BENDIGO'S first confirmed coronavirus patient has been given the all-clear, having recovered in less than two weeks.
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But he knows how different his story could have been, and has urged people to take measures to limit the spread of the virus seriously.
The young man, who has requested to remain anonymous, is believed to have been infected with COVID-19 while in London, where he had been living and studying.
"I did not get it through an apparent close contact," he said.
Nor does he seem to have infected any of the many friends he saw before leaving for what he then thought would be six months.
The situations in both Australia and the United Kingdom have since changed.
There was barely a sign of the young man's impending diagnosis during the flight home, other than a runny nose during the second leg of the journey.
He wore a mask anyway, and said many of the plane's other passengers took similar precautions.
Some passengers had antibacterial wipes. The young man couldn't find any in the London supermarkets before he left, so he stuck to hand sanitiser.
He shared a car ride home from Melbourne Airport with his father.
They were as careful as they could be - the young man said he wore a mask and didn't make physical contact with his father.
Yet, his father was Bendigo's second confirmed COVID-19 patient.
The young man said his father was doing better, but had yet to fully recover.
Initial symptoms in the young man's case were mild.
"I just had a slight cough - more of a sneeze, coming again and again. It wasn't dry at all," he said.
Every now and again he felt a bit of a chill.
"I thought, initially, I might not have the coronavirus. I might just have a flu," the young man said.
His symptoms intensified so much that he called the Victorian coronavirus helpline during his second full day in Australia.
Medical experts recommended the young man for testing because he had recently returned from overseas.
He said knew he had coronavirus long before he received the result, three days later.
"I've never had a cold or flu like that," he said.
"When I'd just be sitting down and I'd move... you know when you just feel like your head is full?
"When I started walking too much I'd get shortness of breath."
He said he and his family were vigilant about the 14-day self-isolation period returned travellers had to undertake.
The only Australian places he visited while infectious were the airport, the car his father drove to pick him up, and the family home in Bendigo.
The day the young man received the positive test result and the two days prior were when his symptoms were at their worst.
"You feel weightless," he said.
Yet, his body ached, down to his fingers and toes. His nose was runny all the time. He didn't feel like eating and was too uncomfortable to really sleep.
But the young man said he knew it was coronavirus when his sense of taste and smell disappeared.
"I had a mango milkshake and all I could taste was the sugar in it - I couldn't taste the mango," he said.
He ate some rice and all he could taste was salt.
"I took a lot of paracetamol," the young man said.
It helped him endure the worst of his symptoms.
The young man's illness never escalated to the point where he had to be admitted to hospital.
But he said he could see how people with the virus could become critically unwell.
His symptoms started to improve two days after he was diagnosed.
The cough started to lift, the sore throat eased, he had fewer chills, and the body aches subsided.
About six days after receiving his test result, the young man was symptom-free.
The Department of Health told him he had recovered from COVID-19 and was no longer contagious after three consecutive days of good health.
There was no repeat testing, much to the young man's relief.
He said the initial testing process involved swabbing the back of his throat and nose.
The young man received calls from a local health service throughout his illness, tracking his symptoms and his welfare.
"I was very impressed... they were very friendly, very encouraging," he said.
"They were asking about mental health... if you have got someone there to bring food, or we can help you.
"I think some other people who wouldn't be as lucky as me, they'd need the support."
He was cared for by members of his family, who managed to support him while distancing themselves from as much risk as possible.
"The Department of Health called me on the day of diagnosis and on the final day," the young man said.
He said the department was good with contact tracing and was in frequent contact with his family about their wellbeing.
They sent through information about his obligations while he was unwell, and once he was cleared to end self-isolation.
The young man said he was grateful to have recovered the way he did, and was conscious people younger and fitter then him were dying of coronavirus.
"Please try to adhere to the self-isolation rules," the young man said.
"Even if you've developed symptoms and you're not on the list [for testing], stay away.
"Don't let the situation get the better of you".
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