As part of his ongoing I Spent a Day With… series, Anthony Padilla spent a day with coronavirus survivors.
In the first of a series of videos around coronavirus, Anthony chats with Carl Goldman, Katy Hodges and and Naome.
Carl was a passenger aboard the Princess Diamond cruise ship and describes his experience of being quarantined onboard a plane with others who were on the cruise. He then describes being put in a bio-containment room and isolated for a total of 10 days.
“No one entered it without a full hazmat suit,” he recalls. “They looked like Neil Armstrong landing on the moon.” Upon his return home, he took another 14 days of quarantine – despite no longer being contagious – for the comfort of others.
Katy describes not leaving her bed for three days with the illness, whilst Naome admits she was incapacitated for two weeks with the disease. They then discuss the lack of awareness surrounding COVID-19 prior to them contracting it.
“I feel like America didn’t really make it seem like it was really going to be a big issue for us,” Katy explains. “Everyone just kind of thought that it wasn’t going to reach us or that it was going to be handled and not to freak out.”
“I didn’t really take it seriously,” Naome admits.
Carl explains the responses following him contracting the disease, including death threats from those who feared his return home, and Katy discusses the shame her partner experienced after contracting the disease. Although, she also spoke about the kindness of those who dropped off food parcels when she was ill.
The participants all emphasise the importance of adhering to lockdowns and regulations in order to protect everyone. They also thank first responders for the work they’re doing supporting those currently ill with coronavirus.
“I’ve come to understand just how seriously this pandemic should be taken, especially given how much suffering this outbreak has caused for even the healthiest people, and how many people have lost their lives battling coronavirus and tending to those in need,” Anthony shares. “Please, for the safety of yourself and everyone around you, practice social distancing and stay home unless absolutely necessary.”
The next episode in the series will cover how immuno-compromised people have had to adapt their lives to stay safe in the wake of the virus.
All ad revenue Anthony makes from the video will be donated to the World Health Organization‘s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
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