“I think there was just an importance and a huge kind of emotional nourishment to suddenly being around lots of people, albeit virtually, from the Jewish community locally who could wish me well,” he said.
One element of the service Dr Magnus found “hugely poignant” was the prayer the group had created for medical staff, scientists and other key workers.
“I was feeling lucky to be alive and incredibly grateful to be back with my family,” he added.
But there had been psychological as well as physical effects and his situation had been “very hard” on his wife Kerri and six-year-old son Elias, who had not been able to visit him when he was a patient.
However, he was fortunate to be treated in the hospital where he worked as he was “able to rely on little drop-offs of orange juice and pastries from my colleagues. I felt very loved and very well looked after by my professional family.”
After a month off work recovering, Dr Magnus is now back preparing his department for a potential increase in cases this winter.
