Retired goalie for Turkey’s national soccer team ‘underestimated COVID-19’

Retired goalie for the Turkish national soccer team Rüştü Reçber said that he underestimated the coronavirus, for which he received treatment in Italy, Italian daily Tuttomercato reported April 11. “This virus is serious, it’s no joke,” Reçber said.

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Retired goalie for Turkey’s national soccer team Rüştü Reçber said that he realized he had underestimated the coronavirus while hospitalized in Italy for the illness, Italian daily Tuttomercato reported April 11. 

“I have to admit, I underestimated the illness in the beginning because I thought it would be like a regular cold. This virus is serious, it’s no joke,” Reçber said. 

The goalie’s symptoms started with a mild sore throat and a low fever, which he treated with acetaminophen as recommended by his family doctor. 

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Slowly, Reçber noticed his sense of smell and taste diminishing, but he started worrying when his fever peaked on the seventh day.

Reçber went to the hospital on the seventh day of his illness, and tested positive for COVID-19. 

The retired soccer player is getting better by the day, he said, even though he’s lost some weight and will need to remain in home isolation for another 14 days. 

“I had pneumonia and had some rough times, one of the hardest times in my life. But thankfully the worst is over and I’m back home.”

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