Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Among the many essential employees still working in the face of Coronavirus is Erie County Emergency Services Commissioner Dan Neaverth Jr., who had no choice but to be face to face with many of the first responders he works with every day.
So, despite precautions he took to stay clean and safe, Neaverth contracted Coronavirus in the later part of March.
“It was a rough week, followed up a couple days later by my wife also coming down with COVID-19. It was a roller coaster ride for about seven days.”
Neaverth said that he experienced a range of symptoms during his time with the virus, describing flu-like days, good days, and very bad days.
“The biggest issue… data that comes in on a regular basis, that data as you can imagine naturally churns through your mind while you’re trying to rest late at night.”
The natural fear was almost another symptom.
“The issues that a lot of people are running into is, they have a fever, meet some of the conditions, and the unknown of ‘Tomorrow morning am I going to have some sort of respiratory compromise?’”
“It’s not only a vicious disease in that it has obviously claimed lives, but from a psychological standpoint, I think not knowing where you are in the process weighs equally on those who are exposed to it.”
Now, in what Neaverth has called ‘post-COVID protocol,’ he is still taking all the precautions he can while returning to somewhat of his normal routine.
“I don’t feel any more emboldened, because I don’t think there’s good, solid science yet behind whether or not people build up the antibodies.”