With talk of the coronavirus finally starting to slow down, we want to make sure all the members of our community are still careful and mindful of their health. While the craziness is finally dying down, anyone could still be vulnerable, which is why we want to continue to inform our readers by sharing local patients’ stories. This Weehawken resident reached out to share their entire family’s experience with having COVID-19. For anonymity purposes, we will only be sharing demographic information — this is the story of a female in her 30s, a man in his 40s, three kids from one to six years old, and two older individuals in their 50s and 60s. Read on to learn their story.
Where do you live?
I have recently moved to Westchester from Weehawken.
What do you do for work?
I own my own firm.
When did you first feel symptoms?
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What were the symptoms? How severe/mild were they?
When did you decide to take a test? What made you decide?
My husband was denied a test on day three for only three days of fever, not over 102 {he started with 101 the first 3 days}. He also only had a fever, so they said that it wasn’t enough to test. On day seven, he went back to check for pneumonia and they tested him then. Five days after the test we found out it was positive. He asked if we should be tested, and they said no. They said there weren’t enough tests, and that if we show symptoms we should assume we all have it.
How do you think you contracted COVID-19?
My husband got it from work in NYC.
Did you have any difficulty getting tested?
I called twice to the health department to let them know I lived with a positive case, the second time they agreed to let me test, despite my only symptom had been nose burning {which was not and still is not on the list}. They couldn’t get me in for my appointment until day 15 of the symptoms. I tested negative. I have since confirmed I have positive antibodies.
Did you need to go to a doctor or hospital? Where did you go?
My husband went to an emergency clinic twice. Grandma and I both went for pneumonia.
What have you been doing to recover? Are you home?
We have been at home and stayed home until about two weeks after our symptoms were over. We felt pretty good about going out {with masks} after I tested negative on day 15 and no one showed fever or symptoms after that.
What medications are you taking?
We took Zpacks. I had a steroid inhaler.
Are you still experiencing symptoms?
I still have a loss of smell.
Before you found out you were positive, did you go anywhere locally?
No. My husband began showing symptoms on the first day of quarantine. We had met with friends the Saturday and Sunday before, but no one contracted it.
See More: ‘I Completely Lost My Sense of Taste and Smell:’ A Local COVID-19 Patient Shares Their Story
What have doctors told you since you have to quarantine?
We were told to quarantine until no one showed symptoms of fever for three days and/or it was seven days from onset of symptoms {they did mention it was okay even though I hadn’t regained my smell as long as it was improving}.
How do you feel the government is handling the epidemic?
No opinion. We will continue to get this, regardless of how the gov. reacts. How long should we stay at home without a vaccine is the better question? If we never get one {we still don’t have one for many viruses} when should we all go out again?
Do you have any advice for someone who thinks they’re positive?
At this point, I have cared for a bunch of people that have gotten it {my nanny and her family also got it}. It seems it either improves or worsens on days 7-10. If by day eight you are not improving seek medical help — even if you have a mild case. You may have something else going on. By day 10, you should start to feel better {if case is mild}.
Is there anything else you can share to help ease our readers’ minds or inform them of at this scary time?
I have now known 11 people close to me {my nanny’s family got it too} and only one had a fever. None had a cough. All three lost smell. Our kids have been confirmed to have the antibodies, so they 100% had it too. Mild is the norm. Out of those 11, only one you would even think had it {fever lasting 10 days}. The rest on the surface could’ve been allergies. In addition, out of the 11, only two were tested. The number of infected is way off. Keep in mind it was the health department and the emergency clinic who said that if we had a confirmed positive in our house and we have symptoms there was “no need to be tested.”
