Claire Dawson
Utah Rep. Ben McAdams was hospitalized in March 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19. He experienced mild, cold-like symptoms, which quickly worsened, leading to a fever, dry cough, and labored breathing. McAdams spent more than a week in the hospital, where he received supplemental oxygen and was treated with the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine. After his release, he quarantined at home for 72 hours, away from his family, who were also quarantined due to exposure. McAdams has since recovered and returned to work, urging the public to take the virus seriously and follow the guidance of health officials.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of hospitalization | March 2020 |
| Reason for hospitalization | Coronavirus |
| Length of stay | More than a week |
| Treatment | Hydroxychloroquine |
| Symptoms | Fever, aches, shortness of breath, dry cough, sore torso muscles, weight loss |
| Post-hospitalization | Quarantined from family for 72 hours |
| Message to the public | Take COVID-19 seriously |
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What You'll Learn
- Ben McAdams was hospitalised for COVID-19 in March 2020
- He experienced severe shortness of breath and required supplemental oxygen
- McAdams was treated with hydroxychloroquine and released after a week
- He described the illness as like being hit by a truck
- McAdams urged everyone to take COVID-19 seriously
Ben McAdams was hospitalised for COVID-19 in March 2020
In March 2020, Ben McAdams, the Utah Representative, was hospitalised for COVID-19. He was admitted to the University of Utah Hospital on March 20, 2020, and remained there for over a week.
McAdams first developed symptoms on March 15, which he described as mild and cold-like. He isolated himself and consulted his doctor the following day. However, his condition worsened, and he developed a fever, dry cough, and breathing difficulties. On March 18, he tested positive for COVID-19.
During his hospitalisation, McAdams received oxygen treatment for shortness of breath. He described the illness as challenging, stating that on some days, he lacked the energy for conversations with his family. He also lost weight and experienced lingering effects after his release from the hospital.
Upon his discharge on March 28, 2020, McAdams urged the public to take the coronavirus seriously and follow public health guidelines. He described the virus as "like being hit by a truck". He also shared that he was treated with the controversial anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine but believes more studies are needed to determine its effectiveness.
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He experienced severe shortness of breath and required supplemental oxygen
In March 2020, Utah Representative Ben McAdams was hospitalised after contracting COVID-19. He experienced severe shortness of breath and required supplemental oxygen. On his sixth day in the hospital, McAdams stated that he "followed public health guidelines and called the Covid-19 hotline". He was instructed to go to the hospital and check in with the isolation unit. Upon arrival, he was admitted and received oxygen therapy as he struggled to maintain his blood oxygen at appropriate levels.
McAdams described his experience with COVID-19 as feeling like he had a "belt around [his] chest that was tightened up". He emphasised that he couldn't take a full breath and that the muscles in his torso were sore, making coughing painful. The illness took a toll on his family, who tried to stay connected through FaceTime and phone calls. On his worst days, he lacked the energy for conversation, only managing brief exchanges to assure his family he was doing okay.
After being hospitalised for more than a week, McAdams was released and quarantined from his family for 72 hours. He described still feeling pretty weak and experiencing lingering effects, including a persistent cough. Despite his challenging recovery, McAdams urged the public to take the virus seriously, emphasising that it affected him severely despite his healthy lifestyle and daily exercise routine.
McAdams' experience underscores the unpredictable and severe nature of COVID-19. His symptoms progressed rapidly from mild cold-like symptoms to frightening levels of breathlessness. His case highlights the importance of early intervention and the crucial role of medical professionals in managing the disease.
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McAdams was treated with hydroxychloroquine and released after a week
Ben McAdams, the Utah Representative, was hospitalised for COVID-19 in March 2020. He experienced a range of symptoms, including a fever, dry cough, aches, and severe shortness of breath. On some days, he lacked the energy to have conversations with his family, who were also quarantined due to their exposure to him.
McAdams was treated with hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug that has been the subject of controversy in its use against COVID-19. He was released from the hospital after a week, but he remained quarantined from his family for 72 hours after returning home. In a video message following his release, McAdams said he still felt pretty weak and had lost over 10 pounds. He described the experience as being like I'd been hit by a truck.
Despite the treatment, McAdams believes that more studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating coronavirus symptoms. He has urged people to take the virus seriously, stating that it hit him really hard despite his healthy lifestyle and daily exercise routine.
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He described the illness as like being hit by a truck
In March 2020, Utah Representative Ben McAdams was hospitalized for COVID-19. After being released from the hospital, McAdams described his experience with the illness, saying that it was like being "hit by a truck". He detailed the lingering effects of the virus, including weight loss and weakness. McAdams also noted that he had been coughing repeatedly and felt as though his body was still adjusting to the shock of the illness.
In a video message posted to Twitter, McAdams warned others about the seriousness of the virus, urging people not to underestimate it. He described his symptoms, which began with what felt like a cold but quickly escalated into something more severe. Within two days, McAdams said he could hardly breathe and felt like he had a belt around his chest. He was hospitalized for more than a week with a high fever that spiked to 103 degrees repeatedly.
Despite not developing pneumonia or requiring a ventilator, X-rays showed spots on his lungs, and he was treated with the controversial anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. McAdams also shared the impact of the illness on his family, who tried to stay connected through FaceTime and phone calls while he was in the hospital. He emphasized that his family had to quarantine due to their exposure to him, and thankfully, they either did not contract the virus or had mild cases.
McAdams' experience underscores the unpredictable and potentially devastating impact of COVID-19, even on those who are generally healthy. His description of the illness as being "hit by a truck" highlights the intense physical and emotional toll it can take, leaving individuals weak and struggling to recover. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of taking the virus seriously and following the guidance of public health officials.
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McAdams urged everyone to take COVID-19 seriously
After being hospitalised with COVID-19, Ben McAdams urged everyone to take the virus seriously. McAdams, a Utah congressman, said that despite being healthy and exercising every day, the virus "hit me really hard". He described his experience as feeling like he had a "belt around [his] chest that's tightened up", and that he "couldn't take a full breath". He also experienced a fever, aches, and scary symptoms, and had to be hospitalised when his fever repeatedly spiked to 103 degrees.
In a video message posted to Twitter after his release from the hospital, McAdams said:
> "Please take this seriously and follow the guidance of our public health officials."
McAdams also advised people to self-isolate, wash their hands for at least 20 seconds multiple times a day, practise proper hygiene, and avoid touching their faces. He also recommended that those who are sick contact their local health department for information.
McAdams' message is a stark reminder that COVID-19 can affect anyone, even those who are generally healthy. His experience underscores the importance of taking precautions to protect oneself and others from the virus.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Ben McAdams was released from the hospital after battling COVID-19.
Ben McAdams experienced mild, cold-like symptoms, fever, dry cough, and labored breathing. He also stated that it felt like there was a belt around his chest that was tightened up.
Ben McAdams believes he contracted COVID-19 after returning to Salt Lake City from Washington.
