“Everything was wide open yet,” Harder explained.
After the holiday, they flew home, staying for four days. Then they climbed in the car and drove to Abbotsford, BC to visit their kids. The plan was to stay for two weeks, but during that time, the coronavirus broke loose. Talk of borders closing and keeping people from spreading infection was in the air, so the couple decided to head for home. On the road, they saw places closing and restaurants running on a strictly drive-through basis. However, Harder began to notice something else.
“I thought I caught a cold in Abbotsford. The kids had had colds there, and so I thought that’s what I had.”
When they returned home on March 23, and after a few days of not feeling well, Harder had his fever spike. They called the Boissevain Health Centre on the Sunday, but found they would have to go to Deloraine if they wanted immediate attention. Instead, they waited until the next day and called in. Harder was looking for something to calm his cold, which was not going well.
“It was in my chest really bad,” he said. “It was like someone was standing on me.”
He talked to local doctor Meyer Nell, who suggested he come for a test. They met outside in the parking lot, and Harder was swabbed. He went home and three days later got a call. He has tested positive for COVID-19.
Thankfully, due to the rules of inter-provincial travel, the couple was already isolating. At the time of his positive diagnosis, he moved to the basement to live there, while Kathy remained upstairs. Their neighbours out at the farm, Tom and Helen Latimer, got the couple’s mail and picked up groceries for them, leaving them on the step. During this period, the Harders had to take their temperature each day, with the public health nurse calling in for results each day.
Thus started his illness and recovery.
“The big thing I found was I had this awful dry cough. You would cough and cough and there was nothing there. I had some Buckley’s, which helped with the cough a bit. If you have ever had Buckley’s…well, I couldn’t taste it at all.”
He added he had no appetite, and all he wanted to do was sleep. It was a draining experience. His temperature peaked at 38°C (100.4°F). When he tried walking, he did not look at all fit.
It certainly took time to get over. He had to have blood taken for other health concerns during the time, and had it taken at the health centre parking lot. He was given the go-ahead to live normally on April 16, but Harder said he stayed home for a while anyway, as he did not feel comfortable being out in public. Eventually, when he had a doctor appointment, he was called in as they figured he was safe.
“I had a mild case compared to some.”
They kept his case quiet at first, so as not to panic the community. After release, they talked to a few people.
One of the interesting and positive parts to the story was that Kathy did not catch the coronavirus. This is somewhat surprising as they travelled together throughout the time, being in close contact until Grant was diagnosed.
“She was with me everyday,” Harder stated, “and they checked her temperature every day with mine. It is pretty amazing she didn’t get it.”
Health authorities checked in with the BC family as well, and they came up negative. As for where Harder could have contracted the disease, the jury is still out.
“We were in the public all the time in Florida. We were in stores, Disneyworld, on the airplanes. At the time, there were no restrictions, or next to nothing. It’s hard to say where I got it.”
Harder said he understands the restrictions different levels of government placed on movement. It might have played a bit of havoc on the economy, but COVID-19 is serious business and when one looks at different jurisdictions that did not react quickly, you see the negative comparisons.
“I can see it,” he said, “We’re fortunate here in Manitoba, we are in way better shape than anyone else. You take a look at the States, they are going backward again. I think Canada did the right thing. It was tough on the people who had to make the decisions. It was something new, all new rules, they never had to do this before. But it was a good thing they did what they did.”
As for himself, Harder said it took quite a while to feel better. He was told it would take a while to completely clear his chest and it did. Even after his release, he found he had to pace himself. He did say he has had worse cases of flu, but still, it was a draining experience.
“Anyone who has had it would understand.”
Harder added it can be a little difficult for people to keep vigilant about the coronavirus as the situation is very stable in our immediate area. As far as he knows, he is the only case around the community. However, people must still be careful.
“That’s the trouble, there is not a lot of it in the area. You get complacent.”
“It took a while to get over,” he said, “but it’s all good now.”

by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff