A journalist in Indonesia had never thought that she and the rest of her family would be infected with COVID-19. Hana Puspita and her 20 relatives were tested positive of the virus back in July.
Hana first contracted with the virus after suffering fever and joint ache on July 28. She underwent rapid antibody testing for COVID-19, which showed no reactive results.
Her condition did not improve after undergoing the test. So, she took a second quick test later and got a non-reactive result again even though she had a high fever and a strong cough.
An X-Ray examination then showed white spots on her lungs, causing health workers to list Hana as a possible COVID-19 patient.
After receiving a private treatment at a private hospital, she was later admitted to Tarakan General Hospital in Central Jakarta.
“I don’t know whether it’s a psychosomatic symptom from sharing a room with 10 COVID-19 patients, but my body temperature went up to 40 degrees [Celsius] and my coughing got worse upon arriving at the intensive care unit,” said Hana.
Her father was then passed away on August 8 because of the deadly virus. Unfortunately, she does not know about the news at that time from her relatives because they were afraid that it would affect her condition.
“I only learned about his death on Aug. 12. I cried as hard as I could that day. I was only able to see my father’s body through a picture taken by my doctor,” she said.
Following her father’s death, all of Hana’s relatives who live near her house underwent swab tests.
“All of them, almost 20 people, tested positive, including my mother, my husband and my children. We live near each other. What’s worse was my mother and grandmother were sick and showing symptoms,” added Hana.
She also said that she struggled when staying in an isolation ward alone.
“I wanted to hug my husband and children but I couldn’t,” she continued. Hana was then allowed to go home after her conditions become better, though a final swab test still shows a positive result.
Hana alongside her husband who also tested positive COVID-19 were required to undergo self-isolation at this moment.
Source: The Jakarta Post