Declan Pitts

I visited Northern Italy on the 22nd February to see my brother who manages a hotel in the ski resort of Sauze D’Oulx. With cases rising from 7 to 150+ overnight and news of countries blocking their borders, I became concerned about leaving the country.

My other brother who I travelled with, recently had his first child and decided he needed to leave Italy at all costs before Turin airport was to close. Unable to find accurate information about the borders / airports he thought it was best to fly from Geneva, Switzerland.

At this time, I began to develop mild symptoms of a fever and the onset panic loomed that I might have picked it up in Italy. With a €1400 fine to drop the €74 @hertz rental car in another country I decided my brother should fly home and I’ll drive to Turin (3 hours).

Alone and driving through the alps, my breathing became difficult (I am asthmatic) and I developed a fairly painful cough. I stayed the night to rest in France and flew from an empty (but open) Turin airport. To my surprise there was zero checks / quarantine at Gatwick airport.

With my symptoms worsening, I rang the national health advise line 111 and explained my travel and symptoms. The number of cases in Italy was still low but the NHS advised me to not go anywhere public and to self isolate.

As I live in a block of apartments, some with elderly people and also children I was initially advised to stay outside and wait for paramedics (I thought this was extreme but also understood the protocol due to my travels). This was a Tuesday.

Over the course of that week, everyday I was told new information from the NHS & 111. Understandably their policies were adapting due to more cases but I felt left in the dark and my symptoms were worsening. The only way I could get updates was to call 999, something I did not do

With a big ear swab down my throat and in my nose, her visit was over and she told me my results would take 3 days. Waiting patiently indoors, receiving food from my housemates through a door and avoided all human contact, I still heard nothing a week later.

Worried but also feeling better, I rang up (through some heavy research to find where my swab went) and enquires about my case and the delay. They told me I was not in their system, but as it had been over 72 hours after the test, I likely did not have the virus.

Fast forward to today 16 days after landing back in London from Italy, countless days locked in my room I was called to receive a negative. I was only informed my results had been accessible for the last 6 days. I think the key takeaways I have learnt are:

If you’re worried you’ve contracted the virus, be patient and appreciate that you may cause more damage, if not death, to those less able than you if you leave isolation. I showed the exact symptoms and had limited breathing but also knew there was a less danger for my generation

Try and not count the clock if you are in self isolation. The days will be slow and frustrating but it appears it will become a norm for the sake of others lives. If you are to be tested, results may take A LOT longer than expected.

The media is generating a lot of noise and everyone has their advise, but try and stick to scientific and fact-checked sources. Twitter is great for both true and false information.

Life still exists outside the walls of your room, but don’t be stupid and leave unless you know you’re okay. The virus is going to affect society and the planet in a lot of ways and all we can do is stay safe and stay hygienic.