DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: The number of Filipinos who have died in the UAE due to COVID-19 has further increased to 55 — or 24% of the total 233 as of May 20 — of which 48 were in Dubai.

There were additional 5 Filipino deaths recorded in four days from May 17, Sunday, when the figure was 43, according to Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes.

Cortes, on May 8 or just two weeks ago, said there were 23 Filipino deaths due to COVID-19 in Dubai and the neighboring Northern Emirates at the time.

The numbers point to a sharply increasing incidents of COVID-related deaths among Filipinos in Dubai.

 Stay calm

Cortes urged Filipinos to “keep calm and have faith that all these will pass.”

“We hope our nationals continue to heed the advice of healthcare professionals and the UAE government on taking precautions relative to the spread of the virus. Remain home and don’t unnecessarily go to public places,” he said.

“Remember (that) the movement restrictions may have eased, but the virus has not abated. Keep calm and have faith that all these will pass and we become an even more resilient race. May these challenges highlight our humanity,” Cortes added.

There are approximately 500,000 Filipinos in Dubai.

Abu Dhabi

A medical records clerk and transcriptionist, who died on May 19, was the third COVID-19 fatality since May 6 in Abu Dhabi when Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana reported 4 deaths at the emirate to the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), bringing the total to seven.

Adding the seven deaths in Abu Dhabi to the 48 brings the total number of Filipino deaths due to COVID at 55.

UAE report

Dr. Amna Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE government, said there were 233 COVID-related deaths in the country as of May 20 following the death of six more in a day.  There were three deaths reported by the UAE government on May 19; four on May 18; six on May 17 and another four on May 16.

Meantime, the figures on COVID-positive patients who have recuperated offer a glimmer of hope. According to the UAE government, 11,809 patients have fully recovered from COVID-19.

The government also said there were 26,004 COVID-19 cases in the UAE.  Over 43,732 additional tests have been conducted which resulted in the detection of 941 new cases, the government said.

Dubai

Among Filipinos who have died in Dubai was Marvin Cruz Santos, who lived in Satwa and had been jobless since March 15, 2020.

According to his cousin, Jun  Cruz de Guzman, the deceased started having fever in April but was able to hold it back with medications.

“Kaso, after a week or some days ay nakaramdam po uli sya ng sakit at hindi na makahinga. May 7, 2020 ay isinugod na nga sya sa hospital at in-admit sa ICU,” de Guzman said.

He said they suspect his cousin got the coronavirus after going to a grocery store in Satwa. He said Santos had his mask on at the time.  

Santos passed away on May 20. He was 43 and he left behind a wife and three children, according to de Guzman.   

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates:  Forty-three Filipinos in Dubai and the northern emirates have died of COVID-19, while five more have been reported dead in Abu Dhabi, bringing the total at 48 – or 22% – of the 220 coronavirus-related deaths announced by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) on Sunday, May 17.

Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said the count on the number of Filipinos who have succumbed to the virus started during last month’s sterilization drive.

There were 23 Filipinos who have succumbed to COVID-19 just 10 days ago,   Cortes had said in an previous interview.

“Yung 43 (total) ay since the beginning of the COVID lockdown ‘yan,” Cortes said.

The latest Filipino to have died was a high school official. Further details were not available pending notification of the deceased’s immediate relatives.

There are approximately 750,000 documented overseas Filipino workers in the UAE of which some 500,000 are Dubai-based, officials said.

Be careful

This at hand, Cortes reminded Filipinos that the “virus threat still remains” even with the easing of restrictions. The UAE government started to allow movement of people on April 24.  The 24-hour “sterilization” drive started on April 4.

“Keep taking the necessary precautions. The restrictions on the movement of people may have been eased but the virus threat still remains and thus, we would still encourage people to be more cautious and perhaps continue staying home instead,” Cortes said.

He added: “Heed the advice of health authorities — wear masks, gloves, wash your hands frequently, among others.”

Three nurses, two engineers and a community volunteer have been among COVID fatalities.

The nurses were Marlon Jimenea, who died in Sharjah on April 26; Janette Daywan Alano, who died in Abu Dhabi on May 10, Mothers’ Day; and Lezly Ocampo Concepcion, who passed away also in Abu Dhabi on May 12, International Nurses’ Day.

Melchor Corpus Mandac, a community volunteer died in Dubai also on May 12, while Engr. Mario Vilela Mercado succumbed to the virus likewise in Dubai on  April 27.

