Daily Mail - 05.03.2020

Daily Mail, Thursday, March 5, 2020^ Page 

My eyes are

burning. My

bones ache.

I’ve never

been this

ill in my life

longer sound like bundles of

broken twigs.

Day 19: I am well enough to

stagger out of doors to get more

Tiger Balm. My nose has cleared

enough to smell what my neigh-

bours are cooking, and I think I

might have an appetite for the

first time in nearly two weeks.

Day 22: I was hoping to be

back at work today, but no such

luck. The pneumonia has gone —

but now I ache as if I’ve been run

over by a steamroller. My sinuses

are agony, and my eardrums feel

ready to pop. I know I shouldn’t,

but I’m massaging my inner ear

with cotton buds, trying to take

the pain away.

Day 24: Hallelujah! I think

I’m better. Who knew flu could be

as horrible as that, though?

Day 36: A tip-off from a friend

sends me hurrying to the shops.

Apparently, the Chinese officials

are concerned about a new virus

that is taking hold in the city.

There are rumours about a curfew

or travel restrictions. I know what

this will mean — panic buying in

the shops. I need to stock up

on essentials before everyone

else does.

Day 37: The rumours were

right. Everyone is being told to

stay indoors. From what I’ve

heard, the virus is like a nasty dose

of flu that can cause pneumonia.

Well, that sounds familiar.

Day 52: A notification from

the hospital informs me that I was

i n f e c t e d w i t h t h e Wu h a n

coronavirus. I suppose I should be

pleased that I can’t catch it again

— I’m immune now.

However, I must still wear

my face mask like everyone

else if I leave the apartment,

or risk arrest. The Chinese

a u t h o r i t i e s a r e b e i n g v e r y

thorough about trying to contain

the virus.

Day 67: The whole world has

now heard about coronavirus. I’ve

told a few friends about it, via

Facebook, and somehow the news

got out to the media.

M y l o c a l p a p e r b a c k i n

Llandudno, North Wales, has been

i n t o u c h w i t h m e. M a y b e I

caught the coronavirus at the

fish market.

It’s a great place to get food on a

budget, a part of the real Wuhan

that ordinary Chinese people use

every day, and I regularly do my

shopping there.

Since the outbreak became

international news, I’ve seen

hysterical reports (especially in

the U.S. media) that exotic meats

such as bat and even koala are on

sale at the fish market. I’ve never

seen that.

The only slightly weird sight I’ve

seen is the whole pig and lamb

carcasses for sale, with their

heads on.

Day 72 — Tuesday,

February 4: It seems

the newspapers think it’s

terrific that I tried to cure

myself with hot toddies.

I attempt to explain that I

had no idea at the time what was

wrong with me — but that isn’t

what they want to hear.

The headline in the New York

Post says: ‘UK teacher claims he

beat coronavirus with hot whisky

and honey.’

I wish it had been that easy.

From the first British victim,

a gripping account of what it’s

really like to catch corona

Survivor: Welshman Connor

Reed, 25, works at a school in

Wuhan, China. Inset: His cat,

which died during his illness

My kitten’s been under the

weather... two days later, he’s

dead and I don’t know why