For those that do not know, I was diagnosed with COVID-19. It has been about 15 days since I first had symptoms. Just a minor cough and some lingering congestion but I am almost over it.

I can honestly tell you it was the sickest I have ever been. It started with massive fatigue, moved to a migraine that caused immense pain along with five days of severe flu-like symptoms.

On the sixth day I started to feel better, but here’s where this was different. At day seven, I relapsed and it felt like I could not breathe and I got sick all over again. Getting treatments to clear my lungs and working hard to push through, this was one of the toughest experiences of my life. Working with doctors and the support of a great caregiver, Ruthanne, I was able to avoid the hospital, but it was close. I stayed isolated for two weeks and am lucky to be where I am.

Now as I sit here through the difficulties, ready to come out of quarantine, thankful to be better, I want you to know that I did everything right. I wore a mask, limited contact with people, stayed socially distant, was selective on where I went, washed my hands, used sanitizer and took the precautions needed to be safe. I still contracted COVID and most likely from an asymptomatic carrier. I am a 42-year-old, slightly obese, moderately healthy man and this illness stopped me cold. I know firsthand how someone less healthy or a little older could have succumbed to this dreaded illness.

You need to know this is not just the flu, not just a little sickness you could get. This pandemic, this COVID-19, it’s not a joke, not something to be toyed with. You can do everything right and still get sick.

My prayers are with those fighting through COVID around our country. My hope is that you will all heed the warnings of the CDC and respect the pause so we can slow this down. Your life and the lives of your loved ones are the most important thing and you need to protect them. Just because you’ve been lucky to avoid being sick doesn’t mean you’re immune. In fact, you could be passing it around and not even know.

Thanks for reading this and please stay safe and stay home if you can.

Michael Farina is president of the Cranston City Council.