Two weeks after being discharged from the Kumaka District Hospital isolation facility, the Secretary of the Santa Rosa Village Council Zebedee Williams is still suffering from the mental effects of being a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient and he is encouraging persons to continue adhering to precautionary measures and rules that have been instituted for their protection.
During an interview with Sunday Stabroek, Williams, 48, revealed that he along with his 23-year-old daughter tested positive for COVID-19 in June. The rest of his family tested negative.
Although he is not certain, Williams believes he might have contracted the disease from an associate who had visited him sometime in June. He recalled that both he and his daughter who tested positive had contact with the associate, who had visited them after visiting someone who was displaying symptoms of COVID-19. However, Williams said, he did not learn this until after going into isolation.
He and his daughter were tested on June 14th and received their results on June 26th and were subsequently taken into isolation.
“I was shocked with my results because I am one of the persons that would’ve followed all the precautionary measures because I’m diabetic and suffer from hypertension and to hear the word positive, it really shocked me and I could not understand it,” he noted.
“It took a toll on me mentally and I could not understand… It really put me in a stressful situation where I could not come to my senses for approximately three days, it wasn’t real for these first three days, I was in a daze,” he further recalled, before reflecting on his good fortune that he ended up being an asymptomatic COVID-19 case.
Williams noted that even before there was an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Moruca sub-district, which has become one of the national hotspots, he was taking measures to ensure that his family was safe. However, after the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Santa Rosa, he went to the extreme and even told relatives to stop visiting his home. He also made some rules for his household, including mask wearing if they went anywhere and sanitising themselves upon their return home.
His response to the virus was informed by his having underlying health conditions. He revealed that when he first heard that he had COVID-19, he thought about the fact that persons with underlying health conditions are extremely vulnerable to the disease and have a higher chance of dying than someone without any underlying health condition.
Following his positive test result, Williams was isolated at the Doctors’ Quarters at the Kumaka District Hospital. He said five other patients were also isolated at that facility. He recalled that although he had the opportunity to speak to his relatives on a daily basis, the “isolation-experience” was very difficult and unpleasant because even though he did not have symptoms, other persons there did.
“I met with people having all the signs and symptoms. They had high fever, severe headache and at one time I witness one of them suffering from respiratory problems. I had to call the doctor to come over quickly to assist that person. The person could not breathe properly and I would not like anybody to reach in the isolation facility in that condition or witness what I saw in there,” he said.
He also stated that some days it was very lonely despite being able to communicate with relatives since no one could communicate with him 24/7.
“When I said earlier that it takes a toll on you psychologically, it’s because COVID-19 do not have a cure and if you die your love ones would not have the opportunity to see you. You will be taken away and you don’t even have a funeral. And in isolation, it’s just you and God in a room watching the four walls,” he added.
He says he knows there are people out there that do not believe that COVID-19 is real and he is saddened by that fact. In Region One, the virus has even been seen as a political ruse.
“I want to say that some persons in Santa Rosa are in denial that COVID-19 is real but I want to advise you, do not go in that direction. COVID-19 is real. Look at me. The only place I don’t wear a mask is at home [but] even home is not safe. Someone can visit you but you don’t know who they socialise with. When I go home from work, I bathe, sanitise myself and I say I’m safe at home but I probably got infected because I allowed someone to visit me. I don’t want anyone to go out there and infect yourself and then go into isolation. It’s not nice. I don’t want you to go there. I beg you protect yourself, protect your families, because sometimes you would not be the lucky one to return home and reunite with your family. It’s a really sad situation and if you’re not strong you will become emotional and be mentally affected,” he added.
Williams spent 14 days in isolation. On the tenth day, he was re-tested. His results were negative and he was tested again after a further three days and those results were also negative. He was subsequently discharged.
“I really want to thank all the medical personnel who worked with me so that I can be negative today and also many thanks to my immediate family, to my wife and children, my friends, all of you have supported me. My time in isolation was not bad but I did not enjoy it and the doctors showed all the care and attention with regards to meals and sanitisation of my room and they did everything to make me feel comfortable. Thanks to the doctors of the Kumaka District Hospital,” he added.
Now, according to Williams, he is ‘okay’ but he is still mentally suffering from his experience in isolation and how easily he could’ve become a victim to the disease. He added that he is happy to be reunited with his family and they are the ones who are helping him get over his experience.
He is encouraging everyone to take the necessary precautions until the disease is eradicated. He also hopes that persons are adhering to the rules that have been instituted to protect them.
