Diary Of A Wimpy Kid…With Coronavirus

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‘My Corona’- Helping You Through Covid-19

At the time of writing this, just under 500,000 people worldwide have been diagnosed with Coronavirus, or Covid-19 as it is also known.

China still the country with most cases of the virus but Europe has now become the epicentre of the pandemic.

Italy is now only 10,000 cases shy of China, as the outbreak has ravaged through the Mediterranean country. It has already recorded just shy of a staggering 7,000 deaths there alone. With other European countries now approaching the upward straight of the ‘curve’, it’s essential that we do what we can to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

My Coronavirus Timeline

Having first noticed symptoms myself on Thursday 19th March. It began with a slight sore throat and niggly cough. Nothing I took too seriously. Realising now that this is a first sign in spotting Coronavirus, you don’t think these warnings apply to you. One thing I will say is that the symptoms seem to come out of nowhere. From very mild to hitting you.

By Thursday night my temperature was way up. Unfortunately, thanks to the Great British publics need to panic buy, there was no chance of actually getting a thermometer and checking exact figures. However, over the next 12 hours, my temperature remained high and the ‘dry continuous, new cough’ that Boris had warned of, had now well and truly set in.

On top of the cough and temperature, I had experienced a persistent headache which would not shift for another 5 days. Paracetamol did help to ease this to a small degree.

Smell and Taste

By Saturday afternoon, my temperature had dropped but continued to feel hot and cold in flushes throughout the day. By midday, I had noticed a loss of my sense of smell. Something I didn’t link to Covid-19 symptoms. By evening I had also completely lost my sense of taste. A few hours later I had spoken to a friend who is a paramedic on the front line of the NHS. I was informed that loss of smell and taste was now a symptom the front line had been told to look out for. Especially for those who were asymptomatic, ie. showing no other symptoms of Coronavirus.

Coincidently, this was later announced that night over news channels as another symptom that should be looked out for.

This is really important. People who are asymptomatic could be spreading Coronavirus without even realising they are a carrier. So a signal like this is significant in spotting and preventing spreading the virus, especially in younger, fitter people.

Day-by-day Diary

It’s interesting to note that not all symptoms occurred at once. Unlike seasonal flu that hits you in one go, Covid-19 staggers its symptoms over a number of days or did so in my case. Below indicates the order and time scale of symptoms I experienced day by day:

• Thursday 19th March- New dry and persistent cough leading to a high temperature/fever by the evening
• Friday 20th March- Headache, temperature, fever, dry cough. Extremely sensitive to hot and cold* (explained below)
• Saturday 21st March- Temperature/fever subsided. Cough still persistent and still sensitive to hot and cold*. Loss of smell from midday and then complete loss of smell and taste by evening. Tight chest and shortness of breath now very apparent
• Sunday 22nd March- Kept feeling very cold during the previous night and woke up to worst headache yet. No sense of smell or taste. Tight chest and very short of breath.
• Monday 23rd March- Headaches, general aches and pains, no sense of smell or taste. Still short of breath when performing menial tasks
• Tuesday 24th March- headache much lighter on waking up. Generally feeling better and not so groggy. No sense of smell. Shortness of breath subsided and chest felt much clearer
• Wednesday 25th March- Still no sense of taste or smell. All other symptoms seem to have cleared.

Easing The Symptoms

Drink warm drinks. Teas, coffees, lemon water and honey. Above, I mentioned being sensitive to hot and cold. I actually found that whenever I drank anything particularly cold, even just water, it would feel like my body was going into deep freeze from the inside out. As if a ball if ice starting in my core, radiated through the rest of my body. I would end up shivering and feel unable to warm up.

Take in the Sun. If you’re lucky enough to be able to sunbathe, get out there. The suns UV rays kill the virus and the vitamin D will help you fight it. You are being told to sunbathe…do you need telling twice?

Paracetamol also seemed to ease the headaches to a degree. I avoided ibuprofen as I read that it could actually be detrimental to recovery time.

