Jess Chen, a Beijing-born engineer, has lived in the UK since 2005. Like many Londoners, living in the capital city means working hard and living an ordinary but happy life. In early December this year, Jess was tested positive for Omicron. Here, the 40-year-old tells her story of self-quarantine in London.
“I was very calm when I saw the Covid-self-test result was positive. My symptoms were similar to those on the internet – coughing, having a fever, but not losing my senses of smell or taste. I called 111 and was told to isolate myself at home for seven days. The NHS didn’t take me to the hospital because my symptoms were not severe enough for treatments.”
“They (The 111 Call-center advisor) told me to take Paracetamol tablets during the self-isolation. Then I am free to go out 7 days after, regardless my test result is positive or negative. I was really shocked to hear that.”
Jess seems to have different opinions about UK’s ‘herd immunity’ Covid strategy. “China authorities, in comparison, have a zero-tolerance strategy on Covid-19. For example, if there’s one Covid case occurs within a residential building, the local authority will block the whole building until everyone in that building takes Covid-tests.”
However, sometimes the Paracetamol tablets cannot be effective in curing COVID-19. “I constantly had a temperature over 38°C, especially during the nights. I contacted a Chinese doctor in London for prescriptions, and they posted some Chinese medicines to treat my symptoms. My mother in China also posted some Chinese medicine to my London address to cure the fever. I haven’t received them yet due to delays.”
Jess’s mother, a 79-year-old retired accountant in Beijing, demonstrates that “My daughter was in London by herself when she got Covid. I wasn’t sure if those Chinese medicines would cure the disease or not. But if I didn’t do anything from my side, I would be even more frustrating than she was.”
Jess feels very fortunate because she was supported and looked after by her neighbors and friends. “My upstairs neighbor cooked for me and placed the food in front of my door everyday. She has been looking after me throughout the 7-days-isolation. A friend of mine ordered food and water to my address. Others seemed a bit aloof, as they only dropped a few lines to see how I was. When you were in crisis, you would know who your true friends were.”
“I wasn’t paid to recover at home during quarantine because I am a contractor in the company. My parents sent £5,000 to my bank account to cover the temporary lay-off.”
“My quarantine life was very simple, I never felt lonely or depressed. ” Says the 40-year-old, “I ordered fresh vegetables and food frequently through Deliveroo – which I found very cheap and handy. I’ve been sleeping a lot except sometimes doing a little bit of cooking and cleaning, and I spoke to my family every day. I am still in recovery mode and feeling cautious about going out. I did spend Christmas night on my own and will be alone for the incoming New Year Eve on 31st December 2021.”
Two days ago, Jess told me her Covid-test result turned negative. “I would still try to stay at home most of the time in case I relapse again. I’m considering not visiting my parents in China for the next 1-2 years, because they are both in their 70s’ and I won’t put them at risk of getting Covid from me.” The Dagenham-based engineer claims.
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