A doctor who contracted a severe case of Covid-19 at work has urged the public to adhere to safety measures and not to underestimate the importance of staying at home whenever possible.
Dr Waguih Elsissi, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and medical director of Ajman Specialty Hospital, began feeling symptoms of the virus after checking on patients on April 6.
“During the round I supervised the transportation of a patient who was in isolation at the hospital,” said Dr Elsissi, 80, from Egypt.
He said the pain grew unbearable and he developed a strong cough. When he returned home, he felt disorientated and exhausted.
"But I couldn't eat and was unable to sleep the whole night because of the non-stop coughing and the horrible pain. It felt as if someone had been pounding my bones and broke them into pieces," he said.
Dr Elsissi took a strong pain killer but felt no difference, saying the incessant coughing made him feel constantly out of breath.
The next day, he was too weak to go to work so his daughter took him to the preventive medicine unit in Ajman, where they were both tested for Covid-19.
Once Dr Elsissi was swabbed, he began vomiting profusely and fell unconscious. He was immediately taken to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Ajman.
"I didn't interfere in the doctor's treatment plan but, due to the intense and non-stop pain, I asked them to give me anything that would help put me to sleep."
His test result showed that he had contracted Covid-19 while his daughter's test came back negative.
Dr Elsissi spent nearly a month in hospital being treated for Covid-19. He said he was not afraid of dying but worried for his family, especially with his daughter, 32, who was quarantining home alone and his wife, 68, who became stuck in Egypt after borders closed.
Dr Elsissi and his family have lived in the UAE for 23 years. The doctor has worked at Ajman Specialty hospital for the past three years.
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Coronavirus in the UAE - in pictures
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The Third Place Cafe on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi has a sticker to remind customers of Covid-19 precautions. Victor Besa / The National -
An 'X' reminds people of the need for physical distancing at the Third Place Cafe. Victor Besa / The National -
The Third Place Cafe in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Sanitation workers at Haddins Fitness, Zayed Sports City. Victor Besa / The National -
Places of worship, such as Shiva temple in Dubai, have been subject to restrictions during the pandemic. Reem Mohammed / The National -
Fitness buff Natalie Navikova exercises at Cobra Fitness Abu Dhabi at Al Bandar. Victor Besa / The National -
CrossFit class at Vogue Fitness Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
A worshipper at Shiva temple in Dubai follows safety precautions. Reem Mohammed / The National -
The floor of the main prayer hall at the Gurunanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, Dubai, is covered with plastic sheets to help tackle the spread of Covid-19. Pawan Singh / The National -
Safe distance marking stickers placed on the floor at Gurunanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Midday prayers are performed at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Hotel beaches are now open to guests at the Ramada Abu Dhabi Corniche after Covid-19 restrictions eased. Victor Besa / The National -
Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai has safety measures in place to help protect worshippers. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Shiva temple in Dubai put safety measures in place to protect worshippers. Reem Mohammed / The National -
Covid-19 safety measures are put in place at Mahamevnawa Buddhist Temple in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Residents wear face masks as they walk in Abu Dhabi city centre. Victor Besa / The National -
People walk along near the Ramada Hotel Abu Dhabi Corniche during the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National -
A visitor wears a protective face mask at Al Shindagha Museum in Dubai. EPA -
A man on his e-scooter travels along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi as the sun sets. Victor Besa / The National -
People wear face masks in Al Barsha, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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"I am a believer and I know one's life is in God's hands … but I was thinking of my family of a wife and one daughter and what would happen to them."
His wife had travelled to Egypt to visit family and discovered the UAE had closed its borders while making her way to the airport for her flight back to the Emirates. She has since received approval to return to the UAE and is due to travel within the month.
He said that, despite being a doctor, struggling with the virus alone in hospital affected his outlook.
"One of many downsides of being infected is that your morale gets shaken.
“But words of encouragement by UAE leaders who stressed that everyone will be taken care of, kept me, others, and medical staff motivated and feeling safe,” he said.
Medics were able to treat the worst of his symptoms within eight days of being admitted to the hospital.
"Everyone in the medical team was doing all that in their power and were working so hard to take care of all patients,' Dr Elsissi said.
After being discharged from hospital, he stayed at a hotel for four days while he was tested again for the virus.
On receiving the all-clear, he returned home, where he self-isolated for a further 10 days.
"My daughter would leave me the food or any other essentials at the door, until I was done self isolating."
Having recovered from the deadly virus, Dr Elsissi's message to the public is clear: take safety measures seriously to protect yourself and others.
"The safe distance you leave between you and other people, wearing your mask and gloves and washing your hands, are your safety net.
"These are simple procedures yet are the guarantee you don't get infected."
