On Dec. 1, a Chinese COVID-19-recovered patient was diagnosed with Omicron, a new variant of the CCP virus first reported in South Africa. He said it felt like his lungs were burning.
“I feel very thirsty. I feel my lungs are very dry. I drink [nearly a gallon] of water every two hours, but still feel thirsty,” the patient surnamed Hao told Chinese media Jimu News on Dec. 4. “I drank a lot of water before going to bed, but I didn’t need to use the bathroom in the morning. I don’t know where the water went.”
He also said, “I feel my lungs are burning,” and he had a fever and dry cough.
“My body temperature is between 99.5°F and 100.4°F. … The doctor asked me to rest at home,” Hao added.
Doctors in South Africa have suggested that the symptoms of Omicron could be milder than the globally dominant Delta variant.
A Sleepy Husband
In April, Hao left his hometown Nantong city in eastern China’s Jiangsu Province to work in Johannesburg, South Africa, for half a year. He lives alone in a rented apartment and regularly video chats with his wife back home.In late November during a video call, Hao’s wife noticed that he had become sleepy and lacked energy. Because Hao was diagnosed with COVID-19 in June, his wife urged him to get tested.
Prompted by his wife, Hao got tested for the CCP virus on Dec. 1 and was diagnosed with COVID-19 again. This time, he was infected with the Omicron variant.
Following the doctor’s advice, Hao is self-quarantining in his apartment and takes medicine daily. He misses home even more than before.
“I hope that I can go back home as early as possible after I recover from the Omicron variant,” Hao told Chinese media.
On Dec. 5, Hao updated his status to Jimu News saying he felt much better than the day before. “I feel the virus in my body is very weak now. My immune system is stronger and stronger,” Hao said.
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