A woman who has acquired the coronavirus says she appreciates the well wishes of her many friends in North Texas and other parts of the country, but she would appreciate it even more if they would tone down their doom and gloom.
“Some people have been calling and been going, ‘Oh my God! I’m so sorry,’ like as if they have given me a death sentence,” said Toni Seawright.
Seawright, 55, lives in New York, where she is self-quarantined in her home with her two college-aged sons, who are experiencing the same symptoms she is – fever, body aches and their eyes are sore and irritated.
Seawright is an actress and a singer, and she was the first African American Miss Mississippi in 1987.
Seawright said she was first tested for the flu when she went to an urgent care facility last Thursday. When the test came back negative, the staff suggested a test for COVID-19 and suggested she stay in her home.
The positive test result came back on Monday of this week.
Seawright said she has felt worse in the past but is taking her diagnosis seriously. She is focused on hydrating, has taken many homeopathic remedies and has converted a bathroom in her Brooklyn home into a makeshift sauna.
Prayer has been a powerful motivator for Seawright. But she said the next best thing that she wants is for her friends to lift her up instead of bring her down.
“I think the first part of healing is in your mind. If I accepted every phone call that came in, and the minute someone is calling me and they’re, ‘Oh my God!’ or something like that, I’ve gotta go,” Seawright said. “I can’t talk to you because I don’t need that. If you’re going to call me you better call me with some good, uplifting spirits. If not, I’m getting off that phone.”
How to Avoid COVID-19 Infection:
The best way to prevent infection is to take precautions to avoid exposure to this virus, which are similar to the precautions you take to avoid the flu. CDC always recommends these everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
*Information shared from the Office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
