- Akhil Ennamsetty, COVID-19 Survivor
“My decision to return to India was unintended. I am pursuing my Masters in Human Rights from Univerisity of Edinburgh in U.K. After the novel coronavirus broke out, the British government eventually introduced new social distancing measures due to rapid increase in the number of cases.
On the 16th of March, I was in the middle of a conference when I recieved a notice from Indian Embassy which stated that no flights from U.K. or Europe would be allowed to land in India after the 18th of March for a while due to the virus outbreak. To check the authenticity of the news, I forwarded that message to my cousin who was in India. Once we found out that the news was true, he immediately booked a flight ticket for the 17th.
I packed my bags and took a train to London from Edinburgh that night and the next morning, I took flight from London to Mumbai. While traveling, I had a suspicion that I could be asymptomatic. Even though I was showing no symptoms at all, I wasn’t ready to take any risk which would put my loved ones and infact, the entire society in danger. So I called up my parents and friends and asked them not to come to the airport. I made it clear to them that I was not going to meet them until I got my tests done.
After I reached Mumbai, I took a flight to Hyderabad and arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport ( RGIA) in the wee hours of 19th March. Upon arrival, I went straight to the health desk at RGIA. I explained my travel history and my health condition to them, following which I was instructed to go home and practice self-isolation. They also told me to go to Gandhi Hospital if I had any doubts. So I checked into a hotel to spend the next few hours. I explained the hotel staff about my travel history and asked them not to come into my room. I did not even use the washroom in the hotel.
I went to Gandhi Hospital in the morning and got all the tests done voluntarily after explaining my travel history. Even though I was confident that my reports would prove negative as I showed no symptoms at all, but to my surprise, I was tested positive the next morning. As soon as I was told about my result, I informed the authorities about my hotel stay and requested them to get the room sanitised.
I was admitted in the isolation ward at Gandhi Hospital. Luckily, my chain of contact confirmed that no one else needed to be isolated as I had taken all precautions to not meet anyone post my arrival in India. I was aware that there is no definite treatment for this newborn viral disease. It’s all dependent on one’s immunity and resistance. Both good and bad times have to be dealt with and I finally won the battle! I successfully tested negative on 2nd April and got discharged.
Thanks to the incredible support from the medical staff, I was provided with the best possible healthcare facilities. The isolation wards at Gandhi Hospital are maintained with utmost hygiene. The hazmat suits and bed sheets used by Covid-19 patients were changed every day. They disinfect all the corners of the ward and clean all the bathrooms everyday. I was provided with freshly packed Indian meals everyday along with boiled egg, fruits and nuts. My daily activities included talking to family and friends on phone and I also listened to online lectures as we were provided with Wifi in the hospital. I even worked on my project with the Clinton Foundation to keep myself occupied during my stay at the hospital.
Finally, as first-hand advice to people, I would like to say that Coronavirus is not a regular viral infection as believed by many. It can be asymptomatic too. People infected with COVID-19 do not necessarily show any symptoms. That was the case with me as well as many other positive subjects. Not showing any symptoms doesn’t mean this is easy to handle. This virus can take over your body’s immune system and turn fatal. So it’s necessary for everyone to act responsibly and practice social distancing for a while even after the lockdown ends.
Anyone who has returned from a highly affected region or come in contact with one such person must be extra careful. Getting admitted to a hospital for this disease is no shame, rather it’s only a matter of pride as you are saving countless lives around you. Think, and act. If not now, never is the chance!”
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