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SINGAPORE: Before testing positive for COVID-19, I was on quarantine orders, but this Certis officer, also known as Case 44, never expected to contract the new coronavirus.
“We are very, very strict with the PPE (personal protective equipment) that we have to put on before handling cases. So the chances are as good as, I can say, zero, ”he told reporters on Tuesday (April 21).
The officer, who asked not to be identified, reported the onset of symptoms on January 31. However, he ruled it out as a recurring case of tonsillitis, which affects him three or four times a year.
“I went to the GP because my tonsils were swollen. Normally, taking antibiotics would be fine, but after three or four days, the fever didn’t go down, I wasn’t feeling well, so I thought something might be wrong, “he said.
This led him to visit the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital on February 6, four days after going to the general practitioner. He tested positive for COVID-19 on February 10.
According to the Ministry of Health when he announced his case, the 38-year-old man had also been on duty at Chingay 2020, although the Popular Association later clarified that he had not been deployed in the main parade.
He was released from the hospital on February 18, nine days after testing positive for COVID-19.
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QUARANTINE ORDERING AGENT
Before having symptoms, the officer issued quarantine orders to two people from Wuhan who later tested positive for the infection.
As part of his role as a Quarantine Order Agent, he and a nurse from the Health Promotion Board (HPB) would put on protective gear such as face masks and gloves before approaching a person’s home.
If the person is a suspected case, they would put on the full PPE.
The nurse would first take the person’s temperature and check the virus for symptoms.
If there are no symptoms, the officer will then proceed to carry out a quarantine order. If the person shows any symptoms, they will notify the Ministry of Health so they can take them to the hospital.
The officer would also have to assess whether their places of residence are suitable for home quarantine. Otherwise, he would contact his Certis colleagues to obtain authorization to send the person to a government quarantine facility.
READ: “There is a sense of duty in support of this particular fight”: Certis officers joining the battle against COVID-19
“I was super excited to have this opportunity as this role was really new to me and I felt it was a very good learning experience,” he said.
While he understood the risks involved, he added that he was “very proud to do (his) part in support of a national effort to fight COVID-19.”
“I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO REACT”
When he tested positive for COVID-19, the officer said he was “incredulous.”
“I didn’t know how to react, and I was mostly concerned about my family and wondering what would happen if they had also tested positive, because I had two younger children,” he said, adding that he was concerned that his children would have to be in isolation.
Her son is in Primary 1, while her daughter is in kindergarten.
When he found out, the first thing he did was call his wife. But when he answered, he was already crying.
“She said,” I know, the doctor called me first, “he said.
“I was trying to stay calm, but it’s very difficult. I’m trying to comfort my wife, while trying to face myself, which was quite difficult.”
His family was quarantined and his wife had to care for the family while he was in the hospital. He and his wife decided not to tell their children that he had COVID-19, only saying that their father was not well.
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While it was difficult for the family, his extended family and colleagues at Certis proved to be strong pillars of support.
Case 44 recalled how his sister and brother-in-law would buy groceries for his wife and leave them outside the door.
His commanding officer also checked daily, bought groceries for his family, and organized the disinfection of his home. Certis even created a Tumblr page for other employees to write words of encouragement.
“I was very touched by their support and it really raised my morale and helped me focus on my recovery,” he said.
Case 44 is also the first recipient of the Courage Fund, which collects donations to help vulnerable individuals and families, including health workers, frontline workers, and volunteers affected by COVID-19.
GOING THROUGH INSULATION IN THE HOSPITAL
Being in the hospital was hard on him. Not only was he lethargic and weak, but he also lost his appetite and suffered a severe case of cabin fever.
“The first three or four days, when I was really sick, going through the treatment, I was just going through the movements. But the moment I started to get my energy back, I started to feel very restless, ”he said.
Without his regular running sessions and soccer games, he became restless.
“I used to go to the bathroom more often because it’s in the same room. I walked into the small room. I just need to get out of bed,” he said.
But the nurses and doctors at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital made his time in the hospital much easier, he said. They also surprised him with a cake on his birthday.
The nurses surprised Case 44 with a cake as she spent her birthday in the hospital. (Photo: Case 44)
“It was a very nice gesture on their part, since I couldn’t celebrate with my family, they did something really special for me,” he said.
“Happy tears” in being at home
After being discharged, the first thing the officer did was hug his family when he got home. Her children were “ecstatic” on her return, she said.
“They were screaming, daddy, you’re back! I tried to be great, but the happy tears just fell,” he said.
Since then, he has returned to work, not as a quarantine officer, but in a role dealing with the deployment of Certis officers to government facilities.
However, given the opportunity, he said he would again be a quarantine officer, adding that he was “encouraged” to see the people of Singapore gathered together to help those in need.
“We can do more by showing more compassion and empathy for people infected with COVID-19,” he said.
“These are very difficult times. It is important to let them know that they are not alone and that they have the support of their Singaporean compatriots on their journey back to recovery … For those who are infected with COVID-19, believe that you are not alone and please remain strong in fighting against that. “
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