A 23-year-old doctor has described his 'terrifying' experience of post COVID-19 syndrome.
Dr Owen O'Flynn said he started to wonder if he would ever get out of intensive care after his heart and lung functions deteriorated while in hospital.
He shared his experience at tonight's Department of Health briefing, as 825 new cases were confirmed in the Republic.
In late March, Dr O'Flynn lost his sense of taste and smell - but not qualify for a test at the time as he showed no other symptoms.
Despite recovering those senses a week later, a month later he began to feel unwell after working in COVID ICU.
He experienced serious symptoms, such as stomach pain, profuse sweating and constant vomiting.
Dr O'Flynn received a swab test, but tested negative for COVID-19,
However, as his condition worsened, he was informed of a post COVID-19 syndrome which was beginning to be detected in Italy, typically among children.
Another COVID-19 test confirmed Dr O'Flynn had been infected 4-6 weeks beforehand.
ICU
Soon, Dr O'Flynn's condition rapidly deteriorated.
He explains: "My oxygen levels reduced and in the space of a minute I was unable to finish a sentence.
"On the basis of how quickly I was deteriorating I was admitted to ICU."
Initially, doctors in Cork University Hospital decided to lie him on his front - something which can be done for COVID-19 patients to improve lung function.
That helped stabilise his condition for a number of days, avoiding the need for him to be put into a coma and intubated.
However, Dr O'Flynn's heart function then dropped to a 'third of what it should be'.
He explained: "I had two major system failures as part of the post COVID syndrome, both an acute respiratory failure and an acute heart failure.
"At that point I started to wonder would I ever get out of ICU, would I die in there?
"I came to accept that if I did, everything would have been done to prevent that from happening."
He said there were two or three days representing his 'lowest point', and were "very dark days".
Warning
Luckily, Dr O'Flynn's condition began to improve over the next few days, and was brought back down to the hospital ward.
A week later, Dr O'Flynn was discharged from ICU - but he says he was 'by no means fixed' when he returned home.
He said he was breathless just walking around the house, and was in constant contact with doctors to monitors his condition.
It was only after six weeks that he began to "regain a sense of normality" - although he is still experiencing a reduction of fitness.
He said: "While the elderly are most at risk from COVID-19, the virus can still have devastating effects on people my age and there is no real way to tell who will deteriorate.
"I am a 23-year-old, who maintained a high level of fitness and I ended up in ICU due to COVID-19."
He's urged people who think they are immune to severe effect to 'think twice' and follow the public health advice.
