He went through seven COVID tests, swinging back and forth between positive and negative
DUBAI: Thirty-two-year-old Bryan Tayag Pagtalunan was enjoying his day-off, having finally able to prepare a decent meal for himself after working at night for consecutive shifts.
Then his phone rang.
“It was from a lady telling me she’s with Dubai Health Authority (DHA),” recalls Pagtalunan, who works at one of the shops at Dubai International Airport’s concourse.
Pagtalunan had his COVID test done four days ago on April 27 – a routine requirement from the company management – and he had been feeling a bit queasy due to a pesky phlegm by his throat.
“My world stopped. It took some seconds to reply. I was kind of expecting it because of the phlegm I had been having for the last few days,” he said.
The lady then went on with a barrage of questions: “Where am I now? Where do I work? When was the last time I reported for work? Where do I live? Am I living alone or in a shared partition? I calmly answered her questions because at that moment I have already accepted I am COVID positive,” said Pagtalunan, apparently judging from the numerous queries about himself by the “DHA lady.”
Upon being informed that he was COVID-positive, Pagtalunan immediately informed his line manager and prepared to isolate himself.
He was staying in a partitioned room at a shared three-bedroom flat in Rigga, where the living area has been converted into three smaller spaces. The entire flat is shared by him with three families, at one family per room.
Pagtalunan requested that DHA transfer him to a facility over concerns he might infect his flatmates, who, by the way, took no offense at all for his having acquired the coronavirus and were, quite rightfully on the contrary, very supportive. He was, after all, asymptomatic.
“Every member in the house was isolated and thankfully they understood my situation. I didn’t feel discriminated against and actually received a lot of support and comfort. Most of them were nurses so they knew my case,” he said.
Soon, Pagtalunan was billeted in a swanky five-star hotel Business Bay hotel, where he would be treated like a prince for the duration of his stay.
“The place was awesome. The nurses took my vital signs and explained that since I am asymptomatic, they would quarantine me there and that they will do some swab testing every now and then.
“Food was provided three times a day. Kudos to the Dubai government for taking good care of COVID patients,” Pagtalunan said.
He didn’t have the slightest idea that it would be the beginning of a nerve-wracking rollercoaster ride for him.
Pagtalunan tested negative on May 4 and he was ecstatic. He was told he needed at least two negative results for them to let him go. Being asymptomatic, no medication was necessary; just the usual vitamin C, ginger and lemon tea, and steaming.
The May 8 test, which came out positive, doused cold water on Pagtalunan: “My heart broke. I was devastated,” he said.
That would not be all. Pagtalunan was swabbed again on May 12 and, after three days, was told he was still COVID-positive. His heart sank.
“That was the moment when I started questioning them and myself. I was doing everything to get this COVID thing away, but I was still getting positive results,” he said.
“I even asked them to transfer me to a different room thinking that maybe the virus was living inside my room.”
His father, who was in the Philippines passed away, while Pagtalunan was in quarantine – and that further fueled his agonies.
“My father had just wanted me to be free of this virus. He would always ask me for updates and how I was doing. I felt helpless. All I could do was comfort my mom and siblings and cry. But I needed to be strong because I am the eldest,” Pagtalunan said.
On May 18, another test result, the fourth since he went on quarantine came out, and it was “negative.” Pagtalunan’s dad could have called the heavens to work miracles for his son.
“I was in tears,” said Pagtalunan. “My heart was filled with gratitude and at the same time sadness because of what happened to my father.”
Fifth test was done on May 19 and it came out “positive.” Pagtalunan was losing hope, resigning himself to fate.
Another test was done on the 23rd and it came out “negative,” which made doctors to decide Pagtalunan was free to go.
He explained: “According sa doctor, discharged na ako kasi may new protocol sa DHA ngayon na once na nag-positive ka, you just need to isolate for 14 days. So, since ako ay nag-“negative” na ulit and more than three weeks na ako duon, I could go home.
“But of course I still need to be extra careful pa rin, continue yung ginagawa ko, like taking vitamin C. I recently added Zinc. I also need to isolate myself sa bahay for seven days just to make sure.”
Going back to his shared accommodation, realizations dawned on Pagtalunan.
Covid is real,” he said. “I have felt experienced it. People need not be complacent. They need to be watchful in all the things that they do and follow directives from the government because they know better.”
And for those infected with the virus, he says: “Do not lose hope. Remember that no matter how dark and long the night, the sun will always rise!”
The Daily Bread 