A Charlotte CEO’s story: ‘Congratulations, you have the Coronavirus, call asap’

“Congratulations, you have the Coronavirus, call asap.”

That chilling text on March 18 came nearly two weeks after I actually started feeling weak. That delay, and many others like it around the U.S., is infuriating considering we’re living in the greatest country in the world.

I was one of the lucky ones. I’m fine now and no longer contagious. According the NC Health Department one is no longer contagious the latter of seven days after initially getting the virus and three days after last day of fever. My call came 14 days after my initial symptoms and 10 days after my last day of fever, but my experience underscores the lessons we all need to learn as individuals as well as the proper roles of government and the private sector in combating this national nightmare.

My symptoms started while at dinner on March 4. Unfortunately, the three people at the restaurant with me contracted the virus within three to four days. On March 5, I started to practice social distancing and on March 6 self-isolated once I confirmed I had fever. The same day, when I was probably the most contagious, I requested a test from my doctor and was told there were none available.

Once my fever broke, not knowing I had the Coronavirus, I re-engaged in the world. I went to the office. I went to meetings. Everywhere I pushed for no hand shaking and social distancing. Then I developed cold symptoms and felt ill again, resulting in my retreating back to my home. Finally, on March 13, my doctor said she had access to a Coronavirus test if I still wanted one. The results then took five and half days, before my call came on March 18, confirming that I had Coronavirus but because so much time had passed since I had been sick, I was also now considered healthy and safe.

We must ask how could our government have failed in response to this pandemic? It was not like this was an earthquake that came without warning. The news daily reminded us of the risks as we watched the virus spread throughout China, then Asia, then Europe. Until recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insisted that it be the sole test provider for the U.S. Why would our government not encourage every company in the country to work on innovate ideas to protect us?

Government has an important role in creating wise rules and regulations, but it often fails at implementation. Let capitalism plays its role by encouraging and rewarding companies that innovate and implement. The ingenuity that comes from capitalism cannot flourish under arbitrary and capricious rules such as prohibiting the creation of Coronavirus test kits that could have helped us avoid thousands of potential deaths. I battle these same issues in the affordable housing industry daily including my most recent requirement by HUD to force every resident in one apartment community to remove all their food from their refrigerators so I can replace them with smaller versions. I have to do this during a time when everyone is at risk of being quarantined. Reliance on government bureaucrats to do the hard work and make the difficult decisions does not work. Politics poisons results.

In times like this there tend to be three kinds of reactions: those who take it seriously, those who don’t take it seriously and those who panic. Unfortunately, the many who don’t take it seriously usually end up on the latter category when the virus hits close to home. Jeffrey A. Tucker of the American Institute for Economic Research says we are experiencing an epistemic meltdown as a result of the lack of knowledge. It is my belief that strong data, a commitment to transparency and the wheels of capitalism can solve this problem and solve it quickly.

All of us must take responsibility for our own health. If we are diligent by washing our hands and avoiding close contact with others, we should be safe. We have to remember that Covid 19 does not defy the laws of physics. If we are reckless, we will get sick, get others sick and cause people to panic. This disease is extremely dangerous, but we can and will overcome this challenge.

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 7:00 AM.