Day 1: How to survive the Covid-19 lockdown

It’s been 14 days since my family and I first exhibited symptoms of being infected with the Covid-19 virus.

Thank you for all the many good wishes and messages of support that I received after my column on Monday.

It was really heart-warming to hear from so many people, many of whom I have never met.   

There were also a few funny moments when people - whom I haven’t seen or heard from in months or even years - were seriously worried that I might have infected them. 

Ai guys!  

I also want to say a big thank you to all the medical and health professionals who assisted us.

The first night we were called by Dr. Thomas from Mediclinic Gardens who calmly conveyed my daughter’s positive result and kindly gave us his cellphone number to call if we had any concerns.

Later that night Wayne Smith from the Western Cape Health Department called, as did David Pienaar from NICD.

We have been getting daily calls from Sharon Hussey and Rayneze of the Western Cape Health Department as well as Dr. Kotze from Karl Bremer Hospital to check how we are doing and if we need any help.

Our own GP's, doctors Lynne Wolhuter, Leah Murray and Erika Drewes have all been amazing.  

I want to mention all these medical professionals by name since they and their colleagues throughout South Africa, will, over the next few months, continue to be on the front line of this epidemic by putting their own lives at risk to look after all of us. 

I know that this is starting to sound like an Oscar award speech, but I also want to thank David Maynier, the Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC who coordinates the effort in the Western Cape.

From his late night message of concern, it is clear that he is working all hours to ensure that things are running smoothly in the Western Cape. 

The past two weeks have been tough.