Greta Thunberg 'very likely' has coronavirus

Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg said that she "very likely" carries the new coronavirus (Covid-19), as she experienced several symptoms after returning from a trip to Central Europe.

"Around ten days ago, I started feeling some symptoms, exactly the same time as my father - who travelled with me from Brussels," she posted on her Instagram account. "I was feeling tired, had shivers, a sore throat and coughed. My dad experienced the same symptoms, but much more intense and with a fever," she added.

After returning from a trip to Central Europe in early March, Thunberg said she isolated herself in Sweden with her father as a precaution, "since the number of cases of Covid-19 (in Germany for instance) was similar to Italy in the beginning."

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Thunberg has not been tested, as Sweden, which has over 2,200 cases of confirmed infections and 36 deaths, tests only serious cases in need of urgent medical treatment. "It is extremely likely that I have had it, given the combined symptoms and circumstances," she added.

She also said that she has "basically recovered" but stressed that she "almost did not feel ill," adding that her last cold felt worse than what she experienced now.

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram

The last two weeks I’ve stayed inside. When I returned from my trip around Central Europe I isolated myself (in a borrowed apartment away from my mother and sister) since the number of cases of COVID-19 (in Germany for instance) were similar to Italy in the beginning. Around ten days ago I started feeling some symptoms, exactly the same time as my father - who traveled with me from Brussels. I was feeling tired, had shivers, a sore throat and coughed. My dad experienced the same symptoms, but much more intense and with a fever. In Sweden you can not test yourself for COVID-19 unless you’re in need of emergent medical treatment. Everyone feeling ill are told to stay at home and isolate themselves. I have therefore not been tested for COVID-19, but it’s extremely likely that I’ve had it, given the combined symptoms and circumstances. Now I’ve basically recovered, but - AND THIS IS THE BOTTOM LINE: I almost didn’t feel ill. My last cold was much worse than this! Had it not been for someone else having the virus simultainously I might not even have suspected anything. Then I would just have thought I was feeling unusually tired with a bit of a cough. And this it what makes it so much more dangerous. Many (especially young people) might not notice any symptoms at all, or very mild symptoms. Then they don’t know they have the virus and can pass it on to people in risk groups. We who don’t belong to a risk group have an enormous responsibility, our actions can be the difference between life and death for many others. Please keep that in mind, follow the advice from experts and your local authorities and #StayAtHome to slow the spread of the virus. And remember to always take care of each other and help those in need. #COVID #flattenthecurve

Een bericht gedeeld door Greta Thunberg (@gretathunberg) op 24 Mrt 2020 om 8:22 (PDT)

With her post, she wants to warn (young) people, as they may only notice very mild symptoms or none at all. "Then, they do not know they have the virus and can pass it on to people in risk groups," she said. "We who do not belong to a risk group have an enormous responsibility, our actions can be the difference between life and death for many others," she added.

Maïthé Chini

The Brussels Times