'It was a very frightening experience' - locals talk about their Covid-19 experience

Many local people have tested positive for Covid-19 and have had very different experiences of the virus.
The most recent figures available indicate 300 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Tipperary. A total of 1,070 tests had been carried out at the community testing site set up by the HSE at the Derg Centre in Nenagh last Monday morning. A breakdown of the number of these tests that returned a positive result is not available; the figure does not include tests carried out in the community by the National Ambulance Service.
A frontline healthcare worker employed in Nenagh is among those fortunate to have made a successful recovery after testing positive for Covid-19. The woman, who is in her 50s, was tested after she reported her symptoms of a bad headache, dry cough, lack of energy and body pains to her GP. Because of where she worked, her case was fast-tracked and she had her test and result in the space of four days.
The woman told of her shock at learning that she had contracted the dreaded coronavirus.
“It was like somebody hit me with a tonne of bricks,” she said. “Somebody could have shot me. I was just so scared.”
The woman had started her 14 days of self-isolation along with her husband, who used different parts of the house and managed to avoid getting the virus. All she could do was rest up and take paracetamol. Though she began to feel better during the second week, on the Wednesday of that week her symptoms suddenly worsened.
“It felt like I had the whole thing all over again,” she said. “It was a very frightening experience.”
Thankfully, at the start of the third week she made a dramatic improvement and she has since returned to work. She said the hardest part of the ordeal was the house confinement, which she described as a tough mental challenge, though she soon became used to the situation.
In reflection, the healthcare worker is all too aware that she is lucky to have survived her bout with Covid-19. She hoped her experience might encourage others to heed the advice of the Government and health officials for people who might be less fortunate.
“Do as you are told and it won’t spread any further,” she advised. “If you show any kind of symptoms associated with it, you need to self-isolate and get tested. You’re only spreading it otherwise.”
She said people have nothing to fear from test process itself, which was the same sentiment expressed by a local husband and wife who also recently discovered that they both had Covid-19.
Living in a village outside Nenagh, the couple spoke of a good setup at the Derg Centre, where their drive-through test was conducted by friendly, efficient staff. There was no waiting at the site and the whole process was concluded well inside 10 minutes.
Aged in their 60s and 70s, the couple found out they had coronavirus after the man arranged an appointment for another medical issue at Limerick hospital. His doctor recommended that he get tested as a precaution.
The man does not recall any symptoms other than a problem with his eye, which cleared up the next morning, and a brief shortness of breath. His wife also had few symptoms to report; she was running a temperature one night but this subsided the following day.
In any case, the couple followed the requisite instructions and began cocooning at their home. This went on for a month. But they did not find it difficult, relying on the support of good neighbours to bring them whatever they required.
“The weather was so good and that was a big help -  we were able to go out into the garden,” the woman said. “We watched lots of television and we did things like playing cards - things we hadn’t done in a long time. And we really enjoyed it!” 
They also kept in touch with friends and family using social media.
 “Looking back on it, the time flew!” her husband said. “I think we are lucky to not to be living out in the countryside and we are so fortunate in the neighbours we have.”
Their only real concern was the length of time they had to wait for the test results; he was waiting 10 days while his wife had to wait 19 days before being informed of the result. They were somewhat surprised to learn that they had tested positive, considering that their symptoms were so mild. 
With hindsight, they are glad that their experience of Covid-19 was not as serious as many others’, and they too remain hopeful that people in general will continue to adhere to the national directives.
“The main thing is not to be spreading it to other people. I know it’s not that easy for some people, but we would hope that people listen to the advice and do the right thing.”