In Abu Dhabi, Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana had reported to the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in a May 6 interview that four Filipinos have died in the UAE’s capital city.

According to MoHAP, cases of COVID in the UAE have reached 23,358; total number of recoveries was 8,512. The ministry said there has been six COVID-related deaths for a total of 220 also as of Sunday, May 17.

Janette Alano, the Filipina nurse who recently died of COVID-19 in Abu Dhabi, had suspected she got the coronavirus following conversation with a fever-struck staff whom she asked to go home.

This was learned in an interview with Jalyssa, the deceased nurse’s daughter, who said her mom also told her that she and the staff were both wearing masks and were at an arm’s distance from each other.

“Napag-usapan namin if may contact ba sya with anyone suspected. Sabi nya meron silang one staff from work na may fever na pina-uwi nya and at arm’s length lang ang distance and both naman daw sila naka-mask,” Jalyssa recalls.

She said it was April 26 when her 47-year-old mom, who had a history of asthma and diabetes, sent her a message, complaining of breathing difficulties.

“She told me she was having an asthma attack,” Jalyssa said.

She added: “Nag-home treatment siya with a nebulizer and meds nya. Then she booked an appointment sa hospital for check-up since the meds were not working. The following day, April 27 , she went to the hospital but was told to go to ER instead since she was having difficulty of breathing.

“Since then sinuspect na sya for COVID and was admitted na din until lumabas results. They started her treatment and lumabas results after 3 days which showed positive nga for COVID.”

Her mother’s condition deteriorated with coughs, fever, appetite loss and declining oxygen saturation in the body, said Jalyssa.

“Ina-update nalang nya kami since kami hindi kami maka-visit sa kanya. Then she was moved to a hospital which handles COVID patients. When she was transferred, bumababa ulit ung oxygen saturation nya then nilipat sya sa ICU for close monitoring,” Jalyssa said.

From then on, she added, Janette’s symptoms progressed

“Binigyan na sya ng high flow oxygen then nung hindi pa din umo-ok yung oxygen saturation and breathing nya, she was put in a non-invasive mechanical vent. Nakakapag-reply pa sya sakin that time but limited lang kasi nanghihina na din sya,” Jalyssa said.

It was in the morning of May 9, she said, when she received information that her mom has been intubated.

“Afternoon of that day, they updated me na nagre-respond si mommy sa treatment and okay ung oxygen saturation nya. The next morning, May 10, the hospital called me and told me the news that her condition suddenly deteriorated and they tried to save her but due to the complications she was not able to survive.

“We were all shocked by the news, in-update ko din po agad family ko and we are all saddened that she’s gone,” Jalyssa said.

Jalyssa, 25, said it was back in March when she last saw her mom. She visited her from Sharjah. They had planned for her 48^th birthday on May 27,  but as Janette is now gone, a few changes will have to be made.

“Now ang plan na lang po namin ay maybe each of us will bake her a cake and we’ll celebrate her birthday reminiscing all the wonderful memories we had with her,” she said.

How do you beat boredom staying at home? Go training. Better yet, go training for a cause.

Take it from seasoned Filipino triathlete, Romeo Tumayao Puncia III, who ran 19 kms in 19 days on a tread mill for a total distance of 361.34kms, clocking in at 32:32:42.

He also did 19-km laps for a total of 370.29 kms and timing in at 13:03:39 on a stationary bike.

All while staying indoors  at his home in Al Ain, east of UAE’s capital city, Abu Dhabi.

An even nicer thing about this is that he promoted awareness against COVID-19 and shore up relief goods as well as masks and PPEs for free distribution.

“I hope we could inspire and reach out to more people with our ‘Staying Heathy while at Home’ campaign and make a difference,”  Puncia III, who has seen action in various international competitions told GMA News.

He was also the first Filipino triathlete and UAE resident to conquer last year’s 517.5-km Ultraman Florida and known for his “Race with a Purpose” advocacy involving Palawan’s tribal communities.

Puncia is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and healthcare provider with the ambulance section of the Abu Dhabi Police’s Emergency and Public Safety Department.

For his stay-at-home campaign dubbed, “COVID19 vs 19,” the Pinoy triathlete, was able to make available around 3,500 pieces of surgical masks, 100 pieces of face shields, 100 pieces of KN95, 10 thermal scanners, Dh3,000 worth of food and relief items.

Supporters and friends donated for his COVID-19 endeavor held from April 5 to 24, 2020.

