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Councilwoman Ketchum Urges Safety, Vigilance After COVID Diagnosis

Ketchum

WHEELING — One simple interaction with a friend was all it took to contract COVID-19, according to Wheeling City Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum, who over the weekend announced she is in quarantine and has tested positive for the virus.

Since the pandemic began, Ketchum is the second Wheeling council member to publicly announce a positive diagnosis. In July, Councilman Chad Thalman came forward about his diagnosis after coming into contact with someone who was suspected to be COVID-positive. Although the person with whom he had contact subsequently tested negative, Thalman ended up testing positive.

Among Wheeling’s city leaders, Ketchum has been among the most outspoken about the importance of remaining vigilant with social distancing and other safe practices in order to help reduce the spread of the virus.

“I’ve taken a strong approach on social distancing, mask usage and remote work whenever possible, but even with my best efforts, I managed to contact the virus,” Ketchum said Monday. “This by no means gives credence to COVID-19 naysayers or anti-maskers, but reinforces how dangerously communicable the virus really is. My social distancing and mask usage was effective in preventing the virus for many months, but it took only a single interaction to become infected.”

Ketchum said she had come in contact with a friend on Dec. 11, and following their interaction, the friend had informed her they had tested positive for COVID-19. After a few days of self-quarantining, Ketchum scheduled a test at the Wheeling Hospital drive-through testing center.

“Since the start of the pandemic, I have quarantined at least four separate times and received a negative test each time,” she said. “This time, however, after exposure, I began to develop light symptoms — a cough, and some general body fatigue.”

Ketchum not only took a test for COVID-19, but also was tested for influenza and strep.

“I remained calm and followed local procedure and CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines before receiving my results,” Ketchum said. “A couple of days later, I woke to find three missed calls from the COVID hotline. I immediately went to check the Follow My Health app, which had updated results.”

Ketchum’s flu and strep tests were negative, but her COVID test was positive. She immediately started contacting people she had been in contact with between her exposure and her quarantine.

Since contracting the virus, Ketchum said her symptoms have been relatively mild, but noticeable, nonetheless.

“I wasn’t too alarmed when I developed a cough and headache, but after a couple of days, I lost all sense of taste and smell, which was frightening,” she said. “That was followed by intense fatigue, which ebbed and flowed from day to day.”

Ketchum said she will be quarantining for the holiday and will continue to do so until medical professionals deem it safe for her to be released from isolation. She urged everyone in the community to avoid taking part in traditional holiday gatherings this year to help stop the virus’ spread.

“The best ways to reduce your risk of contracting or spreading the virus is to wear your mask, stay home during the holidays and limit small gatherings,” Ketchum said. “I know it isn’t easy, but the reality is grim and the stakes are high. We all have to act responsibly if we want to get this virus under control.

“You and you alone are responsible for the decisions that you make, but the decisions that you make may inevitably cause unintended yet irreversible harm to others.”

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