‘Don’t be like me.’ College student talks about getting COVID-19 after Iowa party

An Iowa college student is speaking out about his experience with COVID-19 after he was infected during a party.

Tyler Hospodarsky, a senior at the University of Northern Iowa, says the coronavirus felt like a distant threat when he went to a friend’s birthday part in June — in a crowded home where no one was wearing a face mask. Then he and others at the party were diagnosed with COVID-19.

“Don’t wait until you get the virus to start taking it seriously,” Hospodarsky told the University of Northern Iowa News Service. “Don’t be like me. I waited until I got the virus and then I was like, ‘Oh my God, who did I affect?’ It was terrifying.”

After the party, Hospodarsky played softball and visited his grandpa, who is asthmatic.

“Mentally, it was harder than anything. What if I gave it to my grandpa and then he dies?” Hospodarsky said. “What if I give it to someone who gives it to their grandma or even just their parent who has diabetes?”

Across the U.S. and the world, young people are making up a larger number of COVID-19 cases than when the pandemic began. The surge comes as schools are set to reopen soon.

In Missouri, people ages 20 to 24 are the largest group of coronavirus cases, The Kansas City Star reported. In Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, people under 20 accounted for 16% of cases at the end of July, compared to just 1% in April, The Charlotte Observer reported. At least 150 Michigan teens are infected in a surge of cases linked to parties and prom-like events, McClatchy News reported.

According to a World Health Organization analysis, people age 15 to 24 represent 15% of cases compared to 4.5% in February, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

None of Hospodarsky’s friends or family — including his grandpa — tested positive after he was infected. But he wants to use the experience to let others know about the risks.

“You really have to get out of the mindset of like, ‘I will be fine,’” he told WOI. “Because yes, maybe you will be fine. But the next person might not. And that’s just not the dice you want to roll.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 4:18 PM with the headline "‘Don’t be like me.’ College student talks about getting COVID-19 after Iowa party."