Michigan doctor pleads with public to wear a mask after becoming hospitalised with Covid-19

‘It does not just affect the old and frail; it affects all of us,’ Dr Dave Burkard of Michigan says

A Michigan emergency room doctor has shared his personal experience after becoming hospitalised with Covid-19, as he pleads with the public to wear a mask.

Dr Dave Burkard, 28, works in one of the busiest emergency rooms at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so he’s interacted with a number of coronavirus patients during the pandemic.

But the doctor never thought he would find himself hospitalised from the novel virus.

“I run or workout 5x/week and have no significant chronic medical conditions,” he wrote in a Facebook post published on Tuesday.

But two weeks ago, Dr Burkard woke up with symptoms of a fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath. He quarantined himself while waiting for a coronavirus test and started to feel better around day four. But then on day six, he was unable to take 10 steps without experiencing severe breathing difficulties.

“Today, I was admitted to the hospital because when I walk 10 steps, my oxygen saturations dip into the mid 80s,” he wrote.

Despite his good health, the novel virus still took its toll on the doctor’s body, forcing him to check into the very hospital where he previously treated Covid-positive patients.

“(Being a patient) was probably the most mind-blowing part for me because this pandemic has been my life. It’s been everyone’s life, but for me it’s like it’s work, it’s home, it’s everywhere,” Dr Burkard told Today. “To actually be the patient was very weird.”

Dr Burkard spent three days in the hospital recovering from the virus before he was released. Since then, he has shed the virus and no longer remains contagious but has yet to return to work.

The personal experience inspired him to share his story ahead of the holiday season in a plea to convince other people to mask up and follow other coronavirus guidelines.

“Think about the families who want to be with their loved ones while they’re sick but can’t. Think about how silly it sounds to complain about a mask when there are people literally gasping for air,” Dr Burkard wrote in his post, which has since been shared more than 6,000 times.

“It is up to all of us to stop the spread of Covid. It does not just affect the old and frail; it affects all of us and we are all at risk for getting sick. Please wear your mask. Do your part to help us stop the spread," he added

Opponents of mask wearing claim the face shield doesn’t completely halt the spread of the novel virus. They also call it “restrictive” and say forcing them to wear it impedes on their personal freedoms.

When speaking to 7 Action News, Dr Burkard had his own analogy for why he thought people should wear a mask during the pandemic.

“When you drive your car, you wear your seat belt," Dr Burkard said. "Do seat belts prevent all deaths? No, they don't, but that doesn't mean I'm going to drive down the highway and not wear my seat belt because it's keeping me safe.

"Masks won't 100 per cent prevent Covid," he continued. "But if wearing your mask can save one life or can prevent one person from being hospitalized, that small inconvenience on you is definitely worth it."