‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me because they won’t test me’

AS confirmed cases of coronavirus rise in Scotland, many people across the city are self-isolating in accordance with government advice.

But what does it actually feel like to self-isolate?

Olivia Espie, 22, from Bridgeton, pictured, has been self-isolating with her partner Christopher Love and her three-month-old baby, Romi.

She told us: “On Tuesday I was at my mums and all of a sudden I felt really ill. I fell asleep for an hour and when I woke up I had a sore throat. I went to bed that night and woke up in horrific amounts of pain with my throat.

“I tried to take medicine but nothing was helping. I called the doctors the next morning and they told me not to worry that it was coronavirus.

“That night I woke up again and started coughing and wheezing. Something didn’t feel right and I phoned back with a different doctor. Everything is over the phone with my practise and overnight they told me anyone with any of the symptoms was to self-isolate for seven days.”

Olivia says although she has not been tested, she is scared at the thought she may have coronavirus.

“I feel significantly worse, but I don’t know what it is because they won’t test me. I’m unwell, but I’m not allowed to see my doctor. It’s not a runny nose, it’s something more sinister,” she said.

“I’m thinking about it in the back of my mind in terms of Romi and keeping supplies stocked for her. I can’t go out and get nappies or formula.

“I can’t get my head round self-isolating. It’s something we’ve never experienced before. I think it’s unusual, and you have to reprogramme yourself from thinking you can do everything you used to do. It’s a bit jarring.”

Madeleine Dunne, who is also self-isolating, said the government had to do more.

“It’s ridiculous. I don’t know if I have coronavirus or an infected rib from a past wound because they won’t test me,” she explained.

“It’s a really difficult situation, especially if you are older or have underlying health issues.

“I was paranoid at first but now I’m quite worried. I think that there needs to be more clarity over the symptoms and information so that we know what it looks like to actually have coronavirus.”