Crystal Miller participated in Art after she recently contracted COVID-19. Crystal Miller recommended painting and doing things you enjoy while quarantined. “Wear your mask, and practice social distancing.”
On September 10, 2021, Miller had been officially diagnosed with COVID-19, which she believed to have contracted the infectious disease from Nebraska’s State Fair where she had attended previously.
Crystal Miller, a junior at Hastings High School, recently contracted covid.
Her symptoms included, “Coughing, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste, loss of smell, and chills,” Miller said.
Miller decided it was best for everyone to stay home, and be quarantined.
During those eight days, there were many pros and cons, “I wasn’t distracted by my friends, but I had tests and it was really hard to get things done,” Miller said.
After contracting COVID-19, academically Miller struggled, as do most students.
As a student, Miller felt as if she was doing poorly in school, “I am not great at doing my own work whether it’s online, or just at home.”
After completing the two slow weeks of being quarantined, Miller concluded words of advice.
“I recommend you spend your time doing things you enjoy doing, like watching a show or painting.”
Miller’s feelings regarding COVID-19 advise students and staff to get vaccinated, wear a mask, and social distance when needed.
“Stay home and quarantine. Maybe you feel okay, but someone else won’t. Wear a mask. People are dying from this,” Miller said.
Chanda Schroyer, Hastings High’s school nurse deals first hand with students who have been affected by COVID-19, emotionally and physically.
“To help prevent the spread of Covid-19 you should wear a mask to protect yourself and others especially if you are having cold symptoms,” Schroyer said.
The more people you come in contact with puts you at greater risk for exposure.
“If you do have to be around a group of people try to stay at least 6 feet away from each other,” Schroyer said.
The school advises to wash or sanitize your hands often.
“If you have a cough or are sneezing, be sure to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue (making sure to throw it away afterward) or sneeze or cough into the elbow pit of your arm,” Schroyer said.
Clean objects and surfaces that are frequently touched such as door handles, phones, laptops, countertops, and desks etc…especially if someone you live with has tested positive for Covid, should be frequently sanitized.
“If you choose, you may get the Covid vaccine,” Schroyer said.
If you are exposed and NOT vaccinated you are advised to still follow the recommendations for prevention.
“Exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of someone with Covid-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more on any day that they may have been infectious,” Schroyer said.
Students are advised to stay home and watch for symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, tiredness, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
“If you have any of these symptoms you should isolate yourself and call your doctor or local health department,” Schroyer said.
If, while you are in quarantine and have no symptoms you may get tested on or after day 5.
“If your test is negative you can discontinue in-home quarantine on day 8 if you don’t have symptoms. You should still continue to wear a mask at all times and watch for symptoms through day 14. If you do not get tested on day 5 and have had no symptoms on or before day 10, you can discontinue in-home quarantine on day 11. You still should wear your mask through day 14,” Schroyer said.
