Graham County’s 1st COVID-19 patient was asymptomatic, volunteered for test
Jade Teesateskie
In the blink of an eye, Jade Teesateskie was deemed Graham County’s first official COVID-19 patient.
The only problem was, she felt fine. Perfectly fine.
So much so that she bravely took to Facebook on April 27 and publicly announced her diagnosis, a rarity in a world full of uncertainty and sickness. The response she received – given the negativity social media seems to exude – was overwhelmingly positive.
“Myself and my family are truly grateful for the mostly positive response to this unfortunate situation, and also to all the amazing people who have helped us and sent prayers our way,” Teesateskie said. “There’s been a lot of mixed feelings that have came from this, but I feel like I did the right thing by letting everyone know.”
HIPPA laws restrict the information Teesateskie or anyone “in the know” can release about certain elements to do with her case. She did confirm that her employer, which is deemed an “essential business,” asked for volunteers to be tested for COVID-19.
“They asked just a small number of us to go get tested as a precautionary measure,” she said.
Her test took place April 23 and came back positive just three days later on April 26.
A press release issued April 27 revealed that Teesateskie attended a gathering in the East Buffalo community on April 25, just two days after getting tested. However, Teesateskie is defined as “asymptomatic,” in that she carries the virus but presents no symptoms.
But how could she have known? Where could she have picked it up? Teesateskie speculated that she could have caught the coronavirus while working a side job.
“I did work at the road block (the county checkpoints that were in place for several weeks), plus I still had to go get gas, groceries,” Teesateskie said. “But I have had no symptoms whatsoever.
“I did go to a very small gathering; I just want to make that very clear. A lot of numbers (on the amount of people at the gathering) have been thrown out there, but it’s not what it’s been made out to be at all.”
Teesateskie has made sure to communicate with nurses and the local health department, helping speed up the process of contacting those who have recently been in close contact. The Facebook announcement also aided the cause.
“Although it was a small gathering, I did not know everyone there and have no way of getting in contact with some of them,” she said. “It was the right thing for them to know that they needed to go get tested as well.”
Self-isolation protocol began for Teesateskie immediately.
The entire experience has proven to be a warning for everyone. Tests are available at three different locations in Graham County – the health department, Smoky Mountain Urgent Care and Tallulah Health Clinic – and though it can be costly, it is a small price to pay to help curb the spread of the airborne virus.
“After watching the news, it’s my understanding that unless you’ve been exposed to someone that has it – or have the symptoms – some places are not even testing you,” Teesateskie said. “A lot of places are not even testing because they do not have the tests to do it, and that’s very unfortunate. I never would’ve known if I had not volunteered, because I have no symptoms.”