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Coronavirus: 'The worst bit is the uncontrollable coughing' | Coronavirus: 'The worst bit is the uncontrollable coughing' |
(32 minutes later) | |
"The worst bit is the uncontrollable coughing," says Andrew O'Dwyer, who is recovering after being infected with the new coronavirus following a skiing trip to Italy in late February. | "The worst bit is the uncontrollable coughing," says Andrew O'Dwyer, who is recovering after being infected with the new coronavirus following a skiing trip to Italy in late February. |
"I've had worse flu, without a doubt - but I wouldn't want to catch it again," he says during his self-isolation at home in south-west London. | "I've had worse flu, without a doubt - but I wouldn't want to catch it again," he says during his self-isolation at home in south-west London. |
Despite having type 1 diabetes, Andrew says having the virus "isn't anything to worry about for me personally". | Despite having type 1 diabetes, Andrew says having the virus "isn't anything to worry about for me personally". |
He adds that the fever he experienced is "no different to normal flu-type symptoms". | He adds that the fever he experienced is "no different to normal flu-type symptoms". |
"I've not been concerned," he says. | "I've not been concerned," he says. |
The severity of symptoms can vary widely among people. Those who are older and have pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) are more likely to become severely ill and can need hospital treatment. There have been 10 coronavirus-related deaths so far in the UK. | |
Andrew was told the virus wasn't circulating in the resort he was staying in, but 21 out of 25 people in his skiing group have since become infected. | Andrew was told the virus wasn't circulating in the resort he was staying in, but 21 out of 25 people in his skiing group have since become infected. |
On his return from Italy to the UK, he decided to stay at home and self-isolate as a precaution, despite experiencing no symptoms at that point. | On his return from Italy to the UK, he decided to stay at home and self-isolate as a precaution, despite experiencing no symptoms at that point. |
'Debilitating cough' | 'Debilitating cough' |
Some people in his group fell ill within two days, so he contacted NHS 111, which he says was "very good". | Some people in his group fell ill within two days, so he contacted NHS 111, which he says was "very good". |
"I got tested before I was feeling ill because other people had tested positive. | "I got tested before I was feeling ill because other people had tested positive. |
"I found out three days later I was positive. But it was over a week before I showed symptoms," he says. | "I found out three days later I was positive. But it was over a week before I showed symptoms," he says. |
They included a "quite debilitating cough" and a high temperature that kept rising and falling. | They included a "quite debilitating cough" and a high temperature that kept rising and falling. |
He says he found that taking paracetamol really helped to reduce his fever. | He says he found that taking paracetamol really helped to reduce his fever. |
At one point he had to go to hospital in an ambulance for an assessment. | At one point he had to go to hospital in an ambulance for an assessment. |
He was checked over but didn't have to get out. Then he was dropped off at home again. | He was checked over but didn't have to get out. Then he was dropped off at home again. |
Andrew is now on the road to recovery - but it's been a long haul. | Andrew is now on the road to recovery - but it's been a long haul. |
By the end of his self-isolation he will have spent 21 days at home, without going out. | By the end of his self-isolation he will have spent 21 days at home, without going out. |
He's also been trying to work from home but has found it difficult to concentrate. | He's also been trying to work from home but has found it difficult to concentrate. |
"It's like climbing the walls. It's difficult to do a day's work," he says. | "It's like climbing the walls. It's difficult to do a day's work," he says. |
On a positive note, he says his friends have been very good, helping him with shopping. However he's really missed his nine-year-old son, whom he hasn't seen for two weeks. | On a positive note, he says his friends have been very good, helping him with shopping. However he's really missed his nine-year-old son, whom he hasn't seen for two weeks. |