Patient zero

It was the month of May 2020. Lockdowns had began a proximately 2 months ago. The restrictions were still continuing. Despite all the restrictions the cases of infection were still rising in my area. It was the end of May when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in my own society complex. It was none other than my upstairs neighbour.

My upstairs neighbour became the patient zero of my society complex. Mr Patient Zero was working with the local municipality to build a state of art facility for COVID-19 patients who were severly ill. Because of this responsibility he was going to the site everyday including the weekends. It was a noble cause for which he was supporting the municipality. Unfortunately because of his work he was exposed to a patient who had caught infection. Hence he also contracted the infection.

Mr Patient Zero in formed my dad that he has been unwell. When we learnt that he has been contracted with the infection it result it in a wave of panic. It was another scenario where we had seen the patients of this deadly infection in the news however nobody in our contacts had been contracted with it. It created panic throughout our society complex. He mentioned that he has been tested positive however he did not have any troublesome symptoms. He was quickly admitted to the hospital for which he was incharge. He promptly received the treatment and within next 5 days he was discharged home.

After him there had been a surge in the infection in our society complex. Each day we were hearing updates from various society members that they are unwell and have requested the test for the infection. We had also been hearing that somebody in the society Complex had contracted the infection and they are either required to be hospitalised or be quarantined.

Everyday was beginning with fear. The fear was of becoming sick and hence the requirement to get hospitalized, isolated, or quarantined. I know it would sound weird but everyday in the evening I would feel a strange irritation in my throat. I would think that maybe I had got the infection. I would drink hot water and sometime later the irritation would disappear. But the panic still remained that what if I am infected or I am a carrier. I was not worried for myself, for I knew that I am fit enough to get recovered. I was more worried towards my elderly parents, for the elderly were at higher risk of catching the infection and subsequent complications. I did not want to be the reason for my parents help complications or any further consequences. Everyday I was praying to the God to save my family from this deadly infection.

Today I can say that my prayers were answered by the God. Throughout the period of the pandemic by the God's grace me and my family never felll ill. We did not catch cough or cold that we generally catch during the seasonal changes. I believe it was nothing but the God's mercy upon us to keep us fit during that difficult time.