Downey medical worker shares story after contracting coronavirus
Dr. Ray Gonzalez
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correctly identify Ray Gonzalez as a physician’s assistant, not a physician, as he was initially described.
DOWNEY — Ray Gonzalez of M.V.P. Family Practice in Downey has tested positive for COVID-19 and is documenting his experiences.
Gonzalez was exposed by an ill patient at his clinic on Nov. 17; he became infected despite wearing personal protective equipment, which included a complete hazmat suit with N95 mask and face shield. Gonzalez was the only person infected at his clinic and concluded that he was infected by an aggressive strain of the coronavirus while counseling a male patient after the patient’s positive diagnosis.
Gonzalez said he experienced symptoms between 36-48 hours after exposure. He felt full body paralysis, a heavy body, headaches, fatigue, body pain and soreness, cramps, back spasms and ultimately a cold sweat while trying to sleep. He also experienced constant hiccups, loss of smell and taste, and a general feeling of just being “drained.”
After several days of dealing with worsening symptoms, Gonzalez was tested on Nov. 23. The COVID test result was positive and Gonzalez immediately quarantined himself and started taking the antibiotic Azithromycin, Prednisone and IV vitamin and rehydration. Contact tracing was performed and all responsible precautions were followed.
As of this Wednesday, Gonzalez said he is just beginning to feel better. He will be tested again on Monday, two weeks after his first positive diagnosis.
“Going forward, this pandemic will be around longer than we want so collectively we need to generate visible solutions to expedite the return of our basic and essential activities,” Gonzalez said. These activities include “going to work, attending houses of worship, going to school and participating in youth sports and shopping and dining out.”
“If we all wear a mask and adhere to the guidelines set by the infectious disease experts, there is no reason why we should see another lockdown,” the doctor said. “That’s a big ‘if’ though because human behavior is just as unpredictable as the coronavirus itself.”
Gonzalez is a licensed medical provider with the California Physician Assistant Medical Board.