‘As if a witch shoved her twiggy broom up my alimentary canal!’ Fiona Phillips, 59, details gruesome COVID-19 ailments such as ‘a whole-body-sized cloak of sweat’ and ‘scratchy gut pain’
- Fiona revealed she had COVID-19 on Friday
- The presenter, 59, wrote in a column for The Mirror that the ‘unwelcome bed partner’ has brought with it ‘a whole-body-sized cloak of sweat’
- On Monday night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown, making it a fineable offence to leave your home for any other reason than emergency food and medication supplies, solo exercise or unavoidable journeys to work
- At the time of writing, the global tally of coronavirus patients is at 378,741 with 16,502 dead. The UK alone has seen 6,650 cases with 335 deaths
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Fiona Phillips has detailed the unpleasant symptoms and side-effects she is experiencing having contracted COVID-19.
The presenter, 59, wrote in a column for The Mirror that the ‘unwelcome bed partner’ has brought with it ‘a whole-body-sized cloak of sweat’ and ‘scratchy gut pain’.
She wrote: ‘Having come bearing gifts such as a fiery sore throat, high temperature/fever, shortness of breath, annoying dry cough, aches, pains, lethargy and a whole-body-sized cloak of sweat – nice – I’ll be doing my best to make sure [COVID-19] doesn’t stay too long either.’
Unpleasant: Fiona Phillips has detailed the unpleasant symptoms and side-effects she is experiencing having contracted COVID-19
She recounted: ‘The first sign of the nasty bug’s generosity was about a week ago, in the form of a horrible, sort of scratchy gut pain that made me feel full, from my throat, right down through my whole digestive system.
‘It kept me awake all night – it was as if a witch had shoved her twiggy broom up into my alimentary canal and on into my throat, left it there and had then intermittently twisted it.’
Fiona also used the article to take a swipe at ‘those selfish, greedy, “I’m alright Jack”, toilet roll snatchers’ – as the outbreak has seen panic-buying sweep the nation – and the world.
Fiona revealed she had coronavirus on Friday night after suffering a ‘sore throat, dry cough and headache’.
First-hand account: The presenter, 59, wrote in a column for The Mirror that the ‘unwelcome bed partner’ has brought with it ‘a whole-body-sized cloak of sweat’ and ‘scratchy gut pain’
The former GMTV host took to Twitter to share the news as she described the illness as ‘not very pleasant’.
At the time of writing, the global tally of coronavirus patients is at 378,741 with 16,502 dead.
The UK alone has seen 6,650 cases with 335 deaths.
On Monday night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown, making it a fineable offence to leave your home for any other reason than emergency food and medication supplies, solo exercise or unavoidable journeys to work.
Confirmed: Fiona revealed she had coronavirus after suffering on Friday
Sharing the news on Twitter on Friday, Fiona wrote: ‘I am in bed with #coronvirusuk It’s not a very pleasant bedfellow, but nothing more than sore throat, dry cough, headache & tiredness. As long as it stays that way….DON’T panic!’
Fiona, who is married to This Morning editor Martin Frizell, was quick to reassure fans that she wasn’t in too much distress despite her diagnosis – something that clearly changed as the weekend went on.
Replying to a concerned follower asking if she was ‘suffering’, she said: ‘I’m not suffering. It’s fine. Thanks for asking.’
Meanwhile, her former GMTV co-host Eamonn Holmes, 60, shared a message of support, writing: ‘Get well soon Miss Fiona. Keep us posted x.’ (sic)
Fiona is best know for presenting GMTV and has regularly guest hosted Lorraine.
Ill: The former GMTV host took to Twitter to share the news on Friday night as she urged her fans not to panic
‘Not very pleasant’: Fiona added that the virus is ‘not very pleasant’ and outlined her symptoms as a sore throat, dry cough, headache and tiredness to start with
In 2005, she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing where she was paired with Brendan Cole. They were eliminated in week four.
Fiona joins a whole host of stars who have confirmed they have tested positive for COVID-19.
Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were the first Hollywood couple to reveal they had coronavirus during a holiday to the Gold Coast in Australia.
Staying positive: Replying to a concerned follower asking if she was ‘suffering’, she said – ‘I’m not suffering. It’s fine. Thanks for asking’ (pictured with husband and This Morning editor Martin Frizell in 2013)
Support: Meanwhile, her former GMTV co-host Eamonn Holmes, 60, shared a message of support, writing – ‘Get well soon Miss Fiona. Keep us posted x’ (sic)
The Forrest Gump actor and his wife, both 63, announced the positive test results earlier this month on Instagram urging the public to ‘take care’.
Hanks revealed they had experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.
Days later, Idris Elba revealed he too had contracted the virus and that he and wife Sabrina had gone into self isolation.
Host: Fiona is best know for presenting GMTV and has regularly guest presented Lorraine (pictured in 1999 with Eamonn Holmes with Esther McVey)
The Luther star, 47, had attended the WE Day UK Charity event and concert in London on Tuesday March 4 with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Sophie announced she tested positive for the virus last week and has gone into self-quarantine.
Bond girl Olga Kurylenko revealed on Wednesday she’s ‘feeling better’ three days after announcing she had tested positive for coronavirus.
