How girl with coronavirus ensured family was spared
ASMA ALAM WAS ASYMPTOMATIC, BUT SPENT THREE WEEKS IN QUARANTINE
Asma says her brush with disease has made her even more cautious
When 21-yearold Asma Alam tested positive for Covid-19, she was both surprised and grateful. She lives with her parents and five siblings in Abu Dhabi. So how were the others spared?
“I was asymptomatic the entire time, but I spent nearly three weeks in quarantine, away from my family,” the Bangladeshi accountant said. “More importantly, everyone else in my family continues to remain healthy.”
Asma was first tested along with her colleagues on May 23, and then again on June 2. She tested positive both times, and after the second screening, she was directed to a hospital.
“I was first asked to come down to a public clinic along with my personal belongings. There, after a few checks, I was told that I would be staying at a hotel in Abu Dhabi,” she said.
The UAE made things very comfortable for patients like me, and perhaps because of my age and general health, the condition itself was not burdensome.”
Asma Alam | Bangladeshi accountant who beat Covid
For the young professional, the quarantine period felt like a brief retreat, albeit a slightly lonely one at times. “The UAE made things very comfortable for patients like me, and perhaps because of my age and general health, the condition itself was not burdensome,” Asma said.
Staying in touch
She stayed in touch with her family — her parents, four sisters and a brother — through video conferencing apps, and spent much of her time watching TV shows or studying to develop her career skills.
“It was a sort of a break for me. I got regular meals, didn’t have any responsibilities, and was able to spend time relaxing. On hindsight, I am acutely aware that numerous people had it a lot worse,” Asma said, referring to many of her colleagues who were really run down by the disease.
Worried about family
Her father is diabetic, so Asma was doubly worried.
“We had been cautious since the start of the pandemic, and had always worn masks when leaving the house. So it was a surprise for me when I was diagnosed, and I hoped no one else in my family would be similarly affected. After all, I do share a room with my sisters. I just kept praying that there would be no other Covid-19 cases in my family,” she said.
Stress-free recovery
Fortunately, there was no other bad news while she stayed in quarantine at the hotel, being tested every two days. And this allowed Asma to stay largely stress-free.
“After about 15 days, when I was still Covid-19 positive, I was escorted to a field hospital. Things were less luxurious there, but still very comfortable. Then, after five days, I finally had two negative Covid-19 results, and was allowed to go home,” Asma said.