COVID-19: 'I thought I could die any moment'

A Turkish midwife in the northwestern province of Tekirdag, who recently recovered from COVID-19, said complying with health guidelines is key to fight the novel disease.

Yurdagul Gurkas, who is a mother and wife, contracted coronavirus a month ago.

Being a health professional, she swiftly took measures not to infect her family, colleagues, as well as the patients.

Gurkas isolated herself in a separate room in her home. She tested negative 20 days later and returned to work, but all was not hunky-dory during this time.

“I had to communicate with my husband and son behind closed doors, and often had to yell," she told Anadolu Agency on Sunday. “Because of strong aches I had in my joints, muscles, and bones, I couldn’t sleep properly."

"Shortness of breath often led me to think I could die any moment," she recalled.

She urged everyone to value their health, and adhere to the rules and restrictions imposed to stem the virus that has infected and killed millions of people around the world.

*Writing by Ahmet Gencturk