People who have tested positive for coronavirus are warning others not to be complacent after describing their symptoms as 'just a cough'.
The virus has so far infected 277 people in Scotland, and 2,692 in the UK.
Some nurses have blasted the 'attitudes' by people across the country who are ignoring government advice and continuing to attend pubs, clubs, and not work from home when they are able to.
Now, those who have tested positive have begun sharing their journey to diagnosis to remind people of the symptoms that may not appear early on.
One man, who wishes to remain anonymous, has been in self-isolation since Monday, March 2, and is concerned about complacency.
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"I am a group three patient, the only symptoms I had was a cough and a slight shortness of breath," he told the Basingstoke Gazette.
"I am a 34-year-old healthy person. I was only tested after coming into contact with someone who caught the virus in Italy.
"My concern is how many other people appear to be fine are walking around, not knowing they have it and are spreading it?
"In reality, hospitals won't have the resources to test everyone. From what I ascertain, unless you are seriously ill, it's now a case of people simply being told to self-isolate."
Speaking about the experience of getting tested, the patient said: "You pull up into an ambulance bay outside the hospital and someone comes and takes your swab from your mouth through your car window."
The man said his phone 'hasn't stopped ringing' from concerned friends and family but said self-isolation is "horrible".
"I can't wait to get out of the house," he said.
One woman who tested positive said her illness began with a sore throat, according to the Falmouth Packet.
Charlie Garratt says she would have continued teaching if not for the current climate, but advice from her bosses regarding her throat, sore stomach and 'hoarseness' convinced her to stay home.
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"All of us who have had it so far from my group (which includes someone with a lung condition and someone with a lifelong disability) have followed a similar pattern of symptoms and are almost recovered now since it began a week ago, apart from a draining tiredness," she said.
"We all began with a sore throat and hoarseness, some had a ‘strange’ headache. Some of us also had an upset stomach, this then moved into slight breathlessness before a fever began which came and went.
"For my confirmed friend the breathlessness was so severe she went to hospital on 111’s advice, where they tested her and that is how she was confirmed positive three days later. Some also had conjunctivitis.
"The breathlessness increases with a cough for some but not all. My children have had dry coughs with fevers, which have come in the evening but not bothered them."
The teacher from Falmouth shared her experience on Facebook in a bid to reassure people that it is possible to recover from the disease.
She added: "I don’t want to underplay it but want to share our experience. I’m not saying it will be mild for everyone, I felt rough and was scared about what could happen, but I rested as much as I could.
"I would usually have carried on teaching with this level of illness because that’s what we do. Luckily it was the weekend and I got the call which forced me to rest. I am sure this allowed my body to fight it.
"Whenever I got up to do housework like changing a bed or hoovering I became breathless and dizzy and had to sit down again."
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