Lyon,
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,
France
Interview - Maroy, Lyon France:
This is a first hand account of the coronavirus situation in Lyon France, including one member of their community that has been diagnosed, and another working in a nearby hospital.
Maroy:
I am 25 and I'm living in Lyon in the east France and it's like the third region which is the most touched by the virus. And right now I'm at home since Monday the government told us to stay at home, so I'm not touched by the virus, but I know some, an old person who are touched by the virus. And I have a friend who is working in the hospital in the care units and she explained to me what the media is hiding and what's the truth behind this virus.
Safelyhq:
What area does your friend work in the hospital? And what is she seeing?
Maroy:
She's living in the South of France, Toulouse and she's in the care units. So she's working closely with the people who are in the worst situation in the hospital. So she see's a lot of cases everyday and everyday she's told me that it's worse.
Safelyhq:
Some of the materials state that it's mostly older people that are impacted, is that what she's seeing?
Maroy:
So at first in the media, they say that only old people and fragile persons who have a disease are impacted. But now this is not the truth. Now,people who are 23 years old, 25, 30 are impacted.
Safelyhq:
Have you heard anything about testing? Is it hard to get testing or is it easy to get testing?
Maroy:
Yes. One week ago I was talking with my doctor and we were talking about the virus and he told me, you know, we are talking a lot with the other doctors and I can tell you right now that we don't have in France,no testing, no tests anymore. We don't know if a person has a flu, if it's simple flu or the coronavirus and when he told me that I was really anxious because even the doctors can't diagnose now if this only a flu or if it's worse.
Safelyhq:
At the hospital, where your friend works? Is there enough room for people or are they worried about how much space they have?
Maroy:
No, unfortunately not. Now they are transferring patients to another hospital to welcome the patients who are infected by the virus. And I also heard that in some hospitals they are taking the children's room. So the services reserved for children, they are transferred to the care unit because they do not have enough room for them. They don't have enough places now.
Safelyhq:
Is there anyone that you know of or any people that you are aware ofthat directly, or through friends or family that have been diagnosed with coronavirus?
Maroy:
Yes, the cousin of my husband has been diagnosed so she's at home. She can't be at the hospital because there are too many people and they said that if she don't have struggle to breathe, she needs to stay at home. The government said that you can call emergency, only if you're struggling to breathe, if you should just have fever. Or a cough if you cough you stay at home, but really if you can't breathe you can call the emergency.
Safelyhq:
So now that you've had experience in France with coronavirus, and hearing about your husband's cousin and your friend at the hospital, what's your feeling about coronavirus and how serious it is? Are you concerned now that you have had direct impact?
Maroy:
Yes. I'm really mad get the government because they they take that too easily. They didn't do the right things at the beginning. People need to understand that this is really, really serious. And I'm pretty anxious because now yesterday I was doing shopping, so just to buy food and the all people in the grocery was afraid was wearing masks and there was nothing, people were struggling to find some pasta or something like that. And I'm really mad because we can see that a lot and a lot of people are infected by the virus. My friend who is nurse, is really afraid, she's really anxious, she's really scared to have it. She's pregnant and she needs to work even if she's pregnant. And I'm really mad against the government for that. I'm sure that if it took the good decision at the right time, they would not have a lot of cases like right now.
Safelyhq:
Is there any message that you have for people listening based on what you've learnt so far?
Maroy:
Don't take that too lightly. This is really my word, don't take that too lightly. When I see that in UK, they say that they are counting on the auto immunity of people. I just don't understand. If I have a thing to say it, don't shake hands, don't hug someone, wash your hands carefully, and just take it this really, really seriously. Because this is not a simple flu. It's bigger than that. | Symptoms: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Cough