These are now being distributed at labor camps as well as hospitals and public ambulances.

“We also sent five thermal scanners to Philippine General Hospital EMS, and boxes of running shirts to the tribal and indigenous communities in Palawan,” Puncia said.

Puncia is preparing for a series of  events.

On July 26, 2020 will be the SwimJunkie Caramoan 15-km open-water swim in Pili, Camarines Sur.

This culminates at the Ultraman World Championship (UWC) in Hawaii on November 27-29, 2020.

The UWC to be held in Kona, Hawaii involves a 10-km swim, 423-km cycling, and 84-km run.

“I will be representing UAE and the Philippines sa Ultraman World Championship as the first male UAE-based Filipino Athlete na napili to race this event,” he said.

“Kung matapos ko ito, I will be making history as the first Filipino and first UAE-based athlete na nakatapos ng Ultraman World Championship. Kaya ngayon palang, pinaghahandaan ko na sya,” Puncia added.

Community volunteer also succumbs to the virus

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A 31-year-old Filipina nurse, who was supposed to visit her five-year-old child in the Philippines but could not because of the lockdown back there, has died of COVID-19 as medical practitioners around the world observed International Nurses Day.

Lezly Ocampo Concepcion, passed away in the evening of May 12, Tuesday in an Abu Dhabi hospital, according to her cousin Manel Ocampo.

In Dubai, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) known for his consistent community volunteerism, also passed away due to COVID-19 on the same day.

Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes said Melchor Corpuz Mandac, a mechanic and member of the Task Force Tuklas, “was such a dedicated person.”

“True to the volunteer definition, he never thought that his job needed publicity. He did what was necessary and never aimed for the glorious part of volunteerism. He was always at my side during community events,” Cortes told reporters.

Task Force Tuklas is a group of Filipino volunteers in Dubai under the supervision of the government, recruited to assist in Covid-19 detection in the community. The group also assist on food relief efforts for displaced OFWs.

Nightingale

The UAE chapter of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), which posted news about her death, gave heartfelt condolences to Concepcion, the third nurse to have died of coronavirus infection in the country.

“The Filipino nursing community in UAE has lost another nightingale.  Farewell to you, ma’am Lezly. Our heartfelt condolences to the family and may you rest in peace. Real heroes don’t have a name on the back of their uniform, they have their country’s flag on the arm of a uniform,” PNA-UAE said.

Manel told Rappler in an interview from La Union that her cousin, Lezly, was supposed to go on a break to be with her daughter this month.

“Uuwi sana siya dito ngayong May yung pinsan ko kaso nagkaroon ng lockdown. Ngayon, uuwi nga po siya pero patay na. Worst abo nalang ang i-uuwi sa amin,” Manel said.

She said Lezly had told them through a family group chat that she tested positive to COVID-19. “Magme-May nuon nang pina-home quarantine siya,” Manel said.

She said the family learned about Lezly death by regularly keeping in touch with the Human Resource department at the company that employed her and with doctors at the hospital where she was put in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“Nakikipag-ugnayan kami sa HR at sa doctor doon sa hospital kung saan siya na-ICU,” Manel said.

“Hindi niya deserved yun. May anak siya na 5-years old na naghihintay sa kanya. Napakabuti at masayahin niyang tao kaya sobrang sakit sa amin,” she said.

“Sobrang biglaan. Masakit yung pagkamatay niya kasi ang layo niya sa amin. Ang hirap tanggapin lalo na’t mag-isa lang siya doon sa Abu Dhabi at wala kaming magawa.

“Mas masakit lalo yung namatay na siya sa malayo pero hindi namin mahahawakan or makikita ang itsura niya kahit sa kabaong lamang kasi kailangan raw i-cremate kung gusto namin siya iuwi rito sa Pilipinas,” Manel said.

Lezly was the third nurse reported to have died in the UAE of COVID-19. On Mothers’ Day, Janette Daywan Alano, a charge nurse passed away also in Abu Dhabi while Marlon Jimenea, an ICU nurse in Sharjah, died on April 26.

Sacrifice

Meantime, Sherwin Achivara, one of Mandac’s four nephews in the UAE, said they had no idea their uncle was already suffering from coronavirus infection.

Mandac, it was later found out, had been having symptoms for the past two weeks. “Nakikita lang naming sa FB nya, sinasabi nya, ‘Pagod lang ito,’” Achivara said.

“Hindi naming alam na COVID na pala.”

Achivara recalled that someone from the hospital called to inform them that their uncle has been rushed to ER. He said they panicked.

