I detailed how I tested positive for COVID 19 in my last article and cut it short when I got to my room. So, there I was, feeling okay but not sure what would happen to me. Even if it was day 1 of isolation, I could already feel the loneliness creeping in. Even as my loved ones showered me with messages of hope, I was not feeling okay. But it was an hour after midnight, and it had been a long day. So, I passed out, phone in hand, and to a realm where COVID did not exist.

The following day, I was woken up at about 7 in the morning. The medics took my blood for tests and advised me on what was to come. I was to take my vitamin c supplements every morning and gargle with the mouthwash every day. That was my treatment. Because I was asymptomatic, they could not give me anything. They took my temperature. Nobody said a thing, so I assumed it was good. Again, there was little information provided, and I made my peace with it. I later got my breakfast at around 7:45 and munched on the tea, fruit, and cheese bun.

Now, as much as I did not have symptoms, I was feeling tired. It could have been the heat in the room since I was in a hot place. Or it could have been a COVID symptom. So I let it go and rested, and at around 12, I got my breakfast. Later, I had a snack before getting my dinner at around 6. They ensured that we had fruit with every meal and the meals were quite well balanced. This was to be my schedule for the weeks that I remained here.

• Breakfast at 7 with a temperature check
• Lunch a few minutes to noon
• A snack at 3
• Dinner a few minutes to 6 pm

Additionally, I was to:

• Clean my room using the supplies provided
• Change my bedding every 3 days and leave it in a plastic bag outside my room
• Dispose of the plastic cutlery in a bin outside the room
• Sanitize each time I left and entered the room
• Wear my mask each time I had my temperature check

Interaction with other patients was not allowed. However, our doors were at least two meters apart, and we occasionally chatted as we waited for our meals. It was interesting to see how little they also knew about the situation. We would smile at each other, comment about the weather and discuss what the doctor had said to us.

Week 1: Coming to terms with COVID 19

I was feeling upbeat, and as much as I did not like that I was in quarantine, I made the most of it. I woke up feeling cheery, shared memes with my family, and spent the day watching movies. Occasionally, I would doze off and would be woken up at mealtime. The first 7 days went by like that because I was sure that I would be leaving in two weeks. After all, I thought that COVID worked like clockwork, and it would be gone in 14 days. So, I counted each day as it passed. At the end of the week, I had another PCR test. Honestly, if I could go through life without having had another PCR test, I would be good. My results came back- I was still positive. The doctor asked if I felt okay. ‘Okay’ meant that I had no fever, no cough, no chills, or gastrointestinal problems. I was okay, but I did not feel like me. I was tired but able to do everything by myself. So, it was probably the weather. I texted my family the news, and they told me it would be fine. What more could they say?

Week 2: The Calm Stage

By the 8^th day, I was excited about leaving quarantine. 6 more days, I told myself. Now, here is the part they may not tell you about being in isolation. Seeing other people leaving makes it worse. At first, it was one person, then another. Then the country canceled flights, so no more people were coming into the country. That meant that we would no longer be getting new people in quarantine, and soon enough, we would be alone. It started getting eerie at some point, haunted even. The following 7 days were not as easy as I thought they would be. I was tired, could barely concentrate on work, and spent most of the time watching movies. The mealtime routine was now getting on my nerves. I didn’t particularly appreciate being woken up at 7 to have my meals, nor did I enjoy having my nap interrupted because of snack time. But this was quarantine. I could not precisely point at what I wanted in the menu and say, “bring this at 5.” I ate when other people ate- that was the rule. The medics were not here to set up a five-course luncheon. On day 14, I went through the PCR test again. The results came back- I was positive.

It was nighttime when I finally got the results, and I was beyond shocked. I could not believe that I was not leaving the next day. I had already made plans on where I was going to stay. In my head, the ordeal was supposed to be over by now. The doctor said something about my antibodies, and I just stared at the text. This time I did not have any funny memes to share with my family. I was out of it and just wanted to sleep. I cried myself to sleep, feeling the walls closing in on me. More people had left quarantine, and we were now about 7 people left. Soon enough, I would be alone because my body had betrayed me. It has not won against the virus.

Week 3: My Breaking Point

The third week was extremely tasking on my mental wellness. My family could feel that I was slowly losing my zeal for putting on a brave face. I did not feel like myself. I was tired. So, the doctor told me that we would try another test on day 17. I told myself that by this time, my body would have healed. The recommendations were to drink enough water, stay out in the sun, and ensure you protect yourself. But I had done all of this, and yet, I was still positive. To make matters worse, the guests around me were healing and leaving. The thought of being alone was stressing me, and I was not feeling it at all.

The 3 days that followed were not so bad. I kept telling myself that this time, my body would be triumphant. Then, on day 17, the medics were at it again, poking around my nose and getting the sample. At night, I received the news: I was still positive! This time, I could not hide it. I bawled all night, unable to contain myself. Why was this happening? I could barely talk to my family and told my mum that I did not have it in me to hold a conversation. I needed to cry. All these tests were now getting to me. I had so many questions for my doctor?

Why was I not healing? Each body is different, and healing times vary.

Could they give me any treatment? Unfortunately, I was not sick, so they could not give me anything.

How long would I be in quarantine? They did not know.

Every answer was vague and something that I would have found online. As I slept that night, exhausted from crying, I was feeling hopeless. I had another test scheduled on day 20, but I did not even want to think about it.

The next day, my mom arranged a counseling session for me. At the time, I was feeling better and told the therapist as much. It was an arduous ordeal, but I was now regaining hope. But, of course, I was still scared that I would be alone in quarantine, just me and this virus.

On day 18, I received some good news. My bloodwork had come back, and they would now allow me to leave quarantine on one condition- that I stayed isolated for 7 more days at home. I was no longer infectious, but they wanted to ensure that I was not in contact with other people. You should have seen the disbelief and joy on my face. Of course, I had a PCR test due in a week, but that did not bother me. I was about to be free, and I could not believe how lucky I was. As I hurriedly packed my things and left, I had no idea that this virus was still working inside me. The fatigue I had felt in quarantine was but a taste of what was to come. But who could have known? Even if you had told me that as I waltzed out of my room and into freedom, I would not have believed you.

With love,

Dee