I’m back in SG and am serving 14 days of self-isolation. Was trying to recall and make sense of it all. Decided to make it into a Twitter thread. This is my personal experience, of a Singaporean living in the UK who decided to head back to SG. 1/
23 Jan: UK->SG for Chinese New Year. 1st SG case confirmed. Visits & meet-ups went on pretty much as usual. Haunted by SARS, in the following weeks we slowly began to take precautions; buying hand sanitisers & masking up. 2/
6 Feb: 3rd UK case. Man from Brighton contracted it in SG. SG steadily climbing up the list, ranking 3rd (after 🇨🇳&🇯🇵) with 40 cases. Intensive contact tracing & testing began. I wasn’t sure how I would be treated when I returned to the UK. 7 Feb: SG’s DORSCON alert Orange. 3/
8 Feb: SG->UK. Temp checks at Changi. Took precautions on flight (mask, sanitiser). Arrived at LHR. No temp check; no health declaration; no alert for someone who'd just arrived from SG. It was surreal. I took off my mask & and made my way back home. Felt uneasy. 4/
10 Feb: Back to work. As an extra precaution, org & I decided that I won't do any clinical work that week since I work with vulnerable populations. Was welcomed into the office (as I presented no symptoms and was to be in good health) to help with admin work. 5/
For the next 14 days: Remained on alert, taking temperature and monitoring self. Was my feet cold coz of a fever or was it just cold in this house? Am I coughing or was it because I ate Nutella on bread? Finally breathed easy near end-Feb. Had a few weeks of normalcy. 6/
3 Mar: SG student in London punched after coronavirus taunts. Sparks of racism in US. Parents were worried. I told them I was well-taken care of here and people are still smiling. Made mental note to probably not wear a mask. 7/
13 Mar: Jaw dropped to hear “UK is 4 weeks behind Italy”, “Mitigation” and “Herd Immunity”. Grew increasingly worried at inadequate measures. Bought 3 months' supply of Vitamin C & a box of paracetamol. 🇸🇬 & 🇹🇼friends asked me for my address so that they can send me supplies) 8/
14 Mar: Bro asked if I wanted to come home. Told him I’m preparing to ride it out + am stocking supplies. Figured I won’t die since young + ok lungs. Called parents to say “You will receive increasingly worrying news over next few weeks but I am prepared and have been careful” 9/
Spent weekend deep cleaning & sunning instruments. Over the following week, careful w/handwashing, wiping down, limiting instruments, removing songsheets (finger lickers!), safe distancing at sessions. Asked SG MTs about mask-usage. Mental note to start wearing once received 10/
16 Mar: Suggest mask wearing to some colleagues, and asked if I could start wearing them. Colleagues suggested I follow my settings' guidelines (no masks) and offered theory that masks may accumulate viruses. Told them I understood but wanted to voice out my worries anyway. 11/
17 Mar: Read Imperial College report & concluded 0% chance of me accessing NHS if I fall sick+I'm foreigner & Chinese. Met officer cleaner in evening (went in to burn CD for carehome in case I can't enter anymore) who said me he’s never seen the pub so full on a Tue night. 12/
Told supervisor I am seriously considering returning to Singapore for the time being. Organisation was supportive and understood my need to be with family and friends. Meanwhile SGreans in other bigger orgs were still trying to seek approval. Felt immensely grateful. 13/
20 Mar: Spent night before reading Chinese & English news about COVID19 experiences. Realised symptoms are not mild. Someone described it like drowning. Decided that shit was definitely hitting the fan, just not sure when. Bought a BA ticket for 28 Mar, one week to sort work. 14/
21 Mar: Wondered if I had over-reacted. Told Mum I might change my mind. Dad, who has been saying “I respect and will support whatever decision you make”, is now telling me he is losing sleep, cannot focus, and please come back. I broke down & made up my mind to go back. 15/
22 Mar: Packing up in advance. Found bag received through Freecycle; offered to return. Told me she has been in isolation due to vulnerable health. Returned bag with sanitiser¶cetamol; chatted on phone while blowing kisses through window, waving, dancing, crying. 16/
23 Mar: SQ called to offer me a ticket. I said “I already bought a BA ticket for Sat”. Very nearly hung up when I blurted “Can you offer me a ticket? When?” She said “tonight”. I hesitated & asked “How about tomorrow night?” Ticket booked. Doorbell rang and presents arrived. 17/
Parcels of wipes, masks and anti-virus tags. Did I mention it was my birthday? Someone sent me a singing birthday message. I crumbled into a mess and cried. Then I sorted my mini stockpile and dropped boxes outside friends’ houses. Left some for my landlady who works in NHS. 18/
24 Mar: Prepared to leave home. Took out the trash. Neighbour was having a visitor w/child for playdate. Too tired to care. Bro said "You have 1 job now. Come back alive". Went on autopilot. On the plane, realised my hands were red and burning from handwashing & sanitising. 19/
25 Mar: Arrived in SG. Escorted in small groups to be swabbed, as recent no. of import cases from returning Singaporeans from UK & US were high. Thereafter issued with 14-day Stay at Home Notice. Went to pre-booked hotel (parents are old). Awaiting test results. [The end].
@threadreaderapp unroll, please thank you.
