Experiencing COVID-19
The Coronavirus has affected over 90 million people worldwide. With the widespread nature of this pandemic, it is likely that everyone knows at least one person who has had COVID-19. For the people who have not yet had it there are many questions, one of the biggest being “What is it like?”
Grace Tovar, a teacher at St.Charles High has had the Coronavirus. COVID-19 has an array of strange side effects that affect each person differently.
Along with physical side effects, many people are experiencing a decline in mental health due to the isolation of quarantine.
“I do think being in quarantine for a long time can be difficult for your mental health. I was lucky to have supportive friends and family who communicated with me virtually, so I was okay,” Tovar said.
One aspect of COVID-19 that is different from many other viruses is the long-term effects it can have on your health..
“One lasting impact that I still notice occasionally is my sense of taste. Certain foods do not taste the same as they did before I had COVID,” said Tovar.
Senior Paige Freeman also has experienced COVID-19. Freeman experienced several different side effects.
“I just had a cough and sore throat, but I was really tired.”
Freeman luckily did not experience any negative effects on her mental health.
“ I just couldn’t leave my house, but I don’t leave my house really in the first place.”
Freeman has yet to observe any lasting effects of having the virus.
“Not that I can tell, but I just had it over winter break so I can’t really tell because I’m still getting over it.”
Dean Chapman, a junior at St. Charles High, has also had COVID-19. Chapman experienced some of the more unique side effects of the
coronavirus.
“I lost my sense of taste and smell! It’s like I could only feel my food in my mouth, like you’re tasting in texture.”
Because of the taboo that comes along with having COVID-19, it can often make people feel ostracized.
“Though I’m pretty used to being alone, quarantine did suck because I couldn’t leave my room without a mask, had parents always nagging to clean after myself because of spreading germs. Being in quarantine belittled me, I felt like I was the virus, not myself anymore,” Chapman explained.
Chapman was fortunate to not experience any lasting side effects.
“The only two symptoms I had was congestion and losing those senses, which I got back within a month.”
