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'Stay in place’: Catawba County woman fighting COVID-19 speaks to Channel 9

CATAWBA COUNTY — We’ve heard a lot about what's being done to stop the coronavirus, but not as much about what it's actually like to have it.

Eyewitness News has already heard from one woman in Camden, South Carolina, who is fighting COVID-19. Another patient in Catawba County took the time Friday to describe her battle to Channel 9′s Dave Faherty.

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She said she came to Catawba Valley Medical Center when she started having trouble breathing. At first, she thought she was having problems with allergies but then developed a bad cough and high fever and went for help after suffering for four days.

She made a visit to the emergency room Monday and was isolated by workers. Since last Friday, the hospital has been doing health screenings and temperature checks at the entrances and then separating patients with respiratory illnesses.

>> 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.

The woman, who asked us not to identify her, spoke with Channel 9 by phone.

She said the hospital gave her a test, checked her for pneumonia and then sent her home after 3-4 hours. It wasn’t until Thursday she got the news that she tested positive.

She said she is in her 50s, doesn’t smoke and exercises routinely.

“Stay in place,” was her warning for others. “Whatever needs to be done immediately. I’m a healthy, nonsmoking, active, 5 to 8-mile-per-day hiker and walker.”

The woman said she is still not sure how she contracted the virus.