TULSA, Okla. — A COVID-19 scare can be life and habit changing.
“Wear your mask. It’s important that you wear your mask,” Royal Aills said.
He cannot stop sharing that advice following his positive coronavirus test result in June.
“I guess, I didn’t think it was that real,” Aills said.
Aills did not take the pandemic as seriously as he believes he should have. The realization formed when coronavirus symptoms showed up: a 102 degree fever and nausea.
“I thought I had food poisoning,” Aills said.
He spent four days at Saint Francis Hospital and was given antibiotics and steroids.
“It took me probably until mid-September before I felt like I had all my strength back," Aills said. "The fatigue is what gets you more than anything. That’s what surprised me more than anything in this situation.”
Aills is in the 50-64 age group, which has 18% of COVID-19 cases in Tulsa County, according to the Tulsa Health Department.
“I could’ve gotten it at the gym. I could've gotten it at the store," Aills said. "Who knows where or why could've attacked me?”
What Aills does know is his mask is now with him at all times.
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