Coronavirus patient recounts illness; urges others in Camden to be cautious
Lynn Weeks began feeling bad about seven days after she visited a Camden restaurant for lunch the afternoon of Feb. 28, a Friday like many others in the historic Kershaw County town.
At the restaurant, she enjoyed her meal, said hello to a friend and then went home, at the time thinking nothing of the pleasant afternoon out with her husband, Donnie. Then, seven days later, she began to cough. And she felt so tired she couldn’t get out bed for more than short periods.
The retired school teacher had developed coronavirus, a potentially devastating illness that is spreading across the United States, South Carolina and Kershaw County.
On Monday, she and her husband urged anyone feeling bad to see a doctor and cautioned everyone else to be careful.
“I don’t want anything to cause any panic, but I do want us to use common sense,’’ Lynn Weeks said. “With all the United States going through this, I just have great concern about it.’’
In Weeks’ case, she was sick for three days before she visited a doctor. She says she eventually would have seen a physician because she felt so bad, but visited on Monday, March 9, after learning that their friend at the restaurant had tested positive for coronavirus.
It’s not clear where the friend contracted the virus, but three days after Weeks’ visit to the doctor, state health officials confirmed she also had the virus, she said.
Weeks, 68. and her husband, who both are quarantined, said they began calling people in Camden that they had come in contact with before Lynn got sick. Donnie Weeks estimated they had touched base with 15 to 20 people to let them know of her condition.
“We made contact with everybody we could think of that we had contact with between the time we found out we had been exposed til the time we found out she was positive,’’ said Donnie Weeks, the retired chief executive officer at KershawHealth, the Camden area’s health care provider.
Coronavirus is a concern in Camden, a small city in Kershaw County about 35 miles northeast of Columbia, that has been the epicenter of cases in South Carolina. But until Weeks spoke with The State newspaper, no one who has been infected has wanted to talk publicly.
State Rep. Laurie Slade Funderburk, D-Kershaw, said the community will benefit from the Weeks’ decision to go public.
“It’s very generous of Mrs. Weeks to share her story with the community so that people can understand better what this virus is,’’ Funderburk said. “It’s important to take the preventative measures seriously in order to protect members of our community.’’
Kershaw County leads the state in the number of coronavirus cases, and cases in neighboring Lancaster County are believed to be connected to the outbreak in Camden, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Among other things, major events, such as the prestigious Carolina Cup steeplechase, have been canceled. Kershaw leaders also held a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss government and school closings.
Health officials generally recommend staying away from other people and frequent hand washing as a way to keep from getting the virus. The virus is especially threatening to older people or those with existing medical conditions.
That’s why the Weeks’ are thankful Lynn didn’t have a worse case of coronavirus. She has diabetes, heart disease and renal problems. She is recovering and was never hospitalized, despite the three days she spent in bed.
“There are high-risk patients that I’m sure will not come out well with it, but I am a very high-risk patient and I have been blessed,’’ she said. “I would offer hope for those who are a little older with chronic ilnesses, but not to be cavalier about it; that, ‘Well it’s just nothing.’ It is. It is something we need to take seriously and be proactive.’’
Donnie Weeks said her recovery is a small miracle.
“There is not a treatment for this,’’ he said, ‘’and that is where we think prayer made a difference.’’
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 2:56 PM.
