Texas ICU nurse hospitalized with Covid-19 after negative

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Texas ICU nurse Heather Valentine speaks to New Day on Tuesday.

An ICU nurse in Texas found herself in the position of some of the same patients she spent the past few weeks treating, hospitalized with Covid-19 even after testing positive for the virus.

Heather Valentine, 24, is not exactly sure who may have picked it up and told CNN Tuesday that she was reluctant even to accept that she had symptoms.

Valentine was exhausted a week ago after her third daily shift at the consecutive hospital in Houston, she said, but didn’t think much about it until her body ached, a fever and a small cough arose.

Valentine said Wednesday that she had a rapid antibody test, which was negative. Antibody tests can help identify recent past infections, not current ones, although even when antibodies are present, tests can be wrong up to half the time, the US Centers for Disease Control noted in May.

The following day, a viral test was performed, which was also negative. Problems with samples, tests, or timing of tests can lead to false negatives. It is unclear if she was retested.

On Saturday, his doctor, Joseph Varon, called and asked Valentine to come in for a CT scan, he said. Among the computed tomography results indicating the effect of the virus on her lungs and other laboratory results, Valentine said Varon told her that he was sure she had Covid-19, even though his swab test had turned out negative. .

“It might have required intubation if I had waited a couple more days,” said Valentine, “which is crazy to hear as an ICU nurse.”

Texas reported 10,351 new cases on Saturday, beating the previous record of 10,028 set on July 7, according to the State Department of Health Services. With an increase in new cases, hospitalization rates in the US are simultaneously increasing, making some emergency room doctors worry about the immediate future.

Regardless of how young or how healthy someone thinks they are, Valentine said it’s important to be careful.

As a front-line worker, it has been difficult, Valentine said. She and her colleagues are getting tired, but are doing everything they can to make sure that patients are cared for.

The way to fight the coronavirus, Valentine said, is to respect each other and understand that while someone has no symptoms, there is still no guarantee that they will not.

“If you have any kind of symptoms, stay home, get a checkup, don’t wait until you can’t breathe for help,” he said.

Valentine is still in the hospital, but said she is much better than the day she was admitted.

“You never think it’s going to happen to you, but I’m a perfect example,” he said. “Take every precaution, wear a mask, don’t go outside if you don’t have to, it’s not worth it.”

Video: ICU nurse hospitalized with Covid-19 after negative test (CNN)