The man, who is in his 20s and wishes to remain anonymous, flew from Geneva, Switzerland, to Jersey via Gatwick earlier this month and said he began exhibiting symptoms a few days later.
Government advice states that for most people who become infected with COVID-19 the symptoms will pass fairly quickly. However, elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are more at risk of developing complications.
The Islander said that he immediately put himself into self-isolation and was told that he had tested positive for the virus on Sunday.
However, he added that he found the worst of his illness passed within three days and after being stuck on his own in his house for around a week, he was now becoming restless.
‘It was just like really bad flu. I was really receptive to heat and if the temperature dropped I would start to feel cold very quickly. I had no sense of taste and no sense of smell – which was weird as I have never had that before – and I felt dizzy and everything seemed a bit hazy for a few days,’ he said.
‘But, in my experience, it does pass fairly quickly. Now I have pushed through the worst of it, it does seem like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
‘It is just really important to inform people who you have been in contact with that you have it. I had to remember everyone that I had met and everyone at my work, along with all my family and friends who I had seen since returning to Jersey. Now almost everyone I know is in isolation.’
The Islander added that as soon as he tested positive, government officials began ‘contact tracing’ and asking all of those who he had been in contact with to self-isolate.
He added that his friend, who he had been skiing with and who he also sat next to on the flights, was also exhibiting symptoms. ‘He has not got his results yet but I think he will probably have it as well. Luckily, I was only sat next to him on the flights,’ he said.
‘At the worst point, I was in a really bad way so I was not able to do much. But I am now in my sixth day and I still have a little while to go so I have been pacing around a lot.
‘I am a musician so I have been playing my instruments, watching a lot of documentaries and TV series and reading a lot of news. It is funny to think while I am stuck in here with it, the world is going mad over loo roll.’
Government of Jersey advice to avoid all but essential travel was issued last Saturday.
