‘Miserable’ symptoms, routines upended, mounting frustration. These are SC’s omicron stories

The omicron variant has swept across South Carolina with ferocious speed, causing more than 300,000 coronavirus infections over the course of four weeks.

We asked Palmetto State residents to share how the pathogen has changed their lives — in both big ways and small.

Amy Bates, 30, Ridgeway

In the days leading up to Christmas, my brother tested positive for COVID, followed then by our mom and elderly grandmother. They were miserable for days and had to spend the holidays in isolation, but they stayed out of the hospital. They still feel weak but have returned to normal activities. They were also fully vaccinated. My 5-year-old daughter’s school was closed for two weeks before Christmas break began, and since starting back on Jan. 3, we have been notified of a possible COVID positive contact every other day. This new variant is harder for us to know how to respond to. It’s far more contagious, but also supposedly less severe symptom-wise. We still do not want it. But we also want to live our lives. It is hard to know what is reasonable in terms of acting with caution and protecting our kids, one of them being too young to get vaccinated. Will they be OK if they get it? Would it be worth it to risk it and stop worrying so much?

Marcus Polk, 65, Winnsboro

Not much (has changed). My wife and I have not tested positive at any time for COVID-19 or any variant. My grown daughter and her husband recently were positive, but none of their three children. My sister-in-law, who lives in the same town, is currently positive (Jan. 7). We have changed our lifestyles a bit but continue with our daily activities as before.

Ellen Wagner, 76, Hilton Head Island

We had a lively Christmas gathering of 15, and two days later seven of us tested positive. For six of us the symptoms have been very mild. My son-in-law is unvaccinated and he has been very sick. Our symptoms were mild: dry cough, sore throat. His were the same but “on steroids.” But, when numbers are counted, four of us had at-home tests, and those are not counted into the reported cases. So the cases are so much greater than the numbers we see.

Susan Fincke, 62, St. Helena Island

I don’t let the media continue to frighten me with pandemic hysteria. While you mention “cases,” the metrics that matter are hospitalizations and death. ... As much as certain institutions would like to continue the fear and exert undue unconstitutional limits and control, I educate myself with ALL the information available and realize I can, to some extent, control my health with diet and lifestyle.

Allen Sharpe, 36, Columbia

I felt we were beginning to slowly turn the corner only to see cases rise at lightning speed as the omicron variant took center stage. Having been vaccinated and taking the necessary precautions, I still felt reasonably safe, that is, until I contracted the virus shortly after Christmas. The virus hit me somewhat hard, although I was fortunate enough to stay out of the hospital. My physician ordered monoclonal antibody therapy due to an underlying medical condition, but with a supply shortage, I never received the treatment. I also worried about who may have been exposed to the virus by me inadvertently. These are very challenging times; when one member of the household becomes (ill) it truly impacts the entire family and all those in your circle with additional testing, missed work and overall anxiety over what comes next.

Shannon Catoe, 53, Rock Hill

I contracted omicron even though I was vaccinated and boosted. My husband as well.

Carolyn Matthews, 71, Columbia

Even though everyone at my daughter’s Christmas dinner was fully vaccinated and boosted, and we dined outside, several of us got COVID breakthrough cases. It was quickly over and mild, even though I couldn’t get test results from the (S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control) drive-thru for six days. Now the granddaughters are in virtual school (Jan. 7), and everyone is trying to ascertain how to return to “normal.” I am very angry with people who ignore science and refuse vaccines.

Arthur Holland, 89, Bluffton

30% of the population is infringing on my personal rights by refusing to get the vaccine for COVID. At age 89, the last few years of life are limited from participating in group activities, going to entertainment performances, attending meetings and doing normal things that used to be the way of life. The 30% are selfish, self-centered and obviously do not care for others. I lived in the 1930s and 1940s and know what it is to have life rationed, limited and controlled for the benefit of our country so (that) the 30% now can complain about helping their friends and neighbors keep well.

Caroline Weathers, 46, St. George

I’m a teacher and parent, so I’m not “numb to the numbers.” We’re handling this surge at our school as best as we can, given the limitations imposed by state-level leadership. It would be great to be able to pivot to required masking or hybrid instruction based on data, but S.C. policies have really discouraged both of these strategies. Most days it feels like our state’s response is the most problematic part of the whole situation. The way you keep schools from shutting down and the virus from causing an increase in hospitalizations is through an intelligent and thoughtful approach. Instead, we have an AG (Attorney General) who’s ... opposed to vaccine or mask mandates and a governor who’s decided that we should just “be happy.” Being happy is a great goal, it just doesn’t stop a virus from spreading. As a state, we’ve been pretty much left to fend for ourselves. Fortunately, all of my educator friends understand how to navigate this pandemic, and I’m keeping my own family safe during omicron through masking and vaccines. Wearing a face covering to protect others in public spaces is only difficult if you make it difficult. Luckily, pandemics don’t last forever, and I’m an eternal optimist. I have lots of hope that in retrospect we’ll be able to improve on our collective missteps and see some of the bright spots, too, like better internet access in rural areas and new models for public education.

