Was worried about family: India’s 1st patient

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India’s first coronavirus patient, who was discharged from Kerala’s Thrissur Medical College Hospital on Thursday, has said she never expected to be infected when she left China in January. But once she tested positive, she was confident about her recovery even as she was concerned about her family and others she had interacted with.

The 24-year-old said while leaving China, she never expected the pandemic to become so serious. She said when the situation deteriorated, she decided to leave China on her own. “My parents were worried. On January 22, I managed to get a ticket for Kolkata for the next day.” But the same night, the Chinese authorities stopped all public transport in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, and put it under a lockdown. “I, along with some of my friends, rushed to the railway station the same night and managed to get into the last train to the nearest airport,” she said. She added she had taken enough precautions while travelling and that her college was closed for a week when she left.

“January is Chinese vacation time and we were planning to stay there to concentrate more on studies. But I had to leave along with six of my friends.”

Two days after reaching home in Kerala, she developed fever

and throat infection. “I immediately alerted the medical authorities, who were monitoring me, and got myself admitted. When I tested positive, I was mentally prepared. And this experience made me stronger.”

The student spent 24 days at an isolation ward from January 27 to February 20. She added she knew

that isolation was the best option. “If coronavirus affects a healthy person, it does not cause many problems. But for the immuno compromised, it can be lifethreatening. The mortality rate in just 2% and in our climate, this might not spread.” The student said most of the medical staff and doctors treating her stayed at the hospital. “Their dedication and concern really moved me. I was allowed to make calls and that eased some pressure. I finished some books also. Once or twice, I was emotionally down but health inspector, Sheebha, and my counsellor, Neeu Prabha, helped me immensely.”