After getting a call from Public Health, which told her she had tested positive for coronavirus, Louisa Bowker of Onchan experienced 20 days of being shut indoors. She has since been able to step back out into the world. Here she tells reporter Jess Ward all about it.

On March 22, Louisa was told ’welcome to the club’ by a doctor who called to give her the news that she was one of the first 13 people diagnosed with Covid-19 in the island.

After three weeks of being confined to her flat with no balcony or garden and avoiding any contact with her fiance, Cameron Boyd, the 23-year-old was finally able to step outside.

’It was great to hear Public Health tell me that they were happy to let Cameron and I go back out into the world. We both woke up early and went out for a walk before we started work at 9am,’ she said.

’Our legs felt like jelly after about 10 minutes, as we hadn’t walked in three weeks!’

Louisa’s first big day out of isolation was partly spent getting a big shop done at Tesco to fill her nearly bare cupboards back home.

She said: ’It was weird to start off with being around other people.

’As I was in isolation while they introduced the social distancing measures I hadn’t yet adjusted to it and had to keep reminding myself of the two-metre rule.’

She added: ’I can’t help feeling invincible and not scared of the virus while I’m out doing shopping, knowing that it’s unlikely I will catch the virus again.

’I am aware though it is still possible to catch it again or spread any other germs I might pick up while being out.

’But it does feel good having recovered and coming out the other side.’

Beforehand it was family members and friends doing the food shopping for her while she recovered in self-isolation - something which she ’hated’ having to ask for.

’I felt like I was putting them at risk and I was aware shopping isn’t the easiest at the moment due to the social distancing measures.

’I feel very lucky that I never had a shortage of people I could ask for supplies when we needed them,’ she said.

One particular highlight which lifted her spirits was a surprise Davison’s ice cream package delivery organised by one of her best friends, Laura.

’That really cheered me up,’ she said.

Otherwise it was the simple things like completing a jigsaw puzzle or the first time of getting a decent night’s sleep that made her feel good.

The majority of her time in isolation was spent resting as she was unwell.

’The hardest part of it all was trying to let my body rest and not start working again before I was feeling up to it,’ she said.

’I was trying to stay away from my partner as much as possible so that I didn’t pass the virus onto him. This was easier said than done as we live in a flat with only one bathroom.

’It seemed to work though as his test came back negative and his very mild symptoms went away after a few days.’

She added that the lack of contact was tough, especially when she was sick. Something that helped her were the daily calls from Public Health.

She said: ’When I first received my test results they made sure to ask how I was feeling about the news, I was reassured by a doctor on the phone that as I was young and healthy I likely didn’t have anything to worry about. "Welcome to the club" was the phrase he used, which made me laugh.

’They would call to check in with us both, see how we were both feeling, check that our symptoms hadn’t got any worse.

’I can’t lie, some days I dreaded the calls, as it was a reminder that I wasn’t feeling any better than the previous day and that we still had 10 days left to go.’

The calls were ’always friendly’, she said, with the team answering any questions she might have had.

’There was one lady who called me most days.

’I always felt so much better after speaking with her as she seemed genuinely interested in hearing how I was feeling and that we were okay for provision etc,’ Louisa said.

’I can see that daily phone conversation being really important for people if they are vulnerable or living alone.’

Certain things Louisa would recommend to others who may be recovering from Covid-19 is to call friends and family as much as possible, change your bed sheets often and maintain good hygiene practices while keeping the place clean.

’I would also recommend that people stay informed but don’t obsess over it as it’s not going to do you any good,’ Louisa said.

One big hurdle was not being able to get any fresh air for three weeks living in a flat with no balcony.

Instead, Louisa often sat on her windowsill to catch the breeze.

She said: ’Towards the end, I really wanted to go out for a walk.

’I was feeling dizzy and nauseous so a walk out in the fresh air would have really helped.

’I was so worried though for everyone I had been in contact with before I developed symptoms, I wouldn’t of dared go outside until I was confident I couldn’t infect anyone.’

Louisa is back to working as a graphic designer and has been providing online classes via Facebook Live to her dance students at Moveit.

She said: ’I really miss being able to teach my classes and see the kids but teaching online classes is helping me keep a bit of normality and is another fun activity to pass the time.’

Having now adjusted to the new social distancing rules in the outside world, the pair maintain a steady shopping routine while making the most of the glorious sunshine within the local area.

However, Louisa is concerned about the tightening of lockdown rules.

’I am worried at the moment that people will keep breaking social distancing rules and the government will tighten up the rules so we can’t leave our flat.

’If we had a garden I wouldn’t mind at all but not being able to get some fresh air is tough.’