Crisp County’s first COVID-19 patient speaks on experience

CRISP COUNTY, Ga. – 26-year-old coronavirus survivor, and Crisp County’s ground-zero case, Nick Culpepper along with his 24-year-old fiancé Jerrett Irwin opened up about their experience with the virus.

Culpepper says, “I had every symptom except the shortness of breath.” Irwin said, “he had everything, even pink eye.”

Culpepper says his symptoms felt “worse than a cold. I felt like I had the flu, I think I slept 22 hours, it wasn’t fun, it lasted forever it was like 15 days before I finally felt completely normal.”

Irwin says Culpepper was considered to have a “moderate” case of the virus.

Although coronavirus cases are increasing and some people with critical symptoms are dying, 80% of people that contract the virus experience mild symptoms, similar to what Culpepper experienced.

Culpepper said before his diagnosis he considered himself to be a healthy person.

He said, “I haven’t had the flu in over 10 years probably.”

Irwin added, “He never gets sick, I’m usually the one that gets sick.”

But he believes he contracted the virus from someone in Albany around March 14 and after his positive diagnosis, he was considered Crisp County’s first confirmed case. 

Since then, an additional 46 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in the county.

And with cases skyrocketing around the country the couple says it’s important to share their positive outcome and to shed light on who can contract the virus and just how easy it is to get it.

“It’s targeting everybody,” says Culpepper.

Irwin added, “At first they were saying like you know if you have a compromised immune system, if you’re above a certain age, then you’re the ones that need to worry but truly, like everybody needs to worry.”

Right now, of those that have the virus 14% of cases are considered severe and 5% are determined to be critical, according to CNN Health. But the virus is easily spread. Culpepper suggests just staying home to avoid contracting COVID-19.

He says, “If you have to go in public obviously take precautionary measures but I wouldn’t rely on it just to go out and about.”

The World Health Organization says that people with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms can recover from the virus in two weeks.

The couple has quarantined for the necessary amount of time but don’t expect to be social any time soon.

“No one’s been brave enough to be our friends again,” says Irwin.

The couple says that even though they’ve been told that they cannot contract the virus again, they continue to practice social distancing.

Crisp Regional Currently has 40 patients recovering from home and the young couple are proof that it’s possible.