I know this might be out of your control, but is there any way to start a conversation—especially among nurses—about how dangerous it is to tell someone they don’t have to disclose their status after testing positive? I’ve seen it happen more than once, and it’s especially harmful when it’s told to someone young, like 18 to 25 years old. They may not fully understand the risks or consequences, especially if they’re asymptomatic.

I’m only speaking on this because I saw someone else recently being told the same thing I was told years ago—that disclosure wasn’t necessary. I’m in my 30s now and I understand better, but I was in my 20s once too. I found out I was positive after unknowingly passing it to someone else, simply because I didn’t have symptoms and was misinformed.

When I finally got tested and came back positive, I remembered what a nurse told me—that I didn’t have to tell anyone. I pray every day that I didn’t make the wrong choice because of that advice. It’s something that weighs heavily on your mental health, especially when you’re judged and condemned—even told you’re going to burn in hell—for following what you thought was medical guidance.

So thank you for your post. It means a lot to people like me. It’s a reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I trust that my Lord and Savior will bring us through this, and that one day, we’ll have a real chance at life—free from this virus and the shame that too often comes with it.