Melbourne coronavirus survivor reveals life after COVID-19 diagnosis

As coronavirus’ grip on Victoria tightens, a Richmond man who’s lived through its effects has revealed why we must take COVID-19 seriously. Here’s how Anthony McAvoy first realised he has the deadly bug.

COVID-19 victim Anthony McAvoy, with wife Jacinta, has warned Victorians to take the virus seriously. Picture: Jason Edwards

A Richmond virus victim has urged all Victorians to “take COVID-19 seriously” as the pandemic sweeps the state.

Anthony McAvoy, 56, caught the deadly virus on a weekend getaway to Hobart earlier this month.

“People’s lives are at stake,” he said.

“To be in among it is a bit surreal. It has been a fairly intense journey, a rough ride.”

A sore throat first raised alarm bells.

“I started coughing and sneezing throughout the day, generally feeling quite awful,” he said.

“I thought, there is something wrong.”

Mr McAvoy’s GP was unable to facilitate a COVID-19 test as they were reserved for overseas travellers, but diagnosed him with a “bad flu”, giving instructions to rest at home.

The next day, his condition worsened with a fever.

“I started to get the chills, it was a 27C day and I couldn’t get warm,” he said.

“I was rugged up in trackies and a jumper on the couch under a blanket. I just wanted to sleep.

“I was concerned I wasn’t in a good place. I just tried to battle through it, weather the storm.”

A secondary trip to the doctor returned a diagnosis of COVID-19.

He was invited to go to a hospital to get an official test but chose not to for fear of infecting others.

“I found myself in a Twilight zone,” he said.

Mr McAvoy believes he caught COVID-19 in Hobart.

He is now warning Victorians to take the virus seriously after a fortnight in self isolation. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr McAvoy said he suffered “general flu-like symptoms” including coughing, a runny nose and sneezing which persisted but gradually abated over a fortnight.

He also suffered a loss of smell and pins and needles while unwell with the virus.

His wife Jacinta hunkered down in self-isolation but had surprisingly not contracted the virus.

The couple hold grave concerns for her elderly parents in their 80s who are at a higher risk of falling ill.

“We are very concerned, we won’t be seeing them for a while for fear of infecting them,” Mr McAvoy said.

He has issued a stark warning to people who had blatantly ignored government messaging to stay at home, with the elderly front of mind.

“Young people don’t think it will happen to them, it is difficult to get them to take it seriously,” he said,

“Once the genie is out of the bottle, there is no going back, do your bit and do the right thing,” he said.

Although he has now been cleared to leave the house, he is “in two minds” if he’ll visit the shops in the near future.

“I don’t want to be a danger to other people,” he said.

“I am looking forward to getting on with things, I am glad to be through it.”

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Originally published as Melbourne coronavirus survivor reveals life after COVID-19 diagnosis