Yes, we, both me and my daughter became COVID 19 positive on August 19th after an Antigen test done. We had no major symptoms as such. I just had a chill and was feverish for a day and I became normal after that. My daughter had fever and body pain for a day or two. After that she developed total loss of smell and taste and she developed difficulty in breathing on 19th morning which forced us to do the test at a nearby Government District Hospital at Thiruvananthapuram..
Both of us became positive and we were shifted to the First Line Treatment Centre of the Government of Kerala at the Hostel of the Institute of Management in Government near Barton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram by around 4pm on the same day. We were given a room in Block B of the Hostel which was built by COSTFORD, the low cost housing Organization started by the renowned architect Laurie Baker.
We settled down easily there and we were advised not to move out of the room , but when food is served at regular intervals, that too wearing a mask and only up to the entrance of the door.
We came to understand that the food was served by the District Kudumbasree Mission and each block had officials and Doctors from the State Health Mission and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM- State body).
Evening by 5, we were served hot tea. We were given two kits in cloth bags- bed sheet, pillow cover, paste, tooth brush and a soap for our use.( We were allowed to take the entire kit when we were discharged)
I had taken a book and a magazine for reading and also our mobile chargers.
We were served our dinner by 8pm and we had chapathis and curry.
We were so tired after the long wait for the Ambulance and so we slept.
We had a good balcony which overlooked the city’s skyscrapers and also we could see the sea ( which was as the crow flies seemed very near) and also the planes landing at the airport.
The next day morning started by receiving phone calls from various Government officials from Health, Local Police Station, Asha Worker, Corporation Health Worker to know about our contact and travel history. Fortunately we had not gone out at all after knowing that there was a positive case for a billing lady at the nearby Margin Free Shop where I had visited quite a number of times. That was the only source of my infection. We had no travel history after that either.
There was a daily visit by a team of doctors who came wearing their Personal protective kit and enquired about our health and also if there were any symptoms or other health issues. We were given a course of antibiotics to contain any infection which we might have had.
After the second day we started getting calls from the following Government officials & departments:
- District Medical Officer– Called every three days to enquire about our health and emotional state of mind. Reassurances were given all the time that we would be alright soon if we were asymptomatic.
- District Collector’s Office: Called thrice and enquired about our location and when we had tested positive. They wanted to make sure that we had no travel & contact history.
- Local Police Station: They asked us a detailed report on our travel & contact history. We told them about my visit to the Local Margin Frees Market where a positive case was reported in the last week of July.
- ASHA WORKER: Details regarding our travel & contact history, as asked by the Local Police Station was asked. Reassurance were given that we would be alright soon if we were asymptomatic.
- RURAL SP OF POLICE: Travel and contact history was asked in detail.
- CORPORATION HEALTH WORKER: She was the one who was really consoling as others too, and kept on saying that you have got the infection from the nearby Margin free Market only.
- We totally appreciate the efficient networking of various Departments which we should say the State of Kerala should really be proud of.
We also had regular phone calls and messages from our close network of relatives, friends and fraternity. We also had homemade food served for us from my sister’s house on more than one occasion.
The Volunteers from the Covid brigade set up by the Kerala Government Local Self Government & the State Youth Welfare Board were there 24×7 for any help or for buying fruits or snacks from outside for which we had to make digital payment.
Later we came to know about the protocol regarding repeat of tests on asymptomatic cases. The protocol says that the repeat test for asymptomatic cases will be done after ten days of the first test, which will be Antigen only. If negative on the repeat test we will be discharged with a home quarantine for seven more days more.
So our D-DAY was fast approaching- 29th August. The Doctors came for their usual rounds and enquired about our health condition and said that we would get WHOa call for going for the test. We had started packing everything.
We gave our swab from our nose which as really irritating for a few minutes. They insert a long tube with cotton on the tip (like an elongated ear bud) into both the nostrils. We were asked to wait for an hour for the results and we were really keeping our fingers crossed.
The Doctors also said that there was no need of fumigation or disinfection of the house as the Virus will not survive in an atmosphere for more than three days.
We were given a lift by them for which we had to pay as they had arranged a private taxi.
Otherwise all other facilities like food, accommodation, regular visits of the team of Doctors, tests done ( two Antigen tests) were totally free.
LAST WORDS OF THANKS & GRATITUDE:
THE RELENTLESS AND UNTIRING WORK OF MANY PEOPLE ,DOCTORS, PARAMEDICAL STAFF, VOLUNTEERS HELPED US GET BETTER AND BACK HOME IN PERFECT HEALTH.
WE TRULY UNDERSTOOD HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO SUSTAIN IN A SINGLE ROOM FOR SO MANY DAYS. BUT WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WHO MADE SURE THAT WE WERE RID OF SUCH A FEELING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO SINCERELY TREATED & TOOK CARE OF US AT THE FIRST LINE TREATMENT CENTER AND ALSO PRAYED FOR OUR WELL BEING.
THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS & UNDERSTANDING EVERY ONE SHOULD HAVE:
THE PANDAEMIC PARADOXICALLY BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH OURSELVES. IN A LONG INTERVAL WHERE THE WORLD HAS STOPPED AND EVERYTHING AROUND US BEGAN TO MOVE IN A VERY SLOW PACE.
LET’S PUT IT ON OUR HEADS, SLOWNESS IS NOT A WASTE OF TIME, BUT AN AWARENESS OF ONE’S LIFE TIME.
ASHOK SHARMA & MEENAKSHI M A, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ([email protected])
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