This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/opinion/coronavirus-uk.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
I Followed the U.K.’s Advice. Did I Spread Coronavirus? I Followed the U.K.’s Advice. Did I Spread Coronavirus?
(2 days later)
MARGATE, England —The British government on Monday imposed a strict lockdown across the country. People can leave their houses only for a limited set of purposes; nonessential businesses are closed. This was the right decision — but I fear that it came far too late.MARGATE, England —The British government on Monday imposed a strict lockdown across the country. People can leave their houses only for a limited set of purposes; nonessential businesses are closed. This was the right decision — but I fear that it came far too late.
Here’s what happened to me. On the morning of Friday, March 6, I woke up with a mild sore throat and, to put it delicately, digestive issues. I drank honey for my throat, and attributed the stomach problems to taking a probiotic for the first time in years. I felt more-or-less well over the weekend. I went to a wrestling match, got takeout pizza, met up with friends in a cafe, and celebrated my anniversary with my partner in a busy restaurant. But the tickly throat was oddly persistent.Here’s what happened to me. On the morning of Friday, March 6, I woke up with a mild sore throat and, to put it delicately, digestive issues. I drank honey for my throat, and attributed the stomach problems to taking a probiotic for the first time in years. I felt more-or-less well over the weekend. I went to a wrestling match, got takeout pizza, met up with friends in a cafe, and celebrated my anniversary with my partner in a busy restaurant. But the tickly throat was oddly persistent.
On March 10, I came down with what seemed like norovirus. Profuse vomiting. I spent the day alternating between the couch and the bathroom, feeling sorry for myself.On March 10, I came down with what seemed like norovirus. Profuse vomiting. I spent the day alternating between the couch and the bathroom, feeling sorry for myself.
I’d been following the news stories about the coronavirus and I was a bit worried. I texted my mother about the tickly throat. She is not a doctor, but she is one of those mums who knows everything. And she had been warning me about the coronavirus since January. We agreed it was more likely to be a minor infection taking advantage of low immunity caused by norovirus than the virus that was sweeping through Italy.I’d been following the news stories about the coronavirus and I was a bit worried. I texted my mother about the tickly throat. She is not a doctor, but she is one of those mums who knows everything. And she had been warning me about the coronavirus since January. We agreed it was more likely to be a minor infection taking advantage of low immunity caused by norovirus than the virus that was sweeping through Italy.
Besides, we were listening to our government. On March 3, Health Secretary Matt Hancock had addressed Parliament. “The single most important thing anyone can do,” he said, “is to use tissues when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands more often.” On March 9, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation, saying, “The best thing we can all do is wash our hands for 20 seconds with soap and water.”Besides, we were listening to our government. On March 3, Health Secretary Matt Hancock had addressed Parliament. “The single most important thing anyone can do,” he said, “is to use tissues when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands more often.” On March 9, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation, saying, “The best thing we can all do is wash our hands for 20 seconds with soap and water.”
Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, was on hand to say that “there’s a danger people think this has got a higher risk than it actually has for them personally.” He did, however, add that “within the next 10 to 14 days” anyone with a fever or mild respiratory problems would be asked to stay at home.Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, was on hand to say that “there’s a danger people think this has got a higher risk than it actually has for them personally.” He did, however, add that “within the next 10 to 14 days” anyone with a fever or mild respiratory problems would be asked to stay at home.
In the following days, I went to a stationary shop, a supermarket, a pharmacy, a local garage to get a fault light on my car checked. A friend popped over for coffee. I visited a cafe twice, to eat lunch.In the following days, I went to a stationary shop, a supermarket, a pharmacy, a local garage to get a fault light on my car checked. A friend popped over for coffee. I visited a cafe twice, to eat lunch.
On March 11, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. “We are deeply concerned, both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and also by the alarming levels of inaction,” said the W.H.O.’s director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. When asked, Dr. Michael Ryan, head of the agency’s emergency program, declined to name the countries that were failing to act. “You know who you are,” he said.On March 11, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. “We are deeply concerned, both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and also by the alarming levels of inaction,” said the W.H.O.’s director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. When asked, Dr. Michael Ryan, head of the agency’s emergency program, declined to name the countries that were failing to act. “You know who you are,” he said.
A day later, Mr. Johnson declared that the government had “done what can be done to contain this disease and this has bought us valuable time.” He then spoke about moving from the “contain” to “delay” phase of the government’s plan, which, in short, was that anyone with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature should self-isolate for “at least seven days.” Further measures would be considered, but were described by Mr. Johnson as “draconian.”A day later, Mr. Johnson declared that the government had “done what can be done to contain this disease and this has bought us valuable time.” He then spoke about moving from the “contain” to “delay” phase of the government’s plan, which, in short, was that anyone with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature should self-isolate for “at least seven days.” Further measures would be considered, but were described by Mr. Johnson as “draconian.”
