‘Got less virus load as I never removed mask’

Vishesh Sarangal is Additional Deputy Commissioner and got Covid-positive in September but had no symptoms. It was October onwards that he got some post-Covid symptoms, which made him somewhat scary about its aftermath. A nodal officer for the disease management in the district since March, he shares his experiences:

It was on September 1 that I felt that four-five employees in my office had become positive and that it will be appropriate for me to undergo tests. I was asymptomatic, but my RT-PCR test report came positive and I immediately self-quarantined. I occupied a vacant room on the first floor of my house.

I knew the entire protocol well as I had been the one who got the first area sealed in Jalandhar and got the first victim cremated amid protest. To be honest, I had really got scared when I got the report as both my parents are diabetic and my father has undergone bypass surgery. My daughters are aged just 1 and 3. I was more worried of having passed on my infection to them. I told my wife, who is anaesthesiologist, to get 14 persons who had been in my close contact to get tested. Thankfully, everyone, including my family, driver and maid tested negative.

For 17 days, I kept myself isolated. I was provided food by my family on a table outside my room. I used to wash the utensils myself and never let anyone in. On the 17th day, I tested negative and reached office from the next day. I did all my office work myself from home. My staff used to send me important dak in a scanned form on my mail which I cleared electronically. It all went smooth perhaps because I never removed my face mask and perhaps got less virus load.

Even though I had planned that I would be watching movies and web series if I caught Covid, I got no time to watch a single episode in all these 17 days.

As everything went on smoothly weeks after I had recovered, all of a sudden I felt loss of energy. I was not able to work to my capacity. Another thing that troubled me a lot was forgetfulness that began around October. At this, I consulted doctors and they told me that it could be brain fogging, which was being experienced by many patients. They told me not to worry as the virus is learnt to have effect not just on lungs and heart, but also brain. So, I was told to just relax, do some meditation and keep a good diet, including fresh fruits, salads and vegetables.

(As told to Deepkamal Kaur)