Coronavirus In Baby Just 7 Months Old Prompts Mom's Desperate Plea: 'COVID-19 Isn't A Joke'

After tests confirmed the coronavirus in her baby boy, who is just 7 months old, Courtney Doster turned to social media. The mom from South Carolina is urging everyone to take COVID-19 seriously. And her powerful PSA quickly went viral!

Like many, Courtney Doster admits she at first thought all the worry around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was just "big media hype." But all of that changed when the illness hit her family.

Coronavirus In Baby

After an unusually long nap, Courtney's 7-month-old son, Emmett, wasn't himself.

"He woke up from his nap and he was warm," Courtney Doster explained.

Emmett had a low-grade fever. But the South Carolina mom worried as his temperature rapidly rose.

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"Pretty quickly it started to climb to 103," Courtney said. "We got on the phone with his pediatrician and ... we finally got the call to go get tested for urgent care."

The test confirmed coronavirus in the baby boy. And the shock of it all hit Courtney hard.

"He had no other signs of being sick," she said of Emmett. "He wasn’t whiny or fussy and that’s what is really scary -- we didn’t even realize he was having these types of symptoms."

Emmett's grandmother also tested positive for COVID-19. She'd bee around the family before discovering she had the virus.

Courtney and the rest of her family -- Emmett, her husband, and his siblings, ages 2 and 4 -- are self-quarantining at home for 14 days. So far, no one else in the household is showing any signs of the virus.

But Courtney is still worried since symptoms can take several days after exposure to show up. And she felt compelled to share their story on social media in the hopes others would take the need for social distancing more seriously.

Mom's Desperate Plea About COVID-19

Courtney just knew so many people view the COVID-19 safety measures as extreme -- the same way she did before doctors diagnosed coronavirus in her baby. That's why she wanted to use her story to warn others.

"COVID19 isn't a joke," Courtney Doster wrote on Facebook. "This isn't time to go out and have play dates, or go to Walmart, or go out to eat. Stay home people please!" 

Soo many people also think the virus is only a threat to older people. But Courtney is reminding folks that simply isn't the case.

"People need to know that this nasty virus can affect anyone," she says. "It doesn't care how old you are!"

Support For Baby With Coronavirus

Courtney's goal was simply to warn others to take COVID-19 seriously. She never expected it to go viral.

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But to her surprise, Courtney Doster's message was shared far and wide. And messages of support and concern for little Emmett poured in from all over.

The well-wishes and prayers from so many strangers served as a bright light in a dark time for the family.

"We just wanted to take this time to thank each and everyone who has prayed and reached out to us! The love and support we have received from strangers has been unreal! Thousands across our nation are praying for our family," Courtney said in an update on Facebook.

Seeing the coronavirus in a baby so young is certainly terrifying. But thankfully, Courtney's updates reveal Emmett is resting and seems to be bouncing back.

Of course, everyone is still praying and waiting to be sure the 7-month-old makes a full recovery.

"While our Emmett is home safe and resting, we know it can change in a matter of minutes!" Courtney writes.

How inspiring to see this family using such a terrifying time in their lives to try and help others!

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More Info On The Coronavirus

For more information and updates on COVID-19, visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). And here are the CDC's recommendations for keeping yourself safe:

• Wash your hands often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if there is no soap available
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and face as much as possible
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and other people

h/t: Good Morning America

Featured Image: Facebook/Courtney Doster

Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!