Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

Nesflash/@katelyntan_

A student in London has tested positive for COVID-19 upon her return to her native Malaysia and she shared images of her experiences in hospital as an isolated patient.

Malaysian student Katelyn Tan, who studies in the UK capital London, flew home on 22nd March.

During her flight, she said she did not display any obvious symptoms of COVID-19 except for “a very slight loss of taste and smell”.

Her parents insisted on a test and a home doctor confirmed a positive result. Tan was then admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) by ambulance to isolate her from family members.

The student said: “Other than that, I felt absolutely normal so was really shocked when my results came out positive because I had none of the typical symptoms and was feeling 100 percent myself.

“I just wanted to put it out there that the loss of smell/taste is a really big symptom! So many people texted me saying they experienced the same thing and thought nothing of it like me because it wasn’t a typical symptom and then tested positive as well.

Now in isolation in hospital, Tan said: “I don’t know what I would do if I passed it to someone. So please, please, if you experience this isolate or get tested!”

She added: “I’m so sorry from the bottom of my heart if we have been in contact, I’ve really been trying to isolate in the UK too so I’m not sure where I may have picked it up.”

Tan shared images of her being tested and her experiences in hospital as an isolated COVID-19 patient.

She said: “A few people on the same flight also told me they tested positive or have symptoms a few days ago, but it depends on the individual if they report it.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists the most common COVID-19 symptoms as fever, tiredness and a dry cough.

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