Coronavirus: Peterborough businessman rushed to hospital isolation pod urges public to take pandemic seriously and save lives

Sanj Rana is currently self-isolating at home having been tested for the virus at Peterborough City Hospital.

The 36-year-old was struggling to breath after displaying symptoms for Covid-19 a week ago, and as he awaits his test results he has become frustrated by stories of people who are ignoring social distancing which is crucial to preventing the spread of the virus.

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The dad of four has now spoken out to warn others not to underestimate coronavirus after witnessing the effects of it while in the hospital’s coronavirus pod, as well as from his own symptoms which have left him drained of all energy.

Mr Rana said: “People are not taking it seriously. People don’t understand what’s going on.

“I’m one of the lucky ones - there are people out there that are not lucky.”

Mr Rana returned to Peterborough on an emergency flight from Morocco last week where he had been out with friends.

But despite taking all safety precautions, including using sanitisers, he soon started suffering horrible symptoms of loss of breath, coughing and excessive sweating.

He said: “I also had a headache and felt so weak that I couldn’t even lift the TV remote to put the TV on in bed.

“It got to the stage where I had to call 111 for help.”

Mr Rana said he was directed to go to the city hospital’s A&E department - which he was driven to by his wife - then told to wait in his car before a nurse in a mask took him into an isolated area.

He said: “While I was outside I was suffering in pain, trying to gasp breath. All I could picture in my head were my four daughters. It was horrible.

“Then as I was told to come in I was taken to a special ward set up for Covid-19. It was so scary - everyone had masks, gloves, plastic aprons.

“This poor elderly woman was in the room next to me and I felt so sad. Another elderly gentleman was in another room.

“I wasn’t even allowed to open my curtain due to the seriousness of this virus. I was lying in bed so weak and helpless after they took my bloods and did swabs and I heard another woman coughing so bad who never had a bed and was just waiting in the hallways.

“I felt so bad for her.”

Mr Rana said he was tested and told he had symptoms for Covid-19 and that he should self-isolate at home while waiting for his results to come through.

And in a plea for people to follow the measures put out by the Government to stop the virus from spreading - including social distancing - he added: “I want people to understand it’s no joke. You need to follow the guidance for your parents and your kids.

“The truth is that there is no cure. These poor NHS doctors and nurses are putting there own lives at risk for us but what can they really do apart from putting us on breathing machines if necessary?

“This is where I feel some of us are being selfish. Why can’t simple instructions in the UK be followed to stay in? God forbid how many people will be spending Mother’s Day next year without a mother all because they were selfish enough to put others at risk.

“Let’s all stay in, help and support each other with day-to-day accessories and stop taking it lightly. The NHS and the vulnerable need us to help them.”