Lack of PPE, insufficient safety protocols, and lack of testing contributed to this physical therapist and 60% of her colleagues contracting COVID-19

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - November 4, 2020: I work in a skilled nursing facility whose patients are mostly recovering from hospital stays. When the Covid outbreak began, more and more of our patients were recovering from Covid. I had to change my work plans to deal with people suffering from fatigue and having difficulty walking and breathing.

At first, these patients could not be admitted to our facility without having had two successive negative Covid tests. Then, because Covid testing was limited, the protocol changed to fourteen days since their Covid symptom onset, then that was decreased to ten days. At this point, it was very difficult to determine who the Covid patients were.

Our facility lacked adequate PPE for staff. In the beginning, I was given one surgical mask to wear, which was supposed to last for a week. I was given one gown, which I was told to leave hanging in the patient’s closet. Later, thanks to a coworker, I had my own N95 mask. I paid attention to washing my hands, doing my best to follow safety protocols, but I began to worry that I would catch the virus.

At home, I told my boyfriend that we would have to stay apart. I began sleeping in a separate bedroom, and we ate separately.

I returned home from work one evening and had a sudden attack of extreme body aches and chills. I had a fever spike at midnight and went to get tested at a mobile site at 8 a.m. Within an hour, my test came back as positive.

I’m sure I caught the virus at work. With so many Covid infected patients and inadequate PPE and safety protocols, it was only a matter of time. When I found out I had Covid, my first concern was for my patients and coworkers, hoping I had not spread the virus to them. I think over half of the staff at the facility caught Covid, although management was not open about this.

My Covid symptoms were low-grade fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, and loss of smell and taste. I developed a dry cough that lasted about three weeks. Later, clumps of hair began to fall out. this stopped in about three months.

I stayed home to recover, taking over the couch while my boyfriend worked in his bedroom. I drank lots of tea, took some Tylenol, watched TV, read, talked with family and friends, and sat outside on my patio to breathe fresh air.

We kept our distance while I recovered, and my boyfriend never caught the virus.

I had to struggle with my company to get fourteen days of paid sick leave, but when I was fully recovered, I returned to work. Covid safety protocols were still fragmented. It was the end of June before staff were issued M95 masks. I think the company should have reached out to get more Covid tests and could have been much more proactive in developing and enacting Covid safety protocols for patients and staff.

I now have a deeper empathy for patients who are suffering and recovering from Covid. Covid is real, and its symptoms can be painful and life-altering. I survived fourteen days of misery, and I want young people to know the same thing can happen to them. Covid infects all ages.

Covid is scary. If you get it, reach out for help.

I have donated blood plasma to help others fight this disease. I encourage anyone who has survived Covid and is able to donate their plasma. Antibody blood plasma transfusions seem to be helping people recover from the disease.

I’m looking forward to things getting back to normal. I’m a “foodie” and am anxious to get out and try my newly recovered senses of taste and smell again.