Michael Shue, 41, splits time between Hilton Head Island and Washington, D.C.

My daughter caught COVID right after Christmas and was sick for two days — we figure the rest of us got it as well. My wife and I felt slightly crummy and my son had a cough. I would describe it as “the crud.” After five days we were all fine. But back in Washington, schools delayed their opening and because of her positive case she was denied entry since they still maintain a 10-day isolation period. So we have stayed on the island to enjoy normalcy while D.C. goes back into early pandemic lockouts. The omicron variant has done nothing to affect my life; it is the actions others are taking that cause issues. Luckily people here are more sober-minded than those in Washington.

Lorraine Chillemi, 62, Hilton Head Island

I’m much more aware of social distancing. I avoid hugging people that are (not) my family. I prefer to be outdoors, and I avoid establishments that do not mandate masks for employees. I wear a mask everywhere I go.

William Murphy, 38, Fort Mill

My wife and I have taken the pandemic very seriously since its inception and totally locked ourselves down in our house; the only places we went were the grocery store and work. With vaccines becoming available ... we made a few excursions prior to the fall: we rented a cabin with friends over Labor Day weekend (all parties vaccinated with negative PCR tests) and spent a few hours at a convention in Columbia in October. With the holiday surge AND omicron variant, however, we’re back into a strict lockdown. Now, only I go to the store (my wife is immunocompromised with a history of lung illness), and my only other destination is work.

Karen Faris, 70, Rock Hill

I continue to wear a mask in public and have gotten both doses of the vaccine plus a booster. I try to avoid crowded areas that do not require a mask. I would love to travel outside the country once more, but I am leery of going away for now.

Charles Ward, 73, Newberry

Have not had any issues with it. I’m vaccinated, but have not had the booster, and don’t know if I will get it? My personal physician has serious reservations about the booster.

Lauren Smith, 42, Portland, Oregon (visited family in Greenville for the holidays)

My sister is a bartender in Greenville and omicron quickly infected nearly the entire restaurant/bar staff the day after Christmas, my sister included. As a result, my entire family has tested positive for COVID in the last week (Jan. 7). I live in Portland, Oregon so I have traveled and consequently infected my own family and likely a handful of strangers. I’m vaccinated and boosted so my symptoms have been mild, but it has taken time away from planned activities — an onsite meeting at work, two USTA (United States Tennis Association) matches and a family dinner with my husband’s family (who I did not see over the holidays). Considering what other people are going through, this is exceptionally minor, but at the same time, the surge we are seeing would be largely preventable if South Carolinians took the virus more seriously and wore masks. I was shocked to see so few people in stores, gyms, malls, etc. wearing masks and taking the most basic precautions.

Quin Fort, 72, Hilton Head Island

(I’m) masking when in public indoor facilities. Takeout only in supporting local restaurants. (I’m) not attending any venues where groups of any size meet.

Donna Williams, 57, Bluffton

I am a restaurant server. Not only has COVID affected the amt (amount) of business, but I feel none of the customers care about our safety. I have to touch all of the silverware, glassware and dirty linens that each guest uses. As an upscale restaurant, I am required to serve and clear dishes right in (the) guest’s face. No social distancing for us. Working on Hilton Head brings people from all over the world and they bring their germs with them. My income has declined dramatically and (I’m) scared each time I have to serve a guest. Some guests will cough and hack and have no consideration of others around them.

Note: These submissions, collected between Jan. 7 and 11, have been edited for clarity and style. Additional context for some has been added in parentheses.

This story was originally published January 30, 2022 at 4:00 AM with the headline "‘Miserable’ symptoms, routines upended, mounting frustration. These are SC’s omicron stories."

Sam Ogozalek

The Island Packet

843-900-6372

Sam Ogozalek is a reporter at The Island Packet covering COVID-19 recovery efforts. He also is a Report for America corps member. He recently graduated from Syracuse University and has written for the Tampa Bay Times, The Buffalo News and the Naples Daily News.