Help Checklist To Fight Symptoms

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Paracetamol for relief of headaches, general aches and pain.
• Drink warm drinks. Avoid cold drinks
• Gargle saltwater at earliest signs of the sore throat or niggly cough.
• Rinse mouth regularly with disinfectant solutions such as Listerine
• Eat a healthy balanced diet of fruit and veg to boost the immune system.
• Rest. Don’t overexert yourself. Even when you feel you’re coming out the other end
• Sunbathe! Sun’s UV rays kill the virus and boost the immune system

Preventative Measures

Don’t wait until its too late. Do what you can to prevent the virus altogether. It’s much better to prevent altogether than to have to ease symptoms. The COVID-19 virus can survive for up to 12 hours on hard surfaces. Disinfecting surfaces such as door handles, kitchen work surfaces, doors, appliances, railings etc will go along way.

The virus can survive on clothing and tissues for 6-12 hours. Common detergents will kill the virus and things that cannot be washed should be exposed to the sun.

It only stays on hands for approximately 10 minutes. However, the average person touches their face 23 times an hour on average. It only takes one touch of your face during one of those 23 times to pass it into your system.

Now look in your hand…that device your holding will be THE biggest germ magnet around. Don’t forget to disinfect this regularly with wipes or alcohol rub.

Below is a checklist of preventative measures I recommend to keep you, and others, safe and well;

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitizer for 20 seconds
• Wipe hard surfaces down with disinfectant. These include handrails, doorknobs, work surfaces, taps/faucets, smart devices.
• Don’t touch your face
• Stay at home. Keep store visits to a minimum.
• Use contactless payments as much as possible. Avoid cash transactions
• Observe social distancing. Keep 2 metres from others
• Cough/sneeze into a tissue and dispose of immediately.
• No tissue? Cough/sneeze into the sleeve of elbow
• Wash clothes regularly or expose to direct sunlight.

By staying home and self-isolating you are helping prevent excess strain on our health systems.

Stay Safe. Stay Distant. Save Lives

The most important thing right now is to curb the spread of this virus. I was lucky that I am young, fit and healthy. Others don’t have these aspects on their side. As I outlined in my previous blog post, ‘Corona Virus Assistance’.

With countries all over the world locking down their borders and locking down their citizens, the UK has taken a step in the same direction. However, people still decide to ignore government and scientific advice. STAY HOME. This means you! Do not see family or friends you do not live with. The sooner we can starve this virus of hosts, the sooner life has a chance to return to usual.

Below is a very simple explanation of just how important a role social distancing takes in stopping Covid-19.

Self Isolation

This is really important. Many people are not showing all or any symptoms for Covid-19, but are positive. You may think you are perfectly fine and head to the store or even out in public areas. However, you could well be spreading the virus to those more vulnerable. So lookout for any of the symptoms I have outlined in this article. In spotting anything early, especially loss to the senses of smell and taste, we can prevent spreading the virus, especially in younger, fitter people, to those more vulnerable.

People may still be stuck abroad, in a hotter climate, and may not notice as such getting a temperature or a slight niggly cough. Check out my recent blog to help anyone who may be abroad or trying to get home. Another reason why spotting these subtle symptoms could help.

This Is Bigger Than You or I

Coronavirus, or Covid-19, may well be minor for some people. However, it can be fatal with those who suffer from underlying health issues and those over 60 years of age. I struggled with breathing and performing normal daily tasks due to shortness of breath and tight chest. I can completely understand how this would affect others much more severely. This is why it is so important to stay at home. Stop travelling. Stop meeting people. Don’t just pop to see a family member or close friend. EVERYTHING must stop. As hard and as inconvenient this maybe for some people, its time the human race thought about others rather than themselves.

Elderly friends or relatives may not see themselves as vulnerable. They are! Imagine this…

You just go to see one of your elder relatives, you feel fine, yet you are a carrier. You pass this onto them. The ambulance is called and they are taken away. They are taken to isolated wards in hospitals where absolutely no visitation rights are allowed. The could die a very lonely death. That is the scariest thing about this. Now imagine being the one who gave them COVID-19. Imagine how you would feel, knowing a loved one is taking their final breathes completely alone.

This is a harsh reminder at the severity that this virus is doing to people all over the world

Keep Everyone Safe

You may be backpacking around; South-East Asia, New Zealand or South America, but remember that you are not the only people who’s trip of a lifetime may now be in jeopardy. My own goal of heading to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa is now up in smoke. Please think, this may ruin your trip… but it could be ending another person’s life!

Coronavirus, Covid-19, has proven itself to be much more than deadly than we initially thought. Please take into account these preventative measures and keep yourself and other people at this time of a global pandemic.

Stay safe. Stay distant. Save lives