Tshwane nurse, warns: take Covid-19 seriously
Health worker Devinah Xelelo has no idea how she contracted Covid-19.
The nurse, 46, from Mabopane said she always used proper protective equipment when at work at South Rand Hospital in Joburg. Over weekends, or when not working, she returns home in the city.
Xelelo travels in her own car. “I honestly can’t tell where I got the virus,” she said.
“It was on Monday, June 29, and remember I had been home in Mabopane at the weekend. In the morning while preparing to go to work, I suddenly felt very tired after I had taken a bath.
“My chest was so tight. However, I forced myself to go to work and had a very long and busy day. I knew about coronavirus symptoms, but was somehow in denial.
“That night I could not sleep. The next thing I started to cough. My throat was very dry and painful. I then had no sense of smell and taste and my joints became weak. I also experienced nose bleeding and was sneezing continuously. This was followed by extreme fever, chill and a terrible headache and backache.”
The next day – a Tuesday – Xelelo spent the day sleeping at her hospital residence and crying uncontrollably. “It really affected me so badly while I was alone in my room.”
On the Wednesday, she managed to get out of bed and made her way to work. On arriving, her manager advised her to consult a doctor. “I then went to Casualty to see a doctor and a Covid-19 test was done. I kind of knew what to expect and it was very scary; I knew that people were dying because of this virus.
“I was stressed, scared and feeling sick. I did not hear the doctor when he said I should go back to work while I waited for results. But instead I went straight to my room and slept, preparing myself for death. Needless to say, the results came back positive.”
With her worst fears confirmed, Xelelo began self-isolating. “I didn’t want to infect more people. During the entire time, my family was very supportive, especially my husband, brother, younger sister and aunt. These people gave me the reason to live on and fight and defeat the virus.”
Read the full story on: IOL.