What is it like to work on the frontline in a Covid-19 ICU? Dr Rifah Zia explains in today's Dawn.

I am a doctor, working as an anesthesiologist and a frontline worker in one of the leading tertiary care hospitals in Lahore. Continuing to fulfill my oath and moral obligation towards health care and society, I too was part of the Covid ICU for two months. I say ‘was’ because I started writing this piece while still being quarantined after testing positive for the coronavirus.

As a doctor, I was living in isolation even before I was diagnosed with the Covid-19 [...] Unfortunately, after two months of the Covid ICU duty, one fine day, the first symptoms of the virus started appearing in the form of intense fatigue and fever that did not allow me to get out of bed in the morning. A dozen thoughts rushed through my mind; thoughts about the coronavirus, my parents and dozens of people I had met on duty the day before.

After observing my symptoms in home isolation for a day, I decided to get tested for Covid-19 whose result came as positive. My heart sank. No matter how strong you may be as a doctor, the word “DETECTED” does take a while to sink in.

Read her full account here.