In more than a week that she has spent in isolation after being tested positive for Covid-19, a 26 years old mother of two, tells that she has no symptoms and feeling absolutely fine.

“But, I am worried about my children. My two-and-a-half- year old son is at home with my husband while my eight years old daughter, who is also Covid-19 positive, is here with me. She was vomiting two days back and I am concerned about her health,” says Alka (name changed).

She is among the positive Covid-19 patients at Sood Dharamshala in Sector 22, which is a quarantine centre for asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms of the virus and also, a post discharge quarantine facility for cured patients staying in a separate block.

“I stay in contact with my husband through audio and video calls. My son is very young and becomes restless sometimes because I am not with him,” she says while adding that 11 of her family members who tested positive for Coronavirus are currently under quarantine at Sood Dharamshala. “I am thankful to God that at least my son and husband are safe at home and not confined within the four walls of the isolation room. I was tested positive on May 26 and was shifted here from GMSH-16. As I am asymptomatic, I have been told to stay here for around 14 days,” she says, hoping to get cured in 14 days because that’s one step close to home and reuniting with her toddler.

In the adjoining room lives one of her relatives, who is also asymptomatic but tired of staring at the wall. Troubled with the way things have turned out, the 25 years old patient says, “I got a call from UT officials on May 26 and was told that I along with other family members are tested positive for coronavirus. I was told to pack bags and we were taken to GMSH-16 and then shifted to Sood Dharamshala. We were not even shown our test reports.”

Complaining about the quality of food being served in the quarantine centre, the patient says, “It’s like we are looked down upon. At times, there is no proper food. We are patients but no health check up is done here. We have been given contact numbers of healthcare workers and asked to call them if there are any symptoms and other health issues. There is no one to counsel us.”

In the quarantine facility, there is melancholy and boredom and patients who are suddenly cut off from the rest of the world are trying hard to find solace through different ways. While they are confined to a small room grappling with coronavirus, their virtual lives have however remained largely uninterrupted, thanks to the smartphones.

From using smartphones for video calls, playing games, watching movies, updating social media accounts, to hanging around the corridor, for the sake of “time-pass”, the patients are keeping themselves busy to fight the feeling of uncertainty and loneliness at this quarantine facility.

24 years old Atul (name changed) tells, “There were no symptoms when he was admitted here but now he is having a cough problem. I will take medicines given by the healthcare staff here and sleep in some time.”

“In the last couple of days, I have now been keeping myself busy, catching up with friends through social media and video calls. TikTok videos, WhatsApp is keeping me engaged. Sometimes the internet connection keeps disconnecting but I still have managed to keep in touch with my family and friends during the quarantine period,” he says.

He shares the isolation room with another family member and conversations between them are generally about staying positive and getting back home soon. Having completed over ten days of being socially isolated, he tells, there is nothing else to do here.  Sometimes, I pace the corridors here and talk to other patients staying on this floor. I have a diary with me and often write my thoughts in it, he adds.

According to the Union Ministry’s guidelines, patients with mild or pre-symptomatic cases with adequate facilities at home can self-isolate there whereas earlier rules recommended hospitalisation for mild, moderate and severe cases at dedicated Covid-19 centres.

However, considering the congested hotspot of Bapu Dham colony in Chandigarh where home isolation of patients is almost impossible, the patients have been shifted to quarantine facilities in the city.

In another room on the second floor of the quarantine facility at Sood Dharamshala, a 22 years old Covid positive girl is busy posting selfies from her isolation room on social media. She says, “I keep myself engaged posting selfies on social media, interacting with my friends, watching videos on TikTok and YouTube.”

“Dancing has always been my passion so I am using all the free time for brushing up my dancing skills,” tells the asymptomatic patient, who is sharing the isolation room with her aunt.

“The experience was sad in the beginning but hard times help us to learn some valuable lessons in life. We all have some misplaced beliefs while stuck in our daily routine of work and home life," the young girl says, adding that she works for a private company.  Asked about her current state of mind, she says, “I am just waiting to go back home and cook something delicious and eat it… That’s all I am thinking now and just praying that day will come soon.”

As The Pioneer spoke to more Covid-19 patients, many of them complained about not receiving their test reports and feeling apprehensive and uncertain about the entire situation. At the same time, they shared their thoughts on being emotionally resilient and hopeful, for a better life beyond the virus.

A 45 years old patient, admitted on the same second floor tells, “His five family members are also admitted in the quarantine facility and all are asymptomatic. It’s been nine days since they came here…He developed a sore throat a day before and started taking medicine for the same.”

A father of two young adults, who are also quarantined in the same building, says “We live in a joint family. While six family members who were tested positive are shifted here, eight who tested negative are staying at a quarantine facility in Panjab University.”

“I did not get my test reports when I was tested positive on May 25. I have been told that the test will be done again after 7 days and I will be discharged if tested negative for Coronavirus. So I am just patiently waiting to return home and go back to work,” says the patient, who works as a driver.  He shares the isolation room with one of his neighbors, who was also tested positive for Coronavirus. 

On how he spends his day, the patient shares, “I watch TV and sometimes, go to meet my family members who are staying on the same floor.”

“There is a verandah near my room and I sit there in the evening for some time. I like watching the sunset and the soft shades of pink and purple of sky in the evening. It brings a sense of peace,” he concludes.