The Bad News

Taylor woke up to a text from her roommate: “My boyfriend just tested positive for COVID! We both probably are, too!”

Taylor had a few symptoms but really didn’t think much of it until she had seen the text. Then she decided it might be more serious than she wanted to admit. 

Taylor and her roommate identified themselves to their dorm RAs who alerted DSU’s COVID response leader. 

The University immediately recommended Taylor for a COVID test. Bolivar Clinic administered the test while the University paid for it, as part of DSU’s protocols towards the virus.

Staff members then transported them to Delta State’s Quarantine apartments where they stayed waiting for their test results to come back to them. 

Shortly after, their results were returned, and their tests were interesting: Taylors roommate was positive while she was negative. Taylor and her roommate put in room together in the quarantine apartments, but they moved to different apartments after this.

Isolation

Taylor spent a little over two weeks quarantining at DSU’s designated quarantine apartments because of potential exposure to the virus.

During her time there Taylor discovered  how to make time pass quickly and how to cope with isolation. 

“It was a mentally challenging time. We were scared at first. The University didn’t give us much information or communication initially. This was probably because my roommate and I were quarantined before almost anyone else at Delta State University. 

Taylor spent a lot of time alone but her daily social interaction came when DSU cafeteria staff came to deliver her food.

“I also found a lot more appreciation for the university and their employees. For example, when I quarantined, I looked forward to the people who came and delivered our food every day. This was often my only social interaction! I came to enjoy the little bit of socialization that I could.”

Just Two Weeks

Due to the experience and interaction Taylor experienced, she said she found a new outlook on people who contract the virus. Because she couldn’t live her normal life for two weeks as a student, she understands how much harder it could be for a parent, a teacher or someone in a position of high responsibility. 

Taylor wants to say to anyone who may be worried about the DSU-facilitated quarantine experience: “It’s good that DSU provided a place where I could quarantine safely and properly. It wasn’t fun but it was worth it to contain the spread from my roommate and the rest of my team members.”

DSU continues to monitor and track the spread of COVID on and around campus. At the time of publication the number of total positive cases stands at 111. 

(all names have been changed for privacy)