4 January

Paul McDermott (the comedian, ex-DAAS, Good News Week etc.) contracted Covid just before Christmas. He’s double-vaxxed. His story is worth reading (extract below). “On Christmas Eve I posted my PCR test results showing I was positive for Covid. There are currently many voices saying many different things about the experience. I certainly don’t want to add to the misinformation out there. This is a just record of what I went though. On Sunday morning, December 19th, I woke and my throat was itchy. It was a different kind of itchy and I felt immediately - ‘uh-oh, I’ve got it.’ After this initial response I really hoped I was wrong, and as the symptoms worsened I tried to convince myself it was a seasonal flu. I’d had two shots of the AZ, and was days away from the booster, but by Monday arvo I was bedridden. It was quick and vicious - Like the worst flu, with a touch of food poisoning. Headaches, burning eyes, full body aches and pains, hot and cold fevers, shaking, and feeling completely exhausted. I had a very unsettled night, hot and cold, tossing and turning, and was unable to get to sleep. I spent Tuesday in bed, rising occasionally but the smallest exertion left me exhausted. I was also finding it very hard to think, I couldn’t concentrate on any idea or thought. We attempted a local drive through PCR but were told it was 3+hr wait. While waiting in line, some sneaky cars pushed in front of us. Frustrated, we left to find another testing clinic, but lines were long and slow everywhere. We headed back home having achieved nothing. By now X was showing symptoms. Similar trajectory of illness. Crippling lethargy, tiredness, fatigue. Both X and M were doubled vaxxed with Pfizer. Which I hoped would offer them more protection. I mentioned I was bedridden on Twitter. Most comments were kind, some were not. Dropped some Nurofen for the pain, which helped, endured another sleepless night of real discomfort. I headed out early to see if a walk through clinic might be quicker for the PCR. I arrived round 7 for an 8am opening and the line was already hefty. M joined me an hour later, and 40 mins or so after that we were tested. Wednesday proved another difficult day. It was the third day of almost hallucinogenic agony, more Nurofen, I think I notched the regulation 6, shaking, sore throat, sniffle, congestion and the brain fog. Thursday, and I felt for the first time I was on the mend. This feeling was short lived. There was an upswing, less tiredness, less nausea and my appetite had returned but the thing was still in my system and was letting me know. I was overtaken and overwhelmed again… But struggled on, feeling the end somehow now in sight. What had been harrowing was less so, there were moments of lucidity and patches, over the course of the day, where I felt something akin to normal. But, then any elation dissolved as it bit hard again. Friday, Christmas Eve, and I was slightly brighter than Thursday. I felt I’d taken a step away from the virus back towards myself. Still inconsistent, still up and down, still crazy tired, but an improvement. X looked to be where I was on Tues/Wed, but he was coping better. Friday, Christmas Eve, and I was slightly brighter than Thursday. I felt I’d taken a step away from the virus back towards myself. Still inconsistent, still up and down, still crazy tired, but an improvement. X looked to be where I was on Tues/Wed, but he was coping better. So we’ve all been sick, and we’re basically out the other side. For me it was not a ‘mild’ experience. And M + X had it rough too. There’s a lot of people on line talking up the ‘mildness,’ it’s just a hangover, nothing more than a cold - that certainly wasn’t our experience.”