Calgary woman in Barcelona with COVID-19 warns Canadians as virus overwhelms Spain

A Calgary woman who was hospitalized in Barcelona with COVID-19 is warning Canadians to take social distancing seriously as the virus overwhelms Spain's medical system.

Carmen Lee, 23, arrived in Spain in January to work as anau pair.

Nearly two weeks ago, she began to develop concerning symptoms. With a high fever and strugglingwith lung issues, Lee decided she didn't want to wait for a home test and headed to the hospital.

"The medical system here is being completely overwhelmed," saidLee.

'We could be living a very different reality'

With Spain a couple of weeks ahead of Canada in its COVIDcrisis, Lee says she hopes Canadians take social distancing seriously.

"If preventative action could have been taken just one week before, if the mindsets of people could have shifted one week earlier, we could be living a very different reality right now."

Spain has more than 1,000 COVID-19 deaths so far.

That country'shealth minister says the army will help set up a field hospital of 5,500 bedsand intensive care units inside a convention centre in Madrid, which is dealing with more than 7,000 cases of the virus.

'This virus is so much bigger than us'

Health workers have begun outfitting Madrid hotels as makeshift wards for patients considered not in need of intensive care.

Lee says she had planned to look for another au pair job when her contract expires in June, but now, everything is up in the air.

"To all the people back home in Canada or wherever you may be, please understand that this virus will change things very quickly," said Lee. "Once it becomes an issue, it is very hard to control."

"You're not invincible to this this virus is so much bigger than us."