York police officer: ‘God, remove this virus from me or remove me’

YORK , S.C. — York police Sgt. David Dover thought what he had was just a sinus infection, and didn’t think about being tested for COVID-19.

He then lost his sense of smell and taste, which he knew were symptoms of the virus. That’s when he said he got tested twice. Stronger symptoms set in after six days.

“Day six. I remember it,” he said. “I just prayed, and I said to God, ‘You either have to remove this virus from me or remove me.‘”

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Dover’s fever spiked to 104.8 degrees.

“There was no comfort anywhere. There was no warmth that I could find,” Dover said. “My body hurt. My bones hurt and honestly, I laid in the bed wondering what would the next day bring for me because I just didn’t know if it could get any worse.”

Extreme shortness of breath and tightness in his chest finally sent him to an emergency room in Gastonia. Dover said the most difficult part was learning that his 80-year-old father also had tested positive. His father lives near him, and Dover looks after him every day.

Dover got emotional during an interview with Channel 9 about his concern for his dad.

"I've gone through periods of self-blame," he said.

Dover said he doesn't know how his father caught the virus.

Fortunately, Dover’s father had mild symptoms and both are now recovering.

He laughed while telling Channel 9 that he could never get his dad to wear a mask until he stood at a distance from him in his yard and told him he'd caught the virus.

“I said, ‘Dad, is that what it finally took to get you to wear a mask?’” Dover recalled.

Dover has been symptom-free for five days following two weeks in quarantine. He can’t return to work at the police department until he has tested negative twice for COVID-19, which is the department’s policy.

He had a message for people who say wearing a mask is inconvenient.

“Whether you like it or not, put a mask on to help those folks that are around you,” Dover said. “And I think about my 80-year-old father is where my mind goes.”

Dover said with the numbers, fortunately, declining in the state, everyone has a role to play in stopping the spread of the virus.

Cox Media Group