By Nur Hazirah Shuk
KUCHING: “I decided to see a private doctor as the fever and cough, which I thought were normal (as a result of overeating durian), had lasted for four days,” said Alicia Ng, sharing her experience after being confirmed positive for Covid-19.
According to the 38-year-old, who already received her first dose of the vaccine at that time, she was advised to undergo a swab test immediately and to her surprise; she was confirmed positive after getting the result the same night.
“I really didn’t expect that I would be tested positive for Covid-19 because I was always careful and adhered to standard operating procedures (SOPs) — double masking, avoid eating outside, sanitising purchased items before bringing them into the house and many more,” she said.
She added that when she was confirmed positive, she became restless as her mother, who has high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism and her aunt, a cancer survivor, also lived in the same house.
Elaborating further, Ng said on the second day of undergoing home quarantine, apart from abnormal oxygen and pulse rate readings, her sputum also contained some blood.
She immediately informed the matter to the health officer by filling out a form online. An hour later, an officer contacted her and told that an ambulance would take her to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for further examination.
According to her, she had difficulty breathing while packing the necessities to be taken to the hospital.
The Covid-19 patient ward at SGH. 
Ng was given oxygen therapy immediately after being admitted to the ward.
“As soon as I arrived at SGH, I was taken to the Covid-19 patient ward located on the eighth floor. At that time, I was able to observe the condition of other patients — some were okay, some were using oxygen support, some looked weak and some were walking around — and I wondered how would my condition be later?
“On the seventh day (after being confirmed positive), the doctor told me that I was categorised as a Covid-19 Category 4 patient (those who suffer from pneumonia and require oxygen therapy).
“Shortly after that, my blood sample was taken, an x-ray was done and the nurse also performed an electrocardiogram (ECG) on my heart.
“On the same day, I was given dexamethasone (for pneumonia) and heparin (blood thinner) injections,” she explained, adding that her mother and aunt, who also tested, were taken to the Covid-19 patient ward at the hospital’s Anjung Kasih.
To ensure that she recovered quickly, this Covid-19 survivor said she practised a healthy lifestyle and took traditional Chinese medicines.
According to her, she was allowed to be discharged on the fifth day since she was warded and then transferred to a Covid-19 low-risk treatment and quarantine centre (PKRC).
After ending her quarantine at PKRC, she was advised to always adhere to the SOPs, take care of her health and to see a doctor at the nearest health clinic for follow-up treatment after a month.
Feeling grateful that she was confirmed free of the deadly virus, Ng advised those who tested positive for Covid-19 not to panic too much.
“Nowadays, every family must have a pulse oximeter at home to monitor the blood oxygen levels.
“Besides that, those who are confirmed positive should also go to the Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC) so that the doctor can assess whether the person needs to undergo home quarantine or needs to be sent to a quarantine centre.
“If you feel unwell while quarantined at home, update your status (either via WhatsApp or MySejahtera) and ask a family member to send you to a nearby hospital,” she said.
Ng added that despite being fully vaccinated, a person is not guaranteed immunity from Covid-19 because based on her observation while warded; most of those who tested positive have been fully vaccinated.
She also reminded the public to be responsible by complying with the SOPs to avoid being infected or infecting others.
