Coronavirus: ‘Fit and healthy’ nurse, 36, fighting for life on ventilator at hospital where she works

‘People are not taking this seriously enough ... it is not just the elderly who are at risk,’ says her sister

A 36-year-old nurse said to have no underlying health issues is fighting for her life in intensive care after contracting coronavirus.

Areema Nasreen, described as “normally fit and healthy” is on a ventilator in the hospital where she works.

Her sister, Kazeema Nasreen, said: “People are not taking this seriously enough. She is young – it is not just the elderly who are at risk.

“I want everyone to know how dangerous this is. My sister is only 36 and is normally fit and healthy.”

The 22-year-old told Sky News that her elder sister was on annual leave from her job at Walsall Manor Hospital when she first started showing symptoms and she could have picked it up “virtually anywhere”.

She said her sister, who has three children, was in a critical condition but was “making tiny little progress”.

Speaking to BirminghamLive, Kazeema urged everyone to “take coronavirus seriously”.

“My sister, who is an amazing nurse on the front line and who always helps so many, has now caught this virus.”

She said the family were heartbroken but she praised the staff at who had gone “above and beyond” in their care for her sister.

“Areema loves the NHS,” she said. “Her colleagues are like a second family and they have been truly amazing with her – and us.”

The NHS worker, who qualified in January last year, first developed symptoms 10 days ago – body aches, following by a soaring temperature and cough.

She tested positive on Friday for the virus, which has infected around 350,000 people worldwide, leading to more than 15,300 deaths.

The armed forces are being drafted in to help manage and distribute supplies of protective equipment to frontline NHS staff.