I checked: no fever. Later that day, however, I developed a very slight — but certainly not continuous — cough. The next morning, my lungs ached, and it hurt to take a deep breath. My mum, an asthmatic, was already self-isolating. We agreed I should too, “just in case.”I checked: no fever. Later that day, however, I developed a very slight — but certainly not continuous — cough. The next morning, my lungs ached, and it hurt to take a deep breath. My mum, an asthmatic, was already self-isolating. We agreed I should too, “just in case.”
I argued with my partner over the weekend. He had an event to attend in London on Sunday. Neither of us believed I had Covid-19, but I worried that if he brought it back from London, my current illness would make it harder to fight.I argued with my partner over the weekend. He had an event to attend in London on Sunday. Neither of us believed I had Covid-19, but I worried that if he brought it back from London, my current illness would make it harder to fight.
The pain in my lungs persisted. My muscles ached. I had the chills. Breathing became harder. I developed a sniffle. My temperature peaked at 37.1 degrees Celsius (98.8 degrees Fahrenheit), lower than the government’s warning of a fever of 37.8 (100). Then, Mum text me a link to two papers published in the medical journal Gastroenterology in early March. Investigators in China found a significant proportion of coronavirus patients developed diarrhea, nausea and vomiting before respiratory symptoms. The pain in my lungs persisted. My muscles ached. I had the chills. Breathing became harder. I developed a sniffle. My temperature peaked at 37.1 degrees Celsius (98.8 degrees Fahrenheit), lower than the government’s warning of a fever of 37.8 (100). Then, Mum texted me a link to two papers published in the medical journal Gastroenterology in early March. Investigators in China found a significant proportion of coronavirus patients developed diarrhea, nausea and vomiting before respiratory symptoms.
The symptoms we had put down to stomach flu, norovirus, a chest infection and a cold, were starting to look more and more like the coronavirus. Days later, The American Journal of Gastroenterology published a study showing 48.5 percent of participants with Covid-19 experienced digestive symptoms, and those who did took longer to recover.The symptoms we had put down to stomach flu, norovirus, a chest infection and a cold, were starting to look more and more like the coronavirus. Days later, The American Journal of Gastroenterology published a study showing 48.5 percent of participants with Covid-19 experienced digestive symptoms, and those who did took longer to recover.
I was pretty certain I’d been suffering from Covid-19. But I’ll probably never know for sure. The British government’s policy is to test only those who have been admitted to the hospital with severe symptoms of Covid-19; I wasn’t. (This testing policy goes against W.H.O. guidelines, too.)I was pretty certain I’d been suffering from Covid-19. But I’ll probably never know for sure. The British government’s policy is to test only those who have been admitted to the hospital with severe symptoms of Covid-19; I wasn’t. (This testing policy goes against W.H.O. guidelines, too.)
I felt terrible — and not just because of my symptoms, which have by now improved significantly. I feared how much I’d spread my infection. If I had known that diarrhea and vomiting were Covid-19 symptoms, I would have self-isolated when they appeared. As it was, I had been outside and with others during the first week of the illness, when the virus is most contagious.I felt terrible — and not just because of my symptoms, which have by now improved significantly. I feared how much I’d spread my infection. If I had known that diarrhea and vomiting were Covid-19 symptoms, I would have self-isolated when they appeared. As it was, I had been outside and with others during the first week of the illness, when the virus is most contagious.
I messaged those it was possible to contact — the friends I had seen at the cafe on that Sunday, people from the wrestling match, the friend who had stopped by for coffee — to ask if they had developed any of the same symptoms. I found three who had come down with symptoms (not limited to a dry cough and fever) roughly five days after seeing me — the median incubation period for Covid-19. I worried about those whose phone numbers I didn’t know. And I worried about how many each of them spread the infection to as well. How many people did the others infect? And how can we ever know the community spread of the virus, if we don’t test for it?I messaged those it was possible to contact — the friends I had seen at the cafe on that Sunday, people from the wrestling match, the friend who had stopped by for coffee — to ask if they had developed any of the same symptoms. I found three who had come down with symptoms (not limited to a dry cough and fever) roughly five days after seeing me — the median incubation period for Covid-19. I worried about those whose phone numbers I didn’t know. And I worried about how many each of them spread the infection to as well. How many people did the others infect? And how can we ever know the community spread of the virus, if we don’t test for it?
Abigail Tarttelin is a writer, actress and musician.Abigail Tarttelin is a writer, actress and musician.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.
Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.