Newest confirmed Plumas cases share their COVID story
By Debra Moore
Not quite 24 hours after Plumas County Public Health announced seven new confirmed coronavirus cases Oct. 20, the public is learning a few more details.
For instance, the first-floor office for Superior Court is now closed to the public after it was learned that two of the announced positive cases are court clerks.
And members of a family from the cluster case identified yesterday in the Northern Region by Public Health have come forward.
A Greenville couple, their two adult daughters, a son-in-law and granddaughter have all tested positive for coronavirus and they are sharing their story to let others know that it is an insidious disease. (Not all are included in the Plumas count.)
Jocelyn Cote is a familiar name in Indian Valley and beyond. She spent her career as a registered nurse and trained new nurses at Feather River College for a decade. The 78-year-old just retired three years ago.
She and her 82-year-old husband, Ralph, took some time to share their symptoms and experiences with COVID-19 during a conversation this morning, Oct. 21. They were tested for the virus Oct. 20 and received the results late yesterday. They had been experiencing symptoms for about a week.
Thus far they both are suffering from extreme fatigue and body aches, as well as coughs and impaired taste (she can taste sweet and cold, but her favorite coffee tastes terrible). “We are older and we have aches, but these are ten times worse,” Joceyln said. She added that the symptoms are milder when sitting down, but get much worse with movement. They are taking Tylenol and other pain relievers to combat the pain.
“This is unlike anything I have ever experienced,” she added.
While her cough is somewhat mild, her husband’s cough is more extreme as is that of one of her daughters, who lives near her, and who was seeking additional medical care today.
When asked if a doctor is checking in with the couple, Joceyln said that they had not heard from either of their regular doctors despite calling their Quincy office. She said it was even difficult to arrange for a COVID test, until Sam Blesse, the EMS Supervisor for PDH/Care Flight Ground, called and arranged to have a paramedic located in Greenville come to her to test her and her husband.
Blesse said the clinic referred Joceyln’s call to him and he was happy to help. “It’s part of our wellness service that we provide to the public,” he said.
While Joceyln is disappointed with her physicians, she said that Public Health has been checking in daily with the couple. Living with them now is another daughter who normally lives in Twain, but discovered that she also tested positive for the virus when she went in for eye surgery. “We are all taking care of each other,” Joceyln said.
It appears that the family became infected when their granddaughter visited the weekend of Oct. 10-11 to help her grandparents around the house. She returned to her home in Reno, and a couple of days later, reported she wasn’t feeling well. She subsequently tested positive for the virus. The granddaughter also works in the medical profession and had been tested previously. She had no symptoms the weekend she visited Greenville.
Jocelyn wanted it known that as a healthcare professional, she and her family were careful with their interactions, and she wants to warn the public that the coronavirus can be there “even when you think everything is OK.”
