Wearing a mask to safeguard myself against the virus, I approached a six-foot German in a black suit for information at the airport following customs clearance, only to hear the shout, “Don’t come closer to me” twice, which I ignored with a smile, of course underneath my face-mask.

I began to wonder whether I should wear a face-mask, as no one, airport staff, passengers and others seemed to be the least bothered. My roommate, Dr. Brittany Fransaw, a young veterinarian from America was also not wearing a mask and I followed suit.

The scheduled training and examinations commenced on March 6 but no one seemed too concerned about the new coronavirus. Curious about the detection of infected people in Heinsberg, just 50km away from Aachen city in North-Rhine Westphalia Province, I asked our Course Co-Director Dr. Julia Steiz about it.

She informed us that there were corona-infected patients at the Aachen University Hospital where the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science was also located. But the other eight students, from Greece, America, United Kingdom, Denmark, Iran and Germany were not worried. During the lunch break, hospital staff, students and teaching staff all gathered at the canteen, the only consolation being that hand sanitisers were available aplenty.

The training continued, although with several changes in the schedule. Our trips to Bonn to visit an animal facility and Grunenthal on March 11 and 12 were cancelled, with online interactive teaching and learning activities instead.

Tension mounted with worldwide statistics of corona-infected patients and deaths rising and different measures/decisions being taken by individual countries, as we prepared to fly back to our homes on March 15.

Just two days earlier, I inquired from my Head of Department (HOD) of Physiology, the Dean of the Colombo Medical Faculty and the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Colombo University whether I should undergo self-quarantine on my return to Sri Lanka. She responded  that I should check before boarding my flight. Following the VC’s advice, I attempted to contact the hotlines of the Sri Lankan embassy in Germany but there was no answer as it was the weekend and the mission was closed.

The decision to ban the entry of flights from European Union countries from  midnight on March 15 came as a shock, as I was planning to return on March 17. I informed Dr. Steiz of the news on the morning of March 14, as I had an examination the next day.

My HOD informed me in her email that the government had decided to quarantine all those returning from Europe for two weeks. A separate email from the university administration with a circular from the University Grants Commission (UGC) indicated that an academic, a non-academic or a university student needed to be on self-quarantine for 14 days.

Dr. Steiz made a special schedule which enabled me to complete the examination on my elective subject and the last part of the training on March 14. She also rearranged my air ticket with an additional payment of less than Rs. 10,000 and I left Germany on the night of March 14, with Dr. Steiz herself driving me to Dusseldorf airport from Aachen, an hour’s journey. At the airport, we bade farewell without touching each other.

A very small percentage of passengers, especially Asians were wearing masks on the flight. From Germany I flew to Dubai and onto Sri Lanka, arriving at 4.30 p.m. on March 15. While passengers from Italy, Iran and South Korea were asked to stay on the aircraft, the others were allowed to board the buses and were taken to the entry point of the main building.

A ground hostess carrying a board prevented passengers (both Sri Lankan and foreign) from identified EU countries entering the main building. France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands were several countries indicated on the board. Two options were available – either go to a quarantine centre or purchase an air ticket to go back. Air Force officials were in charge from that point onwards and we were taken to the airport medical centre.

Upon arrival there, we were disinfected with spraying of chlorinated water. Our temperature was checked and our details were entered in forms. Customs officers stamped our passports to complete the disembarkation procedure.

I was ready for quarantine, with one reservation – what would happen if we were put with corona virus carriers, without any testing procedure.

A bottle of water was supplied to each of us along with a packet of snacks. All this time, my husband was waiting patiently in the car park of the airport. He was disappointed to hear the news of the quarantine and waited a little more time.

With the delivery of our luggage, we were ready for our journey in an AC bus to our temporary residence, which began around 9.15 p.m. with an Army escort. However, we were not told where we were being taken, most probably due to the disturbance created by some Sri Lankans who had arrived the previous day.

We reached the Dambulla stadium around 11.30 p.m. where dinner was served followed by a refreshing hot coriander drink. We left again around 12.45 a.m. on March 16 reaching the Punani quarantine centre in Batticaloa around 2.30 a.m.

The entrance to the quarantine centre visible from a distance was similar to the photo of the Shariya campus I had seen on Facebook.  Our bus reached Block 3 and upon entry into this building, we realized that these were hostels built for students, white plastering having been done in a hurry.

No single rooms were available and four of us who were sitting close to each other on the bus) shared Room 59 on the second floor. Climbing the stairs with our luggage was not easy.

This room was equipped with minimum facilities for a stay without much suffering. Our only concern was the temporarily-built common toilets and bathrooms. But we understood and accepted this emergency situation, despite the necessity of climbing up and down the stairs several times a day.

With appreciation, we accepted all the meals provided by the Army. They had made every effort to add variety to our meals which included rice, bread, milk rice, noodles and pasta. All the meals were well balanced and nutritious accompanied with bottled drinking water and a dessert, either a fruit, yoghurt, ice cream or a small slab of chocolate.

In addition to the main meals, we were provided bed tea (5.30 a.m.), morning tea (10 a.m.), evening tea (4 p.m.) and a sago drink (5.30 p.m.).

The disposal of garbage daily from three blocks was a challenge to the personnel carrying out this task, wearing face-masks, gloves and boots. As the garbage was collected into big bins kept on each floor without separation into plastic, paper and food items, they had to separate them before burning/burying them. These personnel need much appreciation for a job well done.

A ‘canteen’ van operated by the Army provided soap, shampoo, tissue packets, plastic buckets and cups, basins, towels, soap cases, mopping buckets, brooms etc. We handed over a small chit with our requirements, and we could buy the items which were delivered the next day.

As people gathering at mealtimes was not acceptable and face-masks and hand sanitizers were not available freely, I discussed this concern with my HOD over the phone and she organized the dissemination of information (such as symptoms and preventive measures) through the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) through notices displayed at the entrance to the building and on each floor in addition to the announcements.

Our group consisted of two young married women, myself and the fourth who was in my age-group. Three of us had been to Germany and France for our postgraduate studies, while the fourth was working in Austria. We enjoyed our stay together sharing our life stories, cracking jokes, listening to music and sharing Facebook information while building a longstanding friendship – a positive aspect of quarantine.

Two of us walked about two-four km a day on several days, enjoying the beautiful scenery.

There were several families confined to rooms. Three little boys in a room adjacent to ours were very cute and very naughty. On the first few days, one boy cried: “I want to go mama; I can’t stay here” but he too adjusted to the situation. We too enjoyed their laughing, running, hiding and waving to us.

As an academic, I reviewed an article relating to the usefulness of serum ferritin measurement to assess the state of anaemia and did some of my work, while one of the past PhD students sent a manuscript for comment by her supervisors.

Technology advancement such as video calls, viber, Whatsapp, “minimized” the distance with family and friends.

The first group left our quarantine centre on March 24 and the second on March 25. But we heard that two people who were ill were identified and admitted to Dambulla hospital. The bus with the rest returned to the centre. On the next day they were released. The others under quarantine were released on subsequent days upon completion of the 14-day period. All were given a ‘Certificate of Quarantine’ signed by the Army Commander and Director General of Health services on the last day of the quarantine period.

Corona showed how uncertain life is and also the low value of money and other physical things. I managed with two sets of clothes.

Thank you, is inadequate for the major service rendered by the Army personnel, who worked not on shifts but throughout the day in personal protective equipment (PPE).

I also pay tribute to the healthcare personnel for their dedicated service, as we headed home after our two weeks in quarantine.

(The writer is attached to the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo)

 

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