Added fear for people with health conditions
PEOPLE with chronic health conditions have spoken of their fears about the coronavirus.
Adrian Owens, an 81-year-old from Porthcawl, stressed his concern at being unable to purchase any hand sanitiser as a person who could be more severely affected by the virus.
Adrian, who has a number of health conditions including asthma, polymyalgia, and a heart problem, said he was concerned after hearing the condition has the most impact on people like himself.
He said: “I went to Boots and they didn’t have any left and they told me they would have a delivery at 8.30am on Monday, but I can’t be out that early because of my conditions.
“It’s hard because by the time I get there they would be all gone. I only want one that I can share with my wife, just one.
“People say they should look after the elderly but if these things aren’t available to me then how can they?
“What can I do? I have tried everything,” he added.
The virus is not just worrying those with respiratory issues.
Elis Power, 26, has a heart condition, and he is worried about the unknown impact on people like him.
As the virus is relatively new, Elis, from Bridgend, said there is a lot of uncertainty over how it will affect them.
“It doesn’t really affect me day to day, it is a genetic condition which affects the heart muscle,” explained Elis, whose dad died from the same condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopethy, when Elis was just three.
“I am worried because we don’t know how this will affect people with my condition, it is bad enough when we have the flu.”
Elis, who works for South Wales Police, added: “I know a lot of people with this condition, and when we are ill it just amplifies our symptoms.
“If you’re ill your heart will work harder and it is the not knowing what that will do which worries me.”
Elis said he is following the usual precautions of washing his hands with soap as often as possible, joking that he would have bought hand sanitiser if he could find any.