My (Almost) Asymptomatic COVID-19 Experience: How I Ended Up in Hospital Isolation in Australia
As we enter into week 7??—what day is it? of shutdowns and closures (at least in California) “quarantine fatigue” has set in for a lot of people; and as the health crisis in the United States becomes even more politicized, I thought I would share of my COVID-19 Experience and how I ended up in hospital isolation in Australia.
My COVID-19 Experience
As someone who has experienced the pandemic on two opposite sides of the world, I can only speak from my own personal journey of testing positive for the coronavirus in Australia. At first, I thought I was doing my moral duty as a global citizen to go and get tested (even though I had no symptoms at that specific time). I did have a fever the day after my first test. After a few days in hospital isolation, I was all sorts of different emotions... one of them being angry and feeling like I had no rights, which is what small groups of Californians protesting and defying the governor’s orders feel right now.
I had other friends who tested positive who were just told to self-isolate at home for 14 days, but since I was a tourist and the first case in the city, I was told I had no option but to be admitted into the hospital and to stay there until I received two negative tests within 24 hours. I was also told if I tried to leave, there would be a hefty fine. At that point in time, Australia was about 10 days behind the US, slow to start social distancing guidelines and shutdowns. However, when they did implement them, such as the strict 14 day quarantine rules for anyone coming into the country and diligent contact tracing, their bid to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases has now been deemed a success.
Waking up in hospital isolation at Cairns Base Hospital, Queensland at the start of my COVID-19 experience
The hospital was so cold that I wore every piece of warm clothing I had (I had packed for a tropical holiday). I’m so thankful for friends’ care packages!
COVID-19: Australia vs. the US
One stark, glaring difference of the way Australia has handled this pandemic versus the U.S. response is the access to universal healthcare. I did not have to worry about paying a hospital bill and there was testing readily available. There are also less people down under, so social distancing is much easier to implement. The entire population of Australia is about half the number of Californians (roughly 25 million) in a country the size of the entire continental U.S.
In my opinion, the social psyche is different as well in Oz. For instance, the foundation of the United States was built upon rebellion and protecting our personal freedoms, whereas it seems in Australia and other Commonwealth nations, the governments takes care of their citizens (universal healthcare, education, unemployment benefits, etc.) and the national psyche is of being a part of a collective consciousness. I’m not saying any government is perfect by any means, but just an observation from the many times I’ve been in Australia, including a year abroad at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney.
This is the moment I found out I got my second negative test result for COVID-19 and able to leave hospital isolation!
Recovering from COVID-19
Looking back, I can say I was thankful that the Queensland Health Department was strict and did keep me in hospital isolation, even though it wasn’t easy. It was hardest mentally to understand why I had to be in the hospital. My point is, we all know testing is important but contact tracing and isolating/quarantining are also super important, especially for those who may be asymptmatic and not even know they have it, or like me, carry mild symptoms.
I’ve gotten visceral reactions from fearful friends and have been disappointed by a few close friends who have deleted me from their lives, because they deemed my actions as irresponsible, and that saddens me the most. I have chosen to let it go, and choose empathy and kindness over fear. I could have exposed two flights full of people, three airports, and my workplace had I not gone above and beyond by being careful, getting tested, and following the health department’s orders. I’m not saying what I did was anything special, but what I would want anyone else to do as a moral obligation to protect others during this global crisis.
What are the Next Steps Now?
I know there needs to be a balance of taking care of people’s livelihoods and mental health, and to take the proper precautions to save actual lives, but at what cost is it all worth? The ‘wildfire-like’ spread of the COVID-19 (in now potentially different strains) is not going away anytime soon, but we can contain the flames if we follow recommended guidelines, and personally I would think looking at how countries who have had success in flattening the curve have responded. When I spoke to UCLA infectious disease specialist Dr. Otto Yang, he didn't think we could safely open the economy until there is a technological advancement. Many experts say a vaccine is going to take at least 12-18 months if fast-tracked. What are your thoughts are on re-opening the economy and what you think should happen?
What it’s like having COVID-19? Here is my experience with it.
I never imagined I would be a part of a global news story, but here I was in Australia, as the first positive tested case in the city of Cairns, Queensland. As a journalist and documentary filmmaker, I did what I knew best... tell the story. Here's part 1 of my short documentary experiencing the Coronavirus Pandemic on two opposite sides of the world.
Shot, written, produced, edited by Angela Sun (https://angelasun.com) for Chasing A Sun (https://www.chasingasun.com)
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sunnyangela
https://www.instagram.com/chasingasun
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sunnyangela
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunnyangela10/
Additional producing: Jeff Girion
Additional Edit: Chris Gordon
Music provided by: https://www.apmmusic.com
Additional footage credits:
@kat_rollings_weddings/Instagram
London North West University Healthcare/Youtube
Dancer in NYC: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Medical Worker in Plastic: AP Photo/Aaron Favila
The zoom call: Gary Ramage/AFP/Getty
Spiderman video: @TomJauncey @jerometraveller/Instagram
Wedding photo: @vicensfornsphotography/Instagram