What I did during my quarantine period, Doctor who detected Nigeria’s first COVID-19 case shares experience

Having to self-isolate after coming in contact with a person infected with coronavirus could be a daunting experience for anyone; Dr Amara Allison, the medical practitioner who detected Nigeria’s index case of the novel virus on February 27 has shared her experience.

Dr Amara who shared her quarantine experience with World Health Organisation African Region team, having been in contact with Nigeria’s index case, a 44-year-old Italian man.

She alongside four health workers and 35 other people, who had been in contact with the Italian, were placed on a two-week mandatory quarantine, according to the protocols of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Allison said she busied herself studying, watching movies and engaging in physical exercises during her quarantine period, adding that her family was a pillar of support for her.

She said, “I woke up on day three, and I just couldn’t get out of bed. That was the day the protective shock wore off. I was now unavoidably afraid. This point was where I realized the importance of a support system.

“Luckily my family didn’t fall short. They called to reassure me and in some way themselves.

“The psychological trauma was my greatest challenge, just being with my thoughts alone for 14 days, good, bad, ugly. I also had to deal with the accompanying boredom and missing real human contact. It hit me really badly because aside from all that was going on, I’m a very physically active person and I couldn’t be that during this period.

“However, it wasn’t all fear if I’m being honest. The quarantine period also gave me time to self-develop as much as possible (through online courses) which was also a very welcome form of distraction.”

She said her organisation sent in psychologist to check on all those quarantined, adding that the WHO team in Nigeria also supported her.

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