"Corona patient zero" admits: "Today I would be much more scared"

The district of Freising registered its first corona patient on March 1. Three months later, he talks about the course of the disease, rumors and feelings of guilt.

County – It is March 1st when the district office unexpectedly asks for a press conference - a Sunday. The explosive nature of the situation was clearly evident from this alone. On that Sunday, District Administrator Josef Hauner announced: "A man from the Freising district has tested positive for the new type of corona virus." In the days that followed, the events rolled over - not only in the Freising district. Schools are closed, exit restrictions are imposed - life is shut down. And what about patient zero in the district? The Freisinger Tagblatt met him for an interview. He wants to remain anonymous. How so? This becomes clear in the conversation.

How are you in health today?

The day of the first test was three months ago. So far I'm fine. I have not yet noticed any late effects of the disease.

Did you feel really sick? Was it a severe course of the corona infection?

I actually only perceived the disease by accident. After a night of fever, I read about the Corona cases in Heinsberg in the newspapers. Since I was in contact with someone from Heinsberg, I became sensitive. It was not a difficult course. One night with a temperature of 37.9 degrees and sweats, then only one night with temperatures around 37.7 without sweats. Before that, in early February, I had a long illness with a fever above 38 degrees and a severe headache, which was much worse - that “Auer flu” paralyzed half the school in town at the time. But I didn't feel Corona physically bad. At that time, Covid-19 was only known from Webasto and from China.

So you weren't in the hospital at all?

Yes, I was there as "patient zero". Not because I was so bad, but I was there with the other infected people from the Freising district so that the procedures could be tested in the Freising Clinic. I was released after nine days.

And how were the processes in the clinic organized? What was your impression

Everything was well organized, the staff was professional and friendly. Everything great!

How many other corona patients were you at Freising Clinic with?

We were 17 in total. Only one of us had previous illnesses, and the virus added more severely. It was good that she was in the clinic and was receiving medical care around the clock.

Were you afraid

By the time I got the diagnosis, I was over my symptoms. And the news about the disease was not as worrying as it is today - so I didn't find it so bad at first. I was still afraid: I was afraid of catching someone who was hit by the disease worse.

Did you feel guilty?

I have repeatedly considered whether and what I did wrong, what I could have done differently, whether I did not heed warnings or did not comply with hygiene measures. I couldn't find carelessness. I was neither in a (previously known) risk area, did not ignore a travel warning and also washed my hands regularly and avoided contact with the famous doorknob. I always do. My observations on public toilets in the past years have made me turn to politics to point out the conditions there. On the balance sheet, I actually did what I always do: I met friends and took part in public life. This year I was only at the carnival for two days because I didn't have a holiday on Monday.

Was there anything you had a hard time dealing with?

The most annoying thing for me and my “co-sufferers” was the press coverage. Then it was swarming with conjectures that were turned into truth. It was said that I was in the hospital voluntarily. There was talk of the party-goers, the patient dancing around the entire district of Freising, who had previously been infected in the Ruhrpott during the carnival. It was also difficult for me to deal with the fact that the health office in Heinsberg did not support the Freising health office in order to find my alleged first contact with the disease. It was delayed ten days before they finally took action. My brother in Heinsberg was finally tested after ten days - a lot of important time has passed.

Who in your family got infected with you?

In my family, my younger son and my wife were infected, and my older son was still unable to detect any infection or none. An antibody test may give us some clarity here.

And then there were the rumors about patient zero: It was said that a family man who had fun at the carnival but did not infect his wife. How did you and your family deal with conjectures about your private life?

As I said, my wife was also infected - but with a delay of ten days. I wasn't traveling alone, but with my brother - like every year. And on Sunday and Tuesday my wife and children in Au and Nandlstadt took part in the carnival processions. There were no other appearances in the Freising district. Unfortunately, ignorance speaks from many people. It wasn't easy for us.

How long has it been bothering you to remember all the contacts?

I had a lot of time in the nine days in the hospital to find the contacts I knew. I also needed the time, because I could not immediately give an address or telephone number to everyone I spoke to briefly. When you order a drink, you don't automatically get a business card. That is why the contact list is inherently incomplete.

Are you relieved that you have survived the virus and are - most likely - immune?

Yes, we - the first infected with whom I am still in contact - are happy to have survived it and also glad that there have been no serious illnesses among us. Except for one person, but they also survived - even if it took longer. If we were to become infected today, we would probably be much more afraid, as there are unfortunately few positive reports on the course of the disease in the media.

What is different in your life today than before Corona?

Like the other people, we live with a mask and distance and with fewer contacts. In addition, the times for childcare and work have to be reorganized. All of this is no different for us than for others.

The corona-related restrictions: were and are they justified in your eyes?

Yes. Let people stay home and stick to the rules!

Keyword hygiene demos. What do you make of it?

In such demos, I suppose you always meet the same people. As with the Fridays for Future demos. Many will use it to capitalize on it politically.

If you could go back in time. . .?

. . .I might have myself tested for the virus before Cologne, because it is still not clear where I got the infection. The fact is that I am the first person in Freising to be tested out of the group of infected people. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be in focus now. Who knows, maybe I wouldn't have noticed that I had Corona. But because of the responsibility towards my fellow human beings, it was a duty for me to go to the test. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the current status is that it has not yet been possible to determine who was the first to get the virus from the group of the first infected and spread the virus.

That means you may not be “patient zero” at all?

Since I already had cold symptoms before Cologne and the outbreak of Corona disease occurred simultaneously with infected people from my chain of contacts, this is not clear. So who had it first, who got infected with whom, will probably no longer be able to be clarified. It would be interesting to know which wave of diseases occurred here in Au from early to mid-February: half of the students at primary school were ill at the time - and there were more boys than girls.

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