My covid-19 experience.
A thread.
I live in Anna Nagar West, Chennai.
Only my mom goes out twice a week to buy groceries within 500 m radius.
She took utmost care by wearing mask and avoiding crowded stores.
But as life is unfair, she got the symptoms on the night of 9 May.
A thread.
I live in Anna Nagar West, Chennai.
Only my mom goes out twice a week to buy groceries within 500 m radius.
She took utmost care by wearing mask and avoiding crowded stores.
But as life is unfair, she got the symptoms on the night of 9 May.
She had fever, cough and body pains intermittently and was convinced it's cuz of her eating a chilled mango. My bro too had a fever during a night but recovered soon. On 11th night, she had a temp. of 102 which prompted me to take her to a pvt lab to get her tested for covid-19.
We were sure it'd be -ve but the lab sent an email saying she is POSITIVE. We were devastated cuz we didn't know how she got it. We are a family of 4. Mom ,grandma, me and my bro.(And a dog). We were more worried about grandma cuz she is 81 yr old diabetic and heart patient.
I called TN covid helpline and they asked me to go to the nearest govt hospital to report. I went to KMC covid OPD and waited for 45 mins. Meanwhile there were nearly 30 people outside the OP. I asked the security who told me they were all positive patients waiting ...
... for the allotment of beds in covid ward. I was scared to see a tea stall opp. to the OP where 3 people inside the shop didn't wear a mask.
Finally my mom went inside and told her condition to a doc. He checked her temp which was 99. He said she is a mild case of covid...
Finally my mom went inside and told her condition to a doc. He checked her temp which was 99. He said she is a mild case of covid...
.. and asked her to home quarantine.
When she told him there are 3 more people in the home and was sure they'd be positive, he said to get them tested only when they show symptoms. He gave nos. to inform corporation and prescribed meds like vits, amox and para only.
When she told him there are 3 more people in the home and was sure they'd be positive, he said to get them tested only when they show symptoms. He gave nos. to inform corporation and prescribed meds like vits, amox and para only.
He also said many of the docs are positive but not tested... Many people are positive but not tested. He was very cool and told my mom not to worry and self isolate at home.
I have contacted @chennaicorp to report. Hopefully they'll sanitize our area tomorrow.
I have contacted @chennaicorp to report. Hopefully they'll sanitize our area tomorrow.
So here's what I understand:
1. Community transmission is rampant in Chennai.
2. There's under-reporting of cases for sure. My family was asked to get tested only when we start showing symptoms.
3. The contact tracing is a joke cuz there is none.
4. The outside of covid OPD is..
1. Community transmission is rampant in Chennai.
2. There's under-reporting of cases for sure. My family was asked to get tested only when we start showing symptoms.
3. The contact tracing is a joke cuz there is none.
4. The outside of covid OPD is..
.. horrible. Positive patients were in groups outside until allotment of beds. And normal people were roaming without proper masks unknowingly very close to the patients.
5. No hydroxychloroquine or zinc prescribed to the patient or the caregiver. #Covid_19india #TNCoronaUpdate
5. No hydroxychloroquine or zinc prescribed to the patient or the caregiver. #Covid_19india #TNCoronaUpdate
Update 3: Mom's chest X ray result is promising. So she is being taken to a different covid care centre for milder cases (pvt engg. clg) to monitor for 2 days. If the result was worse she would have been taken to a covid hospital (Stanley). Thank you all for your wishes.
Appreciation: I want to thank @chennaicorp & @chennaipolice_ people who are being very helpful during our plight. They have been calling every few hours to check and give moral support. Promised me that they'll take care of my mom at the centre.
Update 4: Unfortunately my grandma and brother are turned out to be positive while I'm negative. They are going to be taken in ambulance to covid care centre for tests. I'll keep you all posted.
Update 5: Grandma & bro were taken to KMC and their Chest X rays are normal. Yet both will be kept in PG hostel for monitoring... then to be screened after 2 days.. if everything is good, they will be transferred to a covid care centre (pvt college) for few more days.
Update 6: My mom's symptoms are little bit on worsening side (Continuous dry cough and slight fever), but she's strong. They are gonna shift her to Stanley hospital for a day so that she can be monitored and given appropriate medicines. Then she will be back to covid care centre
Appreciation 2: The patients at covid care centres and hospitals are given good care & good food. They keep on giving nutritious food and hot drinks every few hours along with facility for steaming. Thanks @Vijayabaskarofl @DrBeelaIAS @chennaicorp @CMOTamilNadu 
Update 7: Since grandma is a high risk case based on factors like age, diabetes and cardiac conditions, doctors asked her to stay there in the ward for 10 days. This is according to the new ICMR discharge guidelines which categories patients into...
1. Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases:
Patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and after displaying no fever for 3 days. No need for testing prior to discharge.
The patient will be advised to follow home isolation for a further 7 days after discharge.
Patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and after displaying no fever for 3 days. No need for testing prior to discharge.
The patient will be advised to follow home isolation for a further 7 days after discharge.
2. Moderate cases:
Same as above
3. Severe cases:
The patient tested negative once by RT-PCR after the resolution of symptoms.
Same as above
3. Severe cases:
The patient tested negative once by RT-PCR after the resolution of symptoms.
Earlier guidelines for discharge of confirmed cases were:
(a) chest radiograph has been cleared (b) 2 consecutive negative test results on rt-PCR
This is a change from test based strategy to symptom/ time based strategy.
(a) chest radiograph has been cleared (b) 2 consecutive negative test results on rt-PCR
This is a change from test based strategy to symptom/ time based strategy.
The reason is ICMR lab surveillance data showed that after the initial rt-PCR +ve results, patients became -ve after a median duration of 10 days. Another 7 days of home isolation is for additional safety. So it's 10+ 7 days.
That's why we see high recovery rates nowadays.
That's why we see high recovery rates nowadays.
Update 8: Mom is recovering well with the medications given at Stanley.. may be discharged from there in 2 to 3 days and will be sent back to covid care centre.
Update 9: All covid 19 patients in KMC were given a form and tested again tonight. Except my grandma and brother! cuz they made both to change rooms twice but they didn't update the room number when they changed it even for the 1st time...
...Since they didn't update, their forms weren't ready, so no tests. They said they'd bring the forms tomorrow and immediately left, without even asking the names. Hopefully they do it tomorrow ASAP.
Last update: By God's grace, all my family members are discharged and back home today. To be honest, I was scared inside like anything while pretending to be brave outside for the sake of them...
They had few difficulties. Grandma wasn't given a wheelchair from her ward room to ambulance citing there's none available. She has chronic heart failure & gets shortness of breath by even taking few steps more. So I am very careful in handling her right now so that ..
..she doesn't get sick by this condition.
My mom wasn't given medicines on discharge & told her to get them from pharmacy.
Yet I'm very happy today cuz we fought corona. My grandma is a fighter. Given her age & health conditions, she had the will to fight this & she won it!
My mom wasn't given medicines on discharge & told her to get them from pharmacy.
Yet I'm very happy today cuz we fought corona. My grandma is a fighter. Given her age & health conditions, she had the will to fight this & she won it!
My family is currently isolating in a room, while I'm in a different room taking all the precautions to protect myself. We'll be in home isolation for few more days. Thank you all for your prayers. Stay safe. This too shall pass.
