OUR COVID HELL
Baby and nine-month-old boy get coronavirus as killer bug sweeps UK
A BABY and nine-month-old boy have been diagnosed with coronavirus as the killer bug continues to sweep the UK.
In the first case, nine-month-old Cassian Coates was rushed to hospital by his worried parents because he had a cold and fever.
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His parents, Myroslava and Callum Caotes, were then stunned when staff put a “big sign up” near them which read “suspected case”.
She said a nurse walked past them in Manchester and gave them the terrifying news by saying: “Yeah, that’s you guys”.
Cassian, who is just nine-months-old, was then assessed by a doctor who confirmed he had the symptoms and said: “Yeah, it’s the coronavirus strand.”
The news of Cassian's diagnosis came just hours before a baby at the James Paget University Hospital in Norfolk was confirmed to have the killer bug.
The baby was one of three patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 at the hospital in Great Yarmouth and the trio remain in isolation.
'CORONAVIRUS STRAND'
Describing the moment her son was diagnosed in Manchester, Mrs Coates told : “When we got to the hospital, we had to go through special measures and ring a certain number for them to let us in.
"The waiting room actually had a big sign up saying 'suspected case'.
“Me and my husband were like 'oh my God', then a nurse walked past and said 'yeah, that's you guys'.
“We went in, then the doctor came in with a mask on, did some basic checks, temperature, checked his ears and said 'yeah, it's the coronavirus strand'.”
Mrs Coates, a mum-of-one, admitted she and her husband first laughed when they were told as they were in disbelief that her son had the killer bug.
We went in, then the doctor came in with a mask on, did some basic checks, temperature, checked his ears and said 'yeah, it's the coronavirus strand'.
Myroslava Coates
The family is now in self-isolation at home and she is racking her brains as to how Cassian caught the disease.
She added: “We wondered where he caught it because my husband and I are both fine.
“I did panic but I cannot express how fantastic and reassuring our GP was. They said that with children this age they are diagnosing by symptoms.
“We were told to go home to self-isolate for two weeks and keep giving him Calpol as if it was a cold.
“There are peaks and troughs but thankfully Cassian is over the worst of it.”
It comes as....
- Boris Johnson last night promised a £350bn 'war-time' bailout to stop coronavirus from wrecking the economy
- Credit card debt rules were suspended until October over the crisis
- Idris Elba tested positive for the bug just days after posing with Justin Trudeau's virus-hit wife in London
- Sainsbury's is expected to set a purchase limit on EVERY item to stop panic buying
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT CORONAVIRUS
As Covid-19 is a new virus, experts are still working to understand it.
However, health officials say the most common symptoms of coronavirus infection usually include:
- A dry cough
- A high temperature
- Shortness of breath
Developing these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have the illness and they are similar to other illnesses, such as the common cold or flu.
Some people will not develop all of these symptoms - and some might not even show symptoms at all, experts say.
People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention, the WHO says.
You should also call NHS 111 if you have travelled to any of the affected countries and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath.
Or if you have been in close contact with an infected person.
Public Health England defines close contact as being within two metres of someone for 15 minutes or more or sharing a room for a prolonged period.
The NHS has urged people to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as, if you have the virus, you risk spreading it to others.
Health experts are warning people not to go straight to your doctors' surgery, over fears people will spread the bug there too - but do seek medical help by calling NHS 111.
If you get a cough, a high temperature, or you feel short of breath, continue to follow this advice.
Do not leave your house without getting advice from a doctor.
The best way to prevent catching any form of coronavirus is to practice good hygiene, health experts say.
In order to reduce your risk of infection, you should:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
If you have cold-like symptoms, you can help protect others by staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with others.
You should also cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw it away and wash your hands.
Cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces which you may have touched is also important.
The unnamed mum was rushed to hospital with suspected pneumonia which was only confirmed after the birth.
The pair were treated at separate hospitals and it is believed the baby was infected from coughs or sneezes. The boy is now said to be "out of danger and recovering''.
It comes after the UK’s youngest coronavirus victim was last night named as 45-year-old Craig Ruston - as his devastated wife paid an emotional tribute.
The "amazing" father-of-two, from Kettering, Northants, who had motor neurone disease, succumbed to the killer bug in hospital on Monday.
In the UK, coronavirus has killed 71 people while a total of 1,950 have been struck down with the illness.
Craig's wife Sally broke news of the death on her husband's Facebook page "Me and my MND".
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She said: “My amazing Craig passed away yesterday morning at 6.20am. We are truly heartbroken.
"Last Tuesday he was taken unwell and we have since spent the last 6 days in isolation.
"Craig’s chest infection was confirmed as Covid-19.
"How dare that take Craig who was already facing this (MND), the most vile and evil of diseases.”
It comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday wrote a £350billion cheque to keep families and businesses afloat during the coronavirus crisis and pledged: "We will do whatever it takes."
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What are the early warning signs for coronavirus?
As Covid-19 is a new virus, experts are still working to understand it.
However, health officials say the most common symptoms of coronavirus infection usually include:
- A dry cough
- A high temperature
- Shortness of breath
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea - but these are usually mild and begin gradually.
Developing these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have the illness and they are similar to other illnesses, such as the common cold or flu.
Some people will not develop all of these symptoms - and some might not even show symptoms at all, experts say.
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