A Phoenix man who recently tested positive for the new coronavirus described an arduous process in getting tested despite being in direct contact with someone who had already been diagnosed with the virus.

Andrei "Drei" Marghitas said he started noticing flu-like symptoms several days after attending a birthday party on Feb. 29.

Marghitas said that at the party he shook hands and hugged a man who later posted a public video saying he was the second confirmed coronavirus case in Arizona.

Despite having contact with a confirmed case, Marghitas told The Arizona Republic that getting tested for the new coronavirus was difficult.

"Whenever I reached out to primary-care physicians, they would tell me to reach out to the emergency room," Marghitas told The Republic. "The emergency room said they wouldn't take me."

Marghitas said he was determined to get tested as he and his fiance have a 1-month-old son to care for, but the process was long and frustrating, with numerous health professionals telling him to self-quarantine if he wanted to but that he wasn't eligible for a test.

"It was horrible," Marghitas said. "It was literally consuming me because all I wanted to do was get help and I probably wouldn't have been this persistent if I didn't have a son that was 1 month old. He doesn't have an immune system, so I'm concerned about his health."

Persistence leads to a test

He eventually called an emergency nurse at HonorHealth in Deer Valley who, after learning how young Marghitas' his son was, said to come in for a test.

Marghitas said the hospital initially tested him for the flu, which came back negative. He said the Arizona Department of Health Services eventually approved the hospital to test him for the new coronavirus.

He said medical staff ran a long cotton swab up his nose and was told that the sample would be sent to a lab in California and would receive the results within three to five business days.

It only took two.

Marghitas received a call around 8:30 a.m. on March 14 from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health Administration. He had tested positive for the new coronavirus. Marghitas, who had already quarantined himself out of concern for his family, became one of 18 people diagnosed with the new coronavirus as of Monday.

That day he posted a video on YouTube describing his experience and frustrations. It has been viewed more than 42,000 times in two days.

He shared an email with The Arizona Republic that shows a Maricopa County health official confirming to him that he tested positive for the illness, also called COVID-19.

Isolated from his family under the same roof

Marghitas said he spends his days in the spare room of this three-bedroom home in north Phoenix. When asked how he was keeping himself busy while under quarantine, Marghitas said sharing his story with numerous news outlets took up most of his time as of late.

"It's kind of madness right now," Marghitas said. "And I'm going to make sure that as many people as possible have the information that I have. Because I know people are freaking out and some people are worried and, you know, I just wanted people to know as a healthy 27-year-old male I've been doing pretty well."

His fiancée prepares meals for him and leaves the food outside his door before returning to her bedroom. Marghitas then puts on his N95 respirator mask before opening the door and taking the food.

He keeps his dirty dishes inside the room and sprays them with Lysol to prevent bacteria growth. Marghitas said he's concerned returning the dishes could expose his fiancée and infant son.

Marghitas said he video chats with his family under the same roof to talk and keep them updated about his condition.

Marghitas, who works as an account manager for a tutoring company called Varsity Tutors, said his company has been extremely supportive as he combats the virus. He said the company CEO has called and texted him personally to check on him and his family.

Flu-like symptoms with a twist

The coronavirus gave Marghitas a number of unpleasant symptoms, such as headaches, excessive coughing and shortness of breath. He said the headaches can be quite severe and last between one and three hours. He recalled one time where he woke up around midnight and coughed for seven minutes straight.

Like day-to-day, it's like the flu, Marghitas said. "But you have these sporadic moments that come in, that kick in, that are very dramatic and it's not like anything I've ever experienced before."

Thankfully, his symptoms appear to be subsiding as his body combats the virus. He has only coughed up mucus the past few mornings whereas before it was mixed with blood.

Frustration over lack of testing

While Marghitas was impressed by how quickly he was diagnosed after being tested, he was upset and frustrated by how difficult it was to get tested and felt he only received the medical advice and attention he sought after he tested positive for the coronavirus.

"I'm like, 'Great. I'm glad that you're telling me all this now and you're saying all this, but where were you guys when I needed help?'" Marghitas said. "'I was telling you guys this whole time that I was almost positive that I have this. I shook this (other patient's) hand. I'm sick and nobody cared and now everybody suddenly cares oh so much."

Marghitas said he's also concerned for the people he interacted with before developing symptoms. He describes himself as a pretty social guy, and struggles to remember whom he spent time with two weeks ago when he likely carried the virus without symptoms.

Marghitas said he was initially nervous and embarrassed about posting his coronavirus diagnosis to YouTube, but felt he needed to share his experience and what he knew with as many people as he could.

While most of the comments on his video have been positive, Marghitas said he takes umbrage with a few people claiming he's trying to profit off the experience.

"I don't have a GoFundMe account," Marghitas said. "I've refused to set up a GoFundMe account. Anybody who has asked or claims to have a GoFundMe account set up for me is a liar."

Marghitas said he didn't post the video to get clicks or make money, but to inform worried people seeking answers.

"My main goal and objective is for people to know my experience," Marghitas said. "I did test positive for this. I know a lot of people don't have any information."

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

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