Prince Charles shared a heartfelt message after coming out of self-isolation following his COVID-19 diagnosis.
On Tuesday, Clarence House shared a video of the Prince of Wales discussing his recovery and how the novel coronavirus pandemic is affecting older members of the community.
“Having recently gone through the process of contracting this coronavirus, luckily with relatively mild symptoms, I now find myself on the other side of the illness but still in no less a state of social distance and general isolation,” Charles says in the footage.
“As we are all learning, this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed.”
Charles, 71, goes on to say that he and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are thinking of those who have lost loved ones or whose loved ones are currently ill with the virus.
“As patron of Age UK, and my wife as patron of Silver Line, our hearts go out to all those older people throughout this country who are now experiencing great difficulty,” he says.
Age UK and Silver Line are both charitable organizations offering support to the elder populations of the U.K.
The future king paid respect to those on the front lines working in hospitals and care homes or doing simple tasks, like grocery shopping, for members of the elderly population.
“It is clear, therefore, that such key people are treated with special consideration when coming off their exhausting duties … while having to contend with constant anxiety about their own families and friends,” he said.
On Monday, it was announced that Prince Charles was officially out of quarantine after a seven-day stint, per the recommendations of the U.K. government and medical guidelines.
“Clarence House has confirmed today that, having consulted with his doctor, the Prince of Wales is now out of self-isolation,” a spokesman said on Monday.
The source also confirmed the Duchess of Cornwall remains in isolation to make sure she doesn’t also begin to present symptoms of the novel coronavirus.
Charles only displayed mild symptoms and was in self-isolation at a royal estate in Scotland, his Clarence House office said on March 25.
“The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus,” Clarence House said. “He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.”
The tests were carried out by the National Health Service in Scotland.
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Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
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