Coronavirus: couple's COVID-19 recovery clears ACT's caseload

"I'm just keen to go out to the shops even if they're all closed," Mr Stoop laughed.

The last Canberran to test positive for coronavirus, Mr Stoop recovered on Thursday as the ACT marked a milestone as the only Australian state or territory with no active cases of the virus. There have been 106 cases in the territory, and sadly, three people have died.

It's been a terrifying and distressing journey for the couple but they are glad to put a face to the coronavirus crisis gripping the globe.

"It's a good thing, so people know there's real people out there and this is something that can affect anybody," Mrs Stoop said.

A few days after returning from visiting family in South Africa, Irene Stoop started to feel unwell. Mild symptoms she initially dismissed as a common cold and jetlag were later diagnosed as COVID-19, contracted on her flight home.

"It's very intimidating when you're first diagnosed," Mr Stoop said, who contracted the virus several days later.

The couple were initially worried, as Mrs Stoop became overwhelmed with fatigue, sleeping up to 22 hours a day.

"I literally got up, had something to eat and went back to bed," she said.

"The virus, it just drained your energy," Mr Stoop added.

A week later, Mr Stoop started showing symptoms and returned a positive test, he was run down with fever, the worst of it hitting while Mrs Stoop was on the mend.

"Jan got the fevers, by then I felt much better, I was recovering so I could look after him then. He looked after me first, so together we got through it," Mrs Stoop said.

Watching case numbers around the world climb higher and higher on the news, and constant updates on social media gave the couple anxiety, scared and unsure what the virus would do to them.

Now on the other side, Mr Stoop said it was important the community understood it's "not a death sentence".

"There's a really fine line, when can you manage your symptoms and when do you actually go to the emergency department?" Mrs Stoop said.

"We had to make that decision and check in with each other the whole time to make sure, when is the time to actually go to Canberra Hospital?"

Throughout the distressing experience, they said ACT Health had been diligent and helpful, working with the couple to navigate the uncertainty COVID-19 posed.

"They contacted us every single day and checked up on us. They recorded all our symptoms, they answered all our questions," Mrs Stoop said.

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Mrs Stoop has been cleared of COVID-19 for a few days, but remains nervous about putting others at risk, not wandering too far from home.

"I went for a walk and it was lovely to see Canberra with all the autumn colours."