‘It’s like a standard hospital room… but with locks on the door’: Man tells how he was quarantined with suspected coronavirus at isolation unit where two Chinese tourists are being treated
- Michael Hope spent 27 hours in quarantine at the Royal Victoria Infirmary
- The art teacher said the level of care he received was ‘utterly fantastic’
- He fell ill at home in Newcastle and was rushed to hospital, earlier this month
A former patient in an isolation unit where two people were being treated after testing positive for the coronavirus stayed in what looked like a standard hospital room – but with locks on the door.
Michael Hope, 45, who spent 27 hours in quarantine at the Royal Victoria Infirmary before he received the all clear, said the level of care he received was ‘utterly fantastic’.
The art teacher had been working in Wuhan, China, before returning home to Newcastle when he fell ill and was rushed to hospital earlier this month.
The art teacher had been working in Wuhan, China, before returning home to Newcastle when he fell ill and was rushed to hospital earlier this month
Last week, he told reporters he ‘felt like ET’ when he was treated by medics in protective suits, and he knew he was safe when they finally came in the room unmasked.
He felt medics were well-prepared, having dealt with ebola patients previously.
Mr Hope, now recovered from flu, said: ‘I was initially quite frightened but they made me feel pretty safe, pretty comfortable and pretty welcome.
‘It was very clear it is well set up following the ebola cases, they know what they are doing.
Michael Hope, who spent 27 hours in quarantine at the Royal Victoria Infirmary before he received the all clear, said the level of care he received was ‘utterly fantastic’
‘It looks like a standard hospital room, but with locks on the door.
‘You cannot get in and out yourself. I was taken in a back entrance and brought up in a lift.
‘I was met at the door and put in a wheelchair and taken straight to my room. I have no idea what floor it’s on.
‘The blinds were down when I went in but I opened them the next morning and I could see out of the window which was nice.
‘The window was locked with no option to open it. The room has a bed, TV and a window with an en-suite.’
Last week, he told reporters he ‘felt like ET’ when he was treated by medics in protective suits, and he knew he was safe when they finally came in the room unmasked
He said the room was secure, but not as ‘plastic’ as he imagined it would be.
Mr Hope said he was subjected to observation every three hours, including through the night.
He added: ‘The staff were utterly fantastic in every way.
‘I’m vegan and they arranged for my vegan food within a few hours.
‘I couldn’t have faulted them in any way whatsoever. They did an excellent job.
‘I know people are getting a bit scared and worried now the UK has the virus, but I want to reassure people that they (the staff) are prepared and ready.’