By Liz Calvo
For two years, COVID-19 has raged all over the United States and the mention of a positive test has become taboo. In stressful times like these, conversations about COVID-19 experiences should be a safe space without misconceptions, starting with the students who have beat COVID on Barry’s Campus. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.”
Brianna Hoagland, a sophomore majoring in business management, mentioned experiencing “loss of taste and smell, fatigues, muscle aches, headaches, and fever.” As those are the most common, both the Delta and the Omicron variants have been identified to have the same symptoms. However, both variants spread faster and can cause symptoms to become severe with differences varying from person to person.
Many doctors have different recommendations of measures people can take to reduce these symptoms.
Harvard Medical School stated that a person should make sure to get plenty of rest and stay well hydrated. Also, some medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen should help with aches and pains. Other medications can be used as recommended by a doctor. For example, Hoagland said she took NyQuil to get some sleep.
Moreover, the CDC recommends getting your vaccines as it is effective in lessening symptoms.
Kaitlyn Gallagher, a program facilitator for the Center of Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) said, “I was already doubled vaccinated when I had COVID at the end of July 2021, so my symptoms were thankfully not severe, only a slight fever and body aches.” Hoagland believed she got COVID around winter break at the end of 2020 from a family member. From the start of her two-week quarantine, her biggest support was her dad.
“He miraculously did not get COVID and helped take care of me and keep me in good spirits,” she said. Gallagher, however, had to spend her quarantine period alone at the end of July 2021.
“I kept in contact with friends and family, so I didn’t feel so isolated,” she said, though she was fully prepared to do so.
“I was still working remotely while I had COVID. I was already well stocked on food and medicine and spent time watching some of my comfort T.V. shows and movies.” Overall, Hoagland advised that students should always be aware of how they are feeling and stay on top of their health, whether they have had COVID or not.
“At the end of the day, just take care of yourself and others,” she said to those who test positive for COVID. “Take the time to rest and recover from COVID. Although it can be tough to be quarantined, reach out to those around you for support.”