A minute WITH SYNNOTT A SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH KAREN DICK WHO GOT CORONAVIRUS WHILE IN LOCKDOWN IN A PERTH HOTEL AFTER A MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE. WAS IT A SHOCK, AFTER YOUR BOAT TRIP AROUND EUROPE, TO GO INTO LOCKDOWN IN A PERTH HOTEL AND GET COVID-19?
I’m not entirely sure where I got COVID-19 Tony, whether on the ship, plane or hotel. There were 300+ people on the flight back from two different ships. A lady we had close contact with on the ship tested positive the day after we arrived back to Perth, so that’s why we asked to be tested. She, unfortunately died from COVID-19. I tested positive after having spent five days at the hotel and Kevin’s results weren’t clear, so he was moved out of my room and re-tested the next day, which came back negative. That’s probably the worst part of it all, being isolated on your own. YOU WERE WITH YOUR PARTNER KEVIN, YOU GOT COVID, AND YOU SHARED THE ROOM WITH KEVIN, HE WAS CLEAR AND FREE. WHY, IN YOUR MIND?
We were locked down on the ship for five days, then flight home and five days in the same hotel room so I have no idea how Kevin didn’t contract it from me. It seems impossible, unless I was a false positive. WHAT WAS THE MAIN SYMPTOMS YOU FOUND OF THE CORONAVIRUS?
The main symptoms I had were a bad cough and sore head, but I put the sore head down due to a lack of fresh air in the hotel. There were a lot of people on the ship with a cough. YOU SOON GOT OVER THIS, AND WAS SENT HOME, WERE YOU ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME?
I got out the day before Kevin. I was cleared to go and fit for work. My office were all working from home at that point so I was able to work from home the following week.
HOW DID YOU MANAGE FOODWISE, WITH KEVIN ALSO IN LOCKDOWN, AFTER HE RETURNED HOME?
Kevin came home the day after me and we had been well looked after by our family and friends who had left essentials at our house – great friends we have! WHAT A RELIEF TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND ABOUT AFTER YOUR LOCKDOWN. CAFÉ, HOTEL OR MEET FRIENDS? WHICH ONE FIRST?
We were actually lucky with the lockdown as we really only had 1–2 weeks at home and were able to get out and about soon after. David and Gabby visited us (social distancing of course) but when everything opened with 10 odd people we went to a restaurant and bar… had to be smart and work out what time people went out since only 20 people per place! HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED IN ANYWAY OR DID YOU FIND OUT HOW VULNERABLE WE HUMANS ARE TO PANDEMICS?
My life hasn’t changed in any way whatsoever. We have been fantastic here in WA, the rest of the world has been absolutely horrendous, but probably due to the eejits running their countries – didn’t lockdown quick enough or at all in the beginning.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR HOME LOCKDOWN, AS A LEGAL SECRETARY AND HOW MANY HOURS A DAY SPENT WORKING?
DO YOU THINK WE AS A PEOPLE WILL EVER GET BACK TO LIFE, AS WE WERE, OR WILL WE BE MORE CAUTIOUS?
I loved working from home once I got used to it, working 7.5 hours as if I was in the office. I still work from home on Mondays and the rest of the week in the office. It’s great!
I think we will get back to a ‘Normal life’, we just about have it in WA now except for travelling.
62 | THE IRISH SCENE
