Doctors try to get Sunderland mum fighting coronavirus to breathe for herself as family are out of self-isolation

The woman, who is in her 60s, remains in a coma but the family say she is 'stable' and hope the coming days will bring positive news as doctors work to get her to breathe on her own.

The mum, who is from the Pennywell area, was the first person in Sunderland to test positive for the virus two weeks ago after she was rushed to South Tyneside District Hospital ‘gasping for air’.

Now, after 14 days in self-isolation, her husband and daughter are allowed to leave the house for the first time and haven’t shown any symptoms.

The family, who do not wish to be named, are hoping for positive news as their mum is coming to the end of a 10-day course of treatment but remains in an induced coma.

Her son said: “My dad and sister are both out of self-isolation and haven’t shown any symptoms at all.

“I’m going to see my dad for the first time at the weekend. We speak every day on the phone, sometimes two or three times, but it’ll be good to see him.

“My dad was climbing up the walls being in self-isolation. Thankfully he had my little sister there otherwise I think it would have been a lot worse.”

Following the Sunderland mum’s positive Covid-19 test the family spoke of how they were ‘bamboozled’ as to how their relative had contracted the illness.

Her son still says he’s amazed that his dad hadn’t caught the virus as he was looking after the mum and sharing a bed with her before she was admitted to hospital.

“Doctors are just trying to get my mam to breathe on her own now. Hopefully in the next few days we’ll get to hear some more positive news,” said the patient's son.

“We haven’t seen her in two weeks, she’s had no visitors.

“She’s going to be poorly for a long time, it depends how much damage it’s done to her lungs. She’s going in the right direction though.

“The staff are doing an amazing job for her, I really can’t thank them enough.

“They’re doing the best that they can in such difficult circumstances.

“The pressure and what they’re going through is unreal.

“I do wish it would hurry up, I just want to see her awake.”

Coronavirus cases were first reported in Hubei Province, China, in December 2019.

There are now 3,983 confirmed cases in the UK as today (March 20) Boris Johnson has told all cafes, restaurants, bars, cinemas and gyms to close until further notice.

Sadly, as of 1pm on March 20, 177 people have died in the UK after test positive for the virus.

Symptoms include fever and a cough that may progress to pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.