ERMELO – Covid sceptic Mr Paul Bester Koen, an ACSU reaction officer, recently had a rude awakening after he tested positive for the virus.

He woke up on the morning of August 9 experiencing a terrible headache and his whole body was aching.

He said some symptoms mimic the common flu, but it’s definitely worse than a seasonal cold.

“When I walked a few steps, I was completely out of breath and that is when I knew I had to go get tested,” he said.

Mr Koen was at first sceptical about the virus existing but his mindset changed quickly when he saw the numbers increasing and the amount of people actually dying from it.

“Now that I have it, it’s not nice at all.”

“We all assume we won’t get the virus, but that thought is now totally gone from my mind.

“Sanitise everything, from your car, your pen, to your computer mouse,” he said.

According to him he has had constant headaches and body pain and his taste buds are shot.

On the second day after Mr Koen had received his results, his symptoms increasingly became worse.

“By day three, my taste was completely gone and I couldn’t even smell my own farts anymore – which is probably a good thing,” he managed to still jokingly say.

The headaches became worse and he could barely walk.

He said that the medication at least seems to be working and his fiancée, Ms Janine Kotze is taking good care of him.

Read the prayer he shared and the rest of his recovery journey in the Highvelder newspaper.