By Ben Garcia

Unlike before, people nowadays are avoiding posting about any illnesses they are suffering from on social media, lest they be accused of being infected by the coronavirus. In public, people are avoiding coughing and sneezing for the same reason. "Even if I want to cough or sneeze, I would rather hold it to avoid being labeled as having COVID-19," said Marilyn, a Filipina, who once felt being discriminated against at a supermarket when she accidentally sneezed near another woman.

"I was shopping at a co-op in Farwaniya, and when I passed by the spice counter, I felt irritation in my nose and accidentally sneezed. A woman near me started cursing and uttering foul words in Arabic. I told her it was accidental because of the spices, but she said she doesn't care. She told me not to talk to her and go home because I have corona. From then on, I avoid sneezing or coughing in public," she said.

COVID-19 affects different types of people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization. The most common symptoms include fever, dry cough and tiredness, in addition to body aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell, a rash on the skin or discoloration of fingers or toes.

More serious symptoms include difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, and loss of speech or movement. On average, it takes 5-6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show; however it can take up to 14 days.

A person who recently underwent a coronavirus procedure at a COVID-19 tent at Adan Hospital was not permitted to enter his company's building when he went to report for duty. "I reported to work last week, but the guard told me I cannot enter the building premises as per the directive of our administrator. They said I have corona," said Matthew, who works at an advertisement company in Shuwaikh. "I told them I was cleared by the doctors, but they wouldn't permit me to enter."

Matthew said he went to Adan Hospital when he could no longer tolerate the coughing. "I went to the COVID-19 tent several times because I was having a bad cough. I expected it was because of the coronavirus. At first they told me it was not because of COVID-19 and told me to go home, but the coughing persisted. So I went back four times, and the procedures I underwent were all the same. The doctor would always tell me to stay at home and avoid going to the hospital. But when I reported to work, they told me to stay at home for 21 days as I may have corona," he said.

Matthew also revealed something else. "I was checked at the COVID-19 tent but no swabbing was done to many people there. I went there four times but no swab test was done, despite the fact that I was having symptoms related to COVID-19. They said swabbing is only done if you have difficulty in breathing - so if you are not experiencing shortness of breath, expect no swabbing to happen," he said. "They told me that my body temperature was high, so they tested my blood and urine and did an ECG test. When they found everything was okay, they told me to go home before I actually get corona," he said.