Taken ill: The news comes after Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for the novel coronavirus during a holiday to the Gold Coast in Australia
Brave: Days later, Idris Elba revealed he too had contracted the virus and that he and wife Sabrina had gone into-self isolation
Meanwhile, it was revealed recently that former page 3 girl Linda Lusardi, 61, and her husband Sam Kane, 51, have been taken to hospital and will be tested for COVID-19 after contracting symptoms.
Sam posted on Facebook on Friday afternoon that the couple have been hospitalised and will be tested for the virus ‘very soon.’
The talent agency director added that he and Linda are both ‘stable but ‘very ill,’ and asked for ‘prayers and positivity.’
Bond girl: Olga Kurylenko revealed on Wednesday she’s ‘feeling better’ three days after announcing she had tested positive for coronavirus
Hospitalised: Linda Lusardi, 61, and her husband Sam Kane, 51, have been taken to hospital and will be tested for COVID-19 after contracting symptoms (pictured in 2018)
Everything you need to know about coronavirus
By Natalie Rahhal, Acting US Health Editor for DailyMail.com
HOW DANGEROUS IS CORONAVIRUS?
About 14 percent of people who contract the Covid-19 coronavirus are taken to hospital – with severe symptoms including breathing problems and pneumonia. About 5 per cent need intensive care.
But the majority who get the virus suffer nothing more than a cough and may never know they are infected.
So far, some 51,000 people around the world have already recovered from coronavirus – and that just includes the numbers who received a diagnosis.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE?
Officially, the death rate so far has been just over three percent. But experts believe the true mortality rate is probably between one and two percent. This is because most mild cases have not been picked up by doctors or reflected in the official numbers – so the death rate is inflated.
HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH OTHER DISEASES?
Seasonal flu kills roughly 0.1 percent of people. So Covid-19 is between 10 and 20 times more fatal.
But it is far less dangerous than SARS – the virus that ripped across China in 2003 – which killed 10 percent of patients.
BUT DOESN’T CORONAVIRUS SPREAD MORE EASILY?
Yes, but not dramatically. The best estimates suggest every person with Covid-19 passes it on to 2.6 people, on average. For flu that number is 1.5.
CAN IT BE SPREAD WITHOUT SYMPTOMS?
Initially scientists feared carriers who had no symptoms could pass it on. That is now in doubt.
What is likely, however, is those who have mild symptoms are putting it down to a cold and going about their normal lives – which puts others at risk.
HOW LONG IS IT BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR?
Again, unclear. Initially scientists said this could take up to two weeks.
But recent evidence suggests the incubation period could be as long as a month – particularly among children.
The average, however, is much shorter. A Chinese study said the average period of symptom onset was 5.4 days for adults and 6.5 for children.
WHO IS AT RISK?
The virus can affect anyone – with a study of the first 41 infected people revealing two thirds did not suffer from any pre-existing condition. But the middle-aged are most likely to get it – 78 percent of those infected in China have been aged 30 to 69.
WHAT ABOUT THE OLD?
Only 3 percent of people infected so far have been over 80 – but if they get it they are more vulnerable. Analysis of 72,000 cases in China suggests for over-80s the death rate is 15 percent. For those in their 70s the death rate is 8 percent and for those in their 60s, 4 percent.
WHO ELSE IS VULNERABLE?
Those with other conditions – such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney problems – are likely to suffer severe complications if they become infected.
WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?
Children seem to be low-risk. Less than 1 percent of the Chinese cases have been under the age of ten – and if children do get the virus it’s often a mild form.
They do, however, retain the virus for longer than adults.
A study last week found the virus was still present in the stools of some children for a month after they contracted it.
DOES GENDER MATTER?
Men are marginally more likely to get the virus than women. It is not clear why this is.
HOW DO DOCTORS TEST FOR COVID-19?
Anyone who has symptoms –particularly if they have travelled to an at-risk area – are told to call ahead to their health care provider, local emergency department or clinics.
This way, health care providers can be prepared, wearing masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment when they meet the possible patient and escort them to isolated areas of the facility.
They are tested using a cheek swab which is sent off for analysis at one of 12 Public Health England labs, a process that takes between 24 and 48 hours. Any positive test is double-checked at the main PHE lab in Colindale.
WHAT TREATMENT DO PATIENTS GET?
There is little doctors can do to tackle the virus, but they can treat the symptoms – such as fever and respiratory problems. Antivirals and antibiotics are also used, mainly to keep secondary problems at bay.
In the most serious cases patients are put on life-support equipment.
There are several clinical trials for potential coronavirus treatments ongoing worldwide, including one in Nebraska, where at least 13 patients are in quarantine, including two in biocontainment units.
WHAT ABOUT A VACCINE?
Even though the Wuhan virus appeared only a few weeks ago, 20 teams around the world are already manufacturing vaccines.
Chinese authorities provided the DNA code for the virus early on in the outbreak, enabling scientists to get to work straight away.
At least 30 companies and research institutions in the US are racing to make a vaccine.
Last week, one of these companies, Moderna, shipped its candidate vaccine to the US, signalling the shot was ready to begin clinical trials.
Even so, US health authorities say it will likely be upwards of a year before a vaccine is actually ready.
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