Inside Jake Rosmarin's 42-day hantavirus quarantine experience.
Image: INSTAGRAM
Travel influencer Jake Rosmarin is giving followers a glimpse inside his hantavirus quarantine at the US National Quarantine Unit in Nebraska, documenting life in isolation after finally being evacuated from the stricken MV Hondius.
Days after the luxury expedition ship reached the Canary Islands following a deadly outbreak, Rosmarin has begun sharing candid daily vlogs from his quarantine facility, revealing everything from his confined living space to the emotional toll of spending 42 days under medical watch.
"I just wanted to give you a little tour of my room," he said, panning his phone to the door.
"You walk in here and then there is closet space and here is my little hand sanitation station."
He went on to show his bedroom, which has a thermometer, TV, fridge, bed, a recliner, and even a stationary exercise bike.
"The room is very spacious and comfortable. I can have stuff sent here for the duration of my stay. So, I'm definitely going to be getting some things for me to feel more at home and more comfortable," he said on his second day at the facility.
Rosmarin has also used the opportunity to clear up rumours circulating online that he was the passenger who tested positive for the virus.
"Unfortunately, my photo was used in an article, but if you actually read the article, it states that I am in the quarantine unit, not that I was the person who tested positive," he said.
The virus has already claimed three lives. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) along with the South African Department of Health have moved to quell panic, saying it will not be the next pandemic.
Briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health on, Aaron Motsoaledi said the situation is far from the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The hantavirus is not a new virus. It's not like Covid-19. I am painfully aware that members of the public are very worried because they are thinking of the scary days of the virus.
"But remember that the Covid-19 virus just fell on us without anybody suspecting anything. This particular one is a well-known virus," Motsoaledi said.
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