‘I felt isolated’: Police chief back on job after battle with COVID-19

PAGELAND, S.C. — Pageland police Chief Craig Greenlee said he rarely gets sick, and the last time he got the flu was when he was a teenager.

He had 400 hours of sick time built up since he took the job in Pageland four years ago, and he finally had to use it over the last month.

“I felt isolated as if I were on an island," Greenlee said.

On March 27, Greenlee decided to stay home and self-quarantine. He wasn’t feeling well but couldn’t get a test for COVID-19 because he didn’t meet all the criteria. He demanded a test and went to the MUSC hospital in Florence to get it.

[SC restaurants can reopen Monday while following virus safety guidelines]

"I'm telling them something's wrong, and it's like nobody was listening. Doctors need to listen to patients," he said.

Greenlee had already left the responsibility of the Pageland Police Department to his officers. The fever, cough and struggle to breathe soon followed.

Have questions about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the Carolinas? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak -- CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

“The tightness comes in your chest, and it’s like someone putting a belt around your chest, and you can hardly breathe," he said.

>> We’ll bring you LIVE updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Get extended coverage on the free WSOC Now app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.

Fortunately, Greenlee did not have to go to the hospital, but he said there were times he felt like he should.

He's grateful his symptoms were not as severe as others. As far as the job, he credits his officers and Chesterfield County sheriff's deputies, who stepped up while he was out.

However, he said his wife got him through it by caring for him while she separated herself on the other side of their home.

"My wife, Maria, I love her very much. She made my breakfast, lunch and dinner. She took care of me. You just didn't know what was gonna happen," he said.

Fortunately, no one else at the police department or anyone in his family got sick.

As alone as he felt sometimes, he said you must be hopeful.

“What this virus starts to hand you, just stay positive, pray to God. Stay faithful," he said.

Greenlee has no idea where he might have caught the coronavirus. In late March when he got sick, social distancing was not being practiced as much. He said it could have come from anywhere.

He’s back at work well after the 14-day quarantine period and said he wants to give his body time to heal and make sure he is OK. He credits drinking lots of water and taking daily vitamin C and D3 to help him avoid more severe symptoms.

Looking back, Greenlee said more people should be tested for the virus and that health officials should be more willing to give the tests, even if the symptoms don't seem to match.

“We hear so many times where you’re told, ‘Stay home. Stay home. Don’t do this. Don’t do that,’ and by the time someone does need to go to the hospital, they pass away, or they’re put on a ventilator,” he said.

Coronavirus: Woman arrested after coughing, licking hands and touching food at grocery store Coronavirus: Woman arrested after coughing, licking hands and touching food at grocery store

© 2020 Cox Media Group