The United States ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marks, spent 10 days in intensive care with COVID-19 and is now recuperating at her residence, she announced Monday.

After first experiencing �fever, chills, a sore throat and fatigue,� Marks went into a hospital on Dec. 28 when her symptoms worsened to receive �supplemental oxygen and therapeutic treatment,� she said in a statement on Twitter.

She was quickly moved to an intensive care unit where she stayed for 10 days and then spent a further three days in the COVID-19 unit, she said.

Marks said she was discharged late last week and is continuing to recuperate at the ambassador�s residence. Her condition is improving and the doctors are confident that she will eventually make a full recovery, she said.

Marks said she will �forever be grateful for the excellent level of care that I received from the South African doctors and nurses,� who cared for her in the hospital.

�I am just one of tens of thousands of COVID-19 patients that South Africa�s health care workers and hospitals have treated with the utmost professionalism, putting their own lives at risk in order to practice their calling,� she wrote.

�Having seen them on the front lines of this battle for nearly a year, and now having had my own life in their hands, I will always remember their heroism and dedication and all that they sacrifice and risk as they fight this dangerous illness on behalf of their countrymen,� she said.

The ambassador�s announcement comes as South Africa is battling a resurgence of COVID-19 that has filled many hospitals to capacity and the numbers of new confirmed cases and hospitalizations are continuing to rise.

She said she made the statement to �further de-stigmatize discussions around COVID-19. Only through sharing information about the virus can we understand how to prevent its spread and treat it.�

She urged all in South Africa to take precautions to prevent getting the disease and to abide by South Africa�s regulations including a night curfew and limits to public gatherings.

�These regulations are in place to save lives and to keep hospitals available for those who truly need it,� she said. �I am fortunate to have had a bed and a medical team available for me in my time of need. We must all do our utmost to give that same opportunity to those who need it.�

(AP)