth it. 

Being part of the team is fun and if I have to get tested three times a week, I might as well accept my fate. These guidelines are nothing short of cautious and it’s a fair price to pay. Overall, my experience with testing has been a breeze, and I’m sure it will continue to be that way.