Claire Sweeney thinks she may have battled coronavirus in January.
Claire Sweeney
The 49-year-old actress was hospitalised at the start of the year, when she was left needing a respirator to help with her breathing - and on reflection, Claire now suspects she may have contracted coronavirus.
She said: "I ended up on a ventilator in hospital in January, with the same symptoms as COVID-19.
"I had a high fever, chest pains, raging sore throat and my lungs were rattling. I needed a respirator to help me breathe and I was very scared - it was nothing like I'd ever had in my life, and it knocked me off my feet."
Claire is now keen to know for certain whether she was or wasn't battling coronavirus.
The former 'Brookside' star told Closer magazine: "Afterwards, I was so fragile it took me a month to get over it. I don't want to be ill like that again, it frightened me so much.
"When it's possible, I'll have the antibody test (an at-home test that determines if someone previously had coronavirus and has since recovered)."
In light of her health woes, Claire decided to isolate alongside her five-year-old son Jaxon a week before the UK went into a lockdown.
The actress - who has now been on lockdown inside her London home for six weeks - said: "I was so fragile, and I just wanted to protect my boy.
"He needs me and want to be around to watch him grow up. Before I had him, I was an adrenaline junkie and I'd take chances, but now I'm so careful.
"I definitely feel more vulnerable and scared of things - being a mum brings out the lioness in you and we'll still be super cautious even when lockdown ends.
"But ultimately, being so poorly made me appreciate my health and those close to me."
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