A police captain in Clinton, Iowa is talking after he and his family survived COVID-19. 53 year old Joe Raaymakers says he had symptoms first before his wife Sarah Raaymakers and their three sons, all in their 20's.
According to KWQC-TV 6, as soon as Joe had symptoms he notified the police department and stayed home from work. He was one of the first residents to be diagnosed in Clinton County.
“It was about nine days of illness of what I thought was the flu before the positive result came back,” Raaymakers says.
He said he isn’t sure how he got the virus. He didn't leave Clinton anytime recently and only left the house to pick up carryout.
“It was far worse when my wife got it a few days later. She was taking care of me. Because of our age it hit her harder than the boys. There was a lot of guilt for me. Not only was she taking care of me, she is also sick,” he told KWQC-TV 6.
Raaymakers says the symptoms he felt were scary. “The shortness of breath, even just sitting up in bed watching television, I would have to catch my breath.”
No one else at the Clinton Police Department has tested positive for the virus. “The fire department came in and cleaned the department with the spots that I’ve been at,” Raaymakers says. “We just considered from the very beginning that I had it and did a separation from the rest of the department.”
Police officers continue to take precautions by wearing masks while in public. Raaymakers says he is still working from home. He and his family have are all feeling better now.
“Thinking back I could have done better had I known what we know now,” Raaymakers says. “We really could’ve sealed off the bedroom and done a better job.” He says having all his sons home from college and fighting the virus as a family has made them closer.
“There are no more high fives or hugs but there is always a laugh. Thankfully my family is all healthy. But if you have the elderly with you or your parents it’s just not worth getting out there and passing it on to them.”
(Photo: KWQC-TV 6)