[ad_1]
A family with five people who caught Covid-19 have described their shock and fear when they dropped everything and rushed into quarantine.
Five members of the same family contracted Covid-19 during the August outbreak in Auckland.
Photo: 123rf.com
The eight members of the close-knit family, two grandparents, their daughter and five sons, went to the Jet Park quarantine facility after four of the children and their 74-year-old grandfather contracted the new coronavirus at the height of the outbreak of August. .
The man’s wife said the family was in shock when the first two children, ages 14 and 17, contracted it.
“Once my grandchildren tested positive, I was very scared. I was afraid … it would get worse,” he said.
They had been a close contact of someone with Covid-19 and initially tested negative.
But the woman’s daughter said the family was vigilant and went to her GP a few days later when the teens developed flu-like symptoms.
“From then on I guess you could say that chaos hit us. This was the first time and we were so in shock and we didn’t know what to do,” he said.
They had to try to accept all the advice they were suddenly receiving from the Ministry of Health and act quickly to go to the Jet Park quarantine facility.
Few of the Auckland August group have spoken publicly and the family wants to remain anonymous.
How the virus spreads within the family
The teens contracted the virus about 10 days after the level 3 crash. Their grandmother accompanied them to the Jet Park to care for them.
Soon after, her husband became ill and arrived at the Jet Park as well, but had to quarantine him in a different room because he had contracted the virus later.
“We were very concerned because … we knew that the disease was more serious in those over 70,” said her daughter.
And he got very sick and had to be taken to the hospital twice. His wife, who was not infected, was unable to accompany him.
“To be honest, I was very, very sad, and a little angry too. All we could do was pray and wait,” she said.
The eight members of the close-knit family, two grandparents, their daughter and five sons, went to the Jet Park quarantine facility to isolate themselves.
Photo: Alexia russell
He’s fine now, but he’s still recovering.
The couple’s daughter and the remaining three children were the last to arrive at the Jet Park facility, but the family was divided into three rooms.
That was one of the hardest things, the woman said.
“We are one big family and we do everything collectively … There was a time when we had not been together as a complete family in a month. It took us a whole month to finally get back together under one roof, to share a meal. together, to spend quality time, “he said.
Despite that, they were glad to be in their situation together, and sometimes they were able to go out at the same time, even if it was at a distance, he said.
Impact on Pacific families
Ofeira Taule’ale’ausumai is a Whānau Ora support worker for The Fono, a health and social service provider with a Pasifika focus.
A member of The Fono’s support team leaves a package to one of the dozens of families they were supporting.
Photo: Supplied
There were many people from the Pacific in the August group and Taule’ale’ausumai supported 40 families, including this one.
Many were shocked at contracting the virus and having to suddenly uproot their lives in a very short time.
“For some of them it happened in a matter of hours, in a day – okay, pack your things, go. And it was so overwhelming, it was a lot for them to think about,” Taule’ale ‘ausumai said.
“We would call them and say ‘I’m getting in the car, I’m heading to Jet Park.’
People were concerned about who would take care of their elderly parents or their pets, or who would take care of the house or pay the bills.
Taule’ale’ausumai and her team helped with all of that, supporting those in quarantine and those left behind.
The family with five positive Covid-19 cases said the team at The Fono, DHB, nurses and staff at the Jet Park quarantine facility were well supportive.
They said that although the children missed going to school, they coped well.
The family hoped that people would remain vigilant against the virus that remained a threat.
