With the novel coronavirus currently sweeping across the globe, it’s easy to feel stress, worried, and afraid.

Elizabeth Schneider who lives in Seattle, Washington and has recently recovered from COVID19 has a message for everyone: Don’t panic.

“Be vigilant, but don’t panic”

Seattle, Washington has been considered to be the epicenter of the disease in the United States. Elizabeth is sharing her story because, with all the frightening news we’ve been receiving lately, she wants to offer people some hope.

“Obviously, it’s not something to be completely nonchalant about, because there are a lot of people who are elderly or have underlying health conditions. That means that we need to be extra vigilant about staying home, isolating ourselves from others.” She said in an interview. (1)

Elizabeth’s case was mild, which coincides with 80% of the cases in China. The remainder of those cases affected primarily those 60 years of age and older and those with preexisting health conditions such as diabetes, heart, and lung disease. 

How Elizabeth got sick

On February 22th, Elizabeth went to a party. By the 25th, just three days later, she began experiencing flu-like symptoms. Later there were five other people who attended that party who tested positive for coronavirus. 

Her symptoms

Elizabeth explains that she woke up the morning of the 25th feeling tired. She says it was not any different than a regular morning when you wake up early for work, especially after the busy weekend she’d had. 

By noon, however, things started to change. It started with a headache, followed by a fever and body aches. She decided that she wasn’t well enough to stay at work and went home to take a nap.

By the time she woke up from her nap, her fever had spiked to 103 degrees Fahrenheit. She had chills throughout her whole body and tingling in her fingers and toes. She called a friend to let her know in case she needed emergency help, and then relied on regular, over-the-counter flu medication. Her fever improved after a couple of days. 

Read: Scientists Confirm a Person Can Carry And Transmit COVID-19 Without Showing Symptoms

How she determined it was COVID19

At first, Elizabeth just thought she had the regular flu. After all, she didn’t have any of the shortness of breath or coughing symptoms like she had read about. She’d gotten the flu shot already and so assumed that this was just a different strain. She knew of others who had gone to their doctor only to be told to drink plenty of fluids and rest – the regular recommendations. (1)

Later, however, she discovered that several other people who attended the same party as her had the same symptoms but had tested negative for the flu. They were not offered coronavirus testing because they didn’t have the lung troubles associated with the disease. She knew she would not be offered testing for the same reason, so instead, she enrolled in the Seattle Flu Study to see if they could provide her with some clarity. She was sent a swab kit which she used and then mailed back to the research lab. 

She finally got a call on March 7th confirming that she tested positive for COVID19. 

Read: Photos show why hand sanitizer doesn’t work as well as soap and water to remove germs

Next Steps

Elizabeth’s symptoms were mild, and by that point, they were already gone. She was instructed to stay at home for seven days prior to the onset of symptoms or for at least 72 hours (3 days) after the symptoms were completely gone. 

She followed those instructions and has now been able to begin going out to run errands again. She continues to be careful to avoid large crowds and is working from home for the time being. (1)

The moral of Elizabeth’s story

“The message is don’t panic,” said Schneider. “If you think that you have it, you probably do; you should probably get tested.”

She hopes that her story will provide some hope for people who are afraid of currently. She wants her story, which will most likely be a similar one to the majority of people who become sick, to be an example for everyone.

What to do if you test positive for COVID19

Elizabeth is right: If you think you have it, even just slightly unsure, go get tested. If you are sick, follow these steps:

• Isolate yourself from others.
• Follow the regulations set for you by the government and your health care providers.
• If your symptoms are not life-threatening, stay home, drink plenty of fluids, rest, and use over-the-counter flu medications.
• Wash and sanitize your hands well.
• Wait for a few days after your symptoms are completely gone before reentering society.

Most importantly – stay calm, and stay safe!

Keep Reading: How to Distinguish between the Coronavirus and Flu

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