Thread by @abc730

What happens when you actually contract #coronavirus? Bridget Wilkins was one of the first confirmed cases in Australia and the past 24 days have been a rough ride for the 29-year-old. #abc730 @GraceTobin @LauraFrancis9 #COVID19AU

“It was quite scary when I got that phone call. I’ll be honest the first question I asked the doctor on the phone was am I going to die? Which sounds a bit dramatic but at that stage I didn’t really know what coronavirus was.” Bridget Wilkins. #coronavirus #abc730 #COVID19AU

“The first four to six days was quite mild in terms of symptoms, I had things you’d have normally when you have a flu or a cold - sore throat, headache, bit of a chesty cough, but nothing too serious.” Bridget Wilkins, #coronavirus patient. #abc730 #COVID19AU

Her condition then deteriorated with days 8-10 of isolation the hardest. “I became very, very fatigued and I had quite intense headaches and a level of chest pain ... I felt like I was 80 years old.” Bridget Wilkins, #coronavirus patient. #abc730 #COVID19AU

On day 12 Bridget Wilkins returned a second consecutive negative test result and she was finally released from hospital on Tuesday afternoon. #abc730 #coronavirus #COVID19

“Now I have no coronavirus in my system, I’m not infectious and I’m not contagious according to medical advice which is nice. I asked, am I free to go back out in the world and they said, yes.” Bridget Wilkins, #coronavirus patient. #abc730 #covid19australia