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Anna Camp says she contracted COVID-19 after not wearing a mask 'one time,' details her battle

"Pitch Perfect" star Anna Camp has an important message: COVID-19 is real, and it's deadly.

Camp, 37, knows this because she contracted the highly infectious disease, and she believes it was after one time not wearing her mask in public. The actress explained her experience in an Instagram post Tuesday in which she urged readers not to let their guard down.

"I’m lucky. Because I didn’t die. But people are," Camp wrote. "Please wear (your) mask. It can happen any time. And it can happen to anyone."

Camp, who split from husband and fellow "Pitch Perfect" star Skylar Astin in 2019, said she had been fastidious about her mask-wearing and followed other COVID-19 precautions, such as regularly applying hand sanitizer.

"One time, when the world was starting to open up, I decided to forgo wearing my mask in public. One. Time. And I ended up getting it," says Camp.

She was "extremely sick" for three weeks, but has tested negative for COVID-19.

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Hi friends... I felt it was my responsibility to share that I ended up getting Covid-19. I have since tested negative, but I was extremely sick for over three weeks and still have lingering symptoms. I was incredibly safe. I wore a mask. I used hand sanitizer. One time, when the world was starting to open up, I decided to forgo wearing my mask in public. One. Time. And I ended up getting it. People are saying it’s like having the flu, but I’ve had the flu, and this is absolutely not that. The panic of contracting a virus that is basically untreatable and is so new that no one knows the long term irreparable damage it does to your immune system is unbelievably stressful. Completely losing my sense of smell and taste without knowing when or even if they will return is extremely disorienting. I’m only smelling about 30 percent of how I used to now. Other persistent symptoms are (a month later) dizziness, extreme fatigue, impacted sinuses, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, and fever. I’m lucky. Because I didn’t die. But people are. Please wear ur mask. It can happen any time. And it can happen to anyone. Even that one time you feel safe. We can all make a difference. Wearing a mask is saving lives. Thank you to everyone who reached out to check on me during this scary time. Please be safe out there. Let’s all do our part and wear a mask. I don’t want any of you to go through what I did. Even though it’s a little thing, it can have a huge impact, and it’s so incredibly easy to do❤️

A post shared by Anna Camp (@therealannacamp) on Jul 21, 2020 at 11:23am PDT

"People are saying it’s like having the flu, but I’ve had the flu, and this is absolutely not that," wrote Camp. "The panic of contracting a virus that is basically untreatable and is so new that no one knows the long term irreparable damage it does to your immune system, is unbelievably stressful."

The actress lost her sense of taste and smell during the battle, with the smell only returning partially a month later.

Anna Camp has recovered from COVID-19, detailing her battle in an Instagram post.
Anna Camp has recovered from COVID-19, detailing her battle in an Instagram post.

Other lingering symptoms, a month later, include "dizziness, extreme fatigue, impacted sinuses, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, and fever," she wrote.

Camp ended her post urging people again to follow CDC guidelines to protect against the virus.

"Let’s all do our part and wear a mask," she wrote. "I don’t want any of you to go through what I did. Even though it’s a little thing, it can have a huge impact."

Fellow "Pitch Perfect" stars including Brittany Snow and Shelley Regner weighed in on the post.

"Thank you for sharing your story to spread more awareness and advocacy for safety and health during this crazy and uncertain time," wrote Regner. "Sending you all the virtual healing and positive vibes."

"Jurassic World" actress Bryce Dallas Howard called the post "a powerful reminder."

"Thank you for being so open," wrote Howard. "And so grateful you are in the process of recovering!"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anna Camp contracted COVID-19 after not wearing mask 'one time'