A 35-year-old trainer who we will be referring to as Mr A was recently discharged from the Lagos state COVID-19 isolation centre and he shared his story with Roots TV and he has asked that his identity be concealed.
For him, April has been a month to remember, from developing symptoms of COVID-19 to being taken into isolation, and eventually being discharged, this is a success story that takes you inside the reality of the COVID-19 infection experience. The interview has slightly been edited for better understanding.
Roots TV: How did you discover you were COVID-19 infected?
Mr. A: “I lost my sense of taste and smell”
In early April 2020, I discovered that I had lost my sense of smell and taste, but had no symptoms of cold which from reports is the most popular symptom. After two days without regaining my sense of smell and taste, I decided to go online to check the possibility of that being a symptom of the Covid-19 infection and discovered that from reports from credible sources that loss of taste and smell was one of the symptoms of the Covid-19 infection. I was unaware and was looking for the classic fever”, so I called the NCDC and 3 days later they came to my house to take samples for the COVID-19 test. In another three days, the NCDC ambulance arrived at my home to take me to the isolation Centre because I had been confirmed positive of the coronavirus.
Roots TV: Do you know how you contracted the virus?
Mr. A: That is still a mystery, I have absolutely no idea. Before that day, I had no history of travel since the advent of the COVID-19 infections around the world, no contact with a known COVID-19 infected person, and had not visited any location with reports of exposure to the coronavirus. All the knowledge I have was going about my daily activities and visiting only the grocery store, which could be where I contracted it from, but we may never know because the NCDC tracking and contact tracing didn’t bring back much.
Roots TV: How was the treatment at the isolation centre
Mr. A: “The treatment was very good, they cared for us very well, and gave us very good meals. At the isolation centre, I was placed in a ward with about 15 other men and my vitals was checked three times daily. The medical officials were prompt and professional when they administered medication and conducted tests and did all checks. The drugs administered included ARV, vitamin C for immune boost and antibiotics, and they did their best to make sure we were comfortable. There was nothing out of the ordinary they did, except to keep you locked down for two weeks. I can say for now Lagos state is doing a good job, but I do not know how sustainable it is because the numbers keep rising daily, I don’t know if they would be able to meet up.
Roots TV: Did you meet any patient in critical condition?
Mr. A: There were no patients in critical condition in my ward Patients in isolation were not encouraged to move around but were confined to their stipulated wards. An elderly man in his late sixties with trouble breathing was brought in at some point, but he was moved the next day, but I’m not sure where he was moved to and we didn’t hear anything else about him after that”.
Roots TV: Are you aware if you infected anyone else?
Mr. A: “That’s always a possibility, because I do not know at what point I contracted it. Based on the vague circumstances around my contracting the virus, there is also a likelihood that I may have infected other people without being aware. The NCDC carried out contact tracing to ascertain whether anyone I had had contact with was infected, but that they didn’t find any direct contacts who were infected.
Roots TV: What is considered a COVID-19 recovery?
Mr. A: “When a patient tests negative twice to COVID-19. The medical officials take samples from patients’ every 48 hours to determine if they have been healed. After two confirmed negatives, the patient is released to go home.
Roots TV: How do you feel now, and what changes have you made in your life post-covid-19 infection?
Mr. A: “I am fine now, no symptoms, nothing. I feel great now, even though I am more careful about taking care of my physical and mental health. I am currently reading a lot and reflecting, I have also developed an exercise routine to stay active and fit.
