What are coronavirus isolation wards like? Here are first-hand experiences
Quarantine, isolation wards, and coronavirus are perhaps the three most searched words in recent days. While the last one is the real monster, having killed more than 6,000 people globally, isolation wards aren't that nasty and neither is it bad to quarantine oneself. With fear taking over Indians about the hygiene in isolation wards, people who have been there revealed their not-so-bad experiences.
Why isolation wards are necessary to defeat coronavirus?
Now, COVID-19, the disease caused by a coronavirus, is highly contagious and transmits from one person to another through respiratory droplets. Since it has symptoms like flu, infected people don't immediately understand the severity of the situation. Once they do, they are lodged in isolation wards to prevent the transmission. The lesser the transmission, the easier it will be to deal with the virus.
Rather than staying put, patients are escaping isolation wards
Following the protocol, several hospitals are keeping patients in isolation wards but have to face resistance as some of them are fleeing. In Bihar's Darbhanga, a suspected patient fled from the hospital while he was being taken to one such ward. In Kerala, a 56-year-old man from Haryana gave authorities a slip but was later traced. More such reports are flowing in every day.
People who visited isolation wards have good things to say
The hysteria surrounding wards might stop people from getting themselves tested, making matters worse. The fear, as it turns out, is baseless, suggest two men who have been in isolation wards. One man, named Rohit Dutta, who was Delhi's first coronavirus case, described the ward at Safdarjung Hospital as a luxury hotel, whereas blogger Shakir Subhan said his experience in Kerala's ward was phenomenal.
Dutta had access to Netflix, read 'Chanakya Niti', called family
Dutta, who makes technical textiles for tips of shoes, traveled to Italy in mid-February where he contracted the virus along with his two brothers-in-law. Four other members of his family were infected in Agra, and all seven of them were discharged this Saturday. He had Netflix access, would video-call his family members, and didn't feel isolated. He will now stay in 14-day home quarantine.
He was scared he might die, doctors comforted him
"When I first tested positive, I was scared. It's a new disease and I thought I might die. But the doctors came in and explained that I had mild symptoms - just a cough and fever - and was likely to recover," he told HT.
Health Minister called on Holi, asking Dutta about his well-being
On Holi, Dutta received a call from Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, asking how he was feeling and whether he liked the food. "He said that he and the PM were personally monitoring the condition of all the COVID-19 patients. Imagine the health minister of the country calling! I am a common man," he added. When he thanked nurses and cleaning staff, they told him they were just doing their duties.
Isolation ward is not a 2X2 room without sunlight
"There is no need to be scared. It is just like normal flu. If a healthy person reaches the doctor, our health system is well-equipped, one of the best in the world. Isolation ward is not like a two-by-two cell without sunlight," he told NDTV.
Separately, a blogger appreciated all that the government was doing
Dutta plans to use his experience to bust myths about isolation wards. Before Dutta gave several interviews about his experience, Shakir Subhan, chronicled his journey to one such ward at Kannur government hospital. In a 23-minute-long video, Shakir emphasized that taking precautions is not bad. He added that people shouldn't worry as the government was "far ahead".
Patients aren't surrounded by doctors, said Shakir
"I thought I would be made to lie in the bed and be surrounded by doctors. It's not like that. No tension at all! I wouldn't mind lying there (isolation ward) for 15 days," Shakir, who runs the channel Mallu Traveler on YouTube, said.
Shakir said everyone should take precautions seriously
Shakir, who eventually tested negative for the virus, advised NRIs to visit hospitals if they experience any symptoms. "Be serious about the precautions you have to take, such as wearing masks, avoiding public functions and washing hands. But you don't need to be afraid of the disease," he said in the video. The old saying, prevention is better than cure, never made more sense!
