As illness and hysteria related to coronavirus spread in our local communities, most of us are focused on the numbers. How many people have the emerging disease in the United States, North America, and the world? We may ask how many hospitalizations, people in quarantine, and even, deaths are related to the disease. And perhaps numbers are just the best way to gauge the spread of illness.
Yet, looking beyond the numbers there are unique and touching stories to be found in this pandemic. There are people behind this uncertain disease who have something to share and teach us all in these unbelievable times. One Ohio man, speaking from his hospital bed, is a great example of this sharing. With the help of social media, he has been able to offer the world his experiences with coronavirus and a personal take on social distancing.
Testing Positive
Kevin Harris, 55, has been severely impacted by the coronavirus infection. Beginning on March 2, 2020, Harris reported that he had a small cough and body aches, but he wasn’t worried. However, within 24 hours his health had taken a turn for the worse, as he developed a fever and increasingly acute respiratory symptoms. “I never had any signs until the night…I started coughing,” he said in a live Facebook video. “That was the first sign and it went downhill in 24 hours, like gangbusters. I woke up several times thinking I was gonna die.”
Harris was taken to hospital, and his medical team worked hard to stabilize him. Luckily, Harris did not die and he avoided cardiac arrest secondary to his respiratory symptoms. On March 11, 2020, he tested positive for coronavirus while still recovering in hospital. His case became the fifth confirmed diagnosis in Ohio state. As of March 16, 2020, Harris reports that he is “not out of the woods, but… better every day” as he continues treatment at Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital. How Harris contracted the illness is uncertain, as he stated he had not gone out much prior but feels a recent visit to the Cleveland Clinic may have contributed to his illness. (1)
A Patient’s Take On Social Distancing
Harris, a father of four, shared his experiences with coronavirus on social media in large part to spread the word on social distancing. “People need to stay away from other people. They call it social distancing” said Harris in his viral Facebook video. He let his viewers know that by keeping a safe distance from other people they could reduce their risk of sharing illness or becoming ill.
Giving his message a practical spin, Harris also urged “Do not go in the crowds. Do not shake hands. Stop hugging each other,” and “Wash your hands continually. Do not kiss on your kids. There are thousands of people carrying this virus around. They may never get it.” Harris pleas may come off as extreme at times, comparing coronavirus to a zombie apocalypse, but his authentic perspective and personal testament to the power of social distancing is moving to social media users everywhere. (1)
Social Distancing
Social distancing works due to the nature of the coronavirus (and other illnesses like it!) that are shared via respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, and even regular respiration. For social distancing to be effective, at least six feet should be intentionally kept between yourself and other people. Common examples of social distancing include working from home instead of going to the office, visiting loved ones via electronic devices, and postponing or canceling large gatherings of people.
Social distancing is super important right now to slowing the spread of coronavirus. By staying in to watch Netflix, ordering takeout, and enjoying long walks on quiet paths – you can really help save lives, reduce stress on healthcare facilities, and even save yourself some personal illness! If you haven’t started social distancing already, take Kevin Harris’ story as a ‘wake up call’ to start doing so. (2)