Mandac was staying in Satwa; Achivara, at a workers’ accommodation in Al Quoz.

“Hirap raw huminga. Nagpanic kami. Nagsend ako ng message sa kanya kasi nakita ko naka-online pero hindi na sya naka-reply,” Achivara said.

 He said Mandac left behind four children and their mother in Pangasinan.  “Alam na po nila duon. Hindi sila makapaniwala dahil biglaan. Pati nga kami dito nagulat,” Achivara said.

Robel Beltran, a fellow volunteer, said Mandac was not able to undergo COVID test. “In-intubate agad. Dinala ng ambulance from the testing center to the hospital,” he said.

Jason Roi Bucton, Kalayaan 2020 Organizing Committee chairperson said Mandac has been known to set aside personal life for community service.

“Kahit sa mga huling sandali ng kanyang buhay, nag boluntaryo pa sya sa Dubai Police para masmakapagsilbi sa komunidad sa panahon ng pandemya, hanggang sya na mismo ang binawian dahil sa COVID,” he said.

 The numbers

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) announced on Thursday May 14, that total number of COVID cases in the UAE was at 21,084; there were 208 deaths; and 6,930 recoveries

MOHAP said it has conducted over 37,000 additional COVID-19 tests using state-of-the-art medical testing methods.

A nurse who was also a  mom died of COVID-19 on Mothers’ Day while an engineer, who was nearing retirement and was  reluctant to be transferred to another site because those who has worked there were put on quarantine, has also passed on due to the virus in the UAE.

Janette Daywan Alano died on Sunday, May 10 according to the Philippine Nurses Association – UAE Chapter.

Joel Hualde, former president of the Filipino Nurses Association in the Emirates (FNAE) and current adviser of the group said Alano, who was based in Abu Dhabi, was a charge nurse.  

“I don’t know how she got infected. As a nurse, we should not be complacent in dealing with our patients and even in our daily routines outside the work. At work, we need to prepare ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally. Our actions should be coupled with presence of mind. 

“Dealing with any patients, nurses should be protected by PPEs and should know how to properly use them.  Correct steps of donning and doffing must be accurately followed to prevent contaminating yourself. Even in the workplace, social distancing has to be practiced.  Sometimes we may not know that our colleagues have the virus undetected,” Hualde said.

‘My mom suggested I take up nursing’

Jalyssa Alano, the eldest of Janette’s three children and who works as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the neighboring emirate of Sharjah, said her mother was a “very strong person.”

“Si mommy po nag-suggest sa’kin na mag-take ng nursing kasi nakikitaan nya din daw po ako ng potential,” Jalyssa said.

“We both dreamed of working together in the future, parang mother- daughter duo. Then nag-nursing din po ako and came to love the profession din,” she added.

Jalyssa said her mother would always suggest that she take up trainings to improve her credentials “to help me in my chosen field of nursing which is ER.”

“Then one time she suggested na mag-take ako ng EMT course and I did and mas nagustuhan ko yung field na yun kaya tinuloy-tuloy ko na yung profession and nakapag-apply din ng work dito sa UAE,”Jalyssa said.

Rio Mher Rafael meantime said it hurts that Janette has passed on. “The last voice message I  sent her was greeting her happy Mothers’ Day and after an hour, I received a message that she has passed away,” Rafael said.

“Masakit po. Parang nanay ko po sya dito,” Rafael added.

She said Janette would have been celebrating her birthday on May 27.

Xander Albano, a colleague said they were planning an educational program with Janette that focuses on Nursing Certification in Quality.

“Yun kasi ang passion namin as we work in nursing administration,” she said.

Citing information received from a cousin of the deceased, Albano said  tested positive on April 27.

“Nakakalungkot kasi we lost another great nurse that inspires and mentors the next generation of nurses. She will be missed but will never be forgotten,” Albano said.

Fallen hero

“A hero who has given her life to something bigger than oneself. We mourn for the passing of our fellow nurse Janette Daywan Alano. You made a good fight. May you rest in peace,” PNA-UAE said in its Facebook page, referring to Alano.

The post generated an outpouring of condolences, including from those lamenting that Alano, herself a mother, died as the rest of the world was celebrating Mothers’ Day.

“A Mothers Day celebration supposedly being celebrated with family which instead is mourning as you’ve gone so soon. May your soul rest in peace Nette Nette,” read one comment.

Second thoughts

Meantime, the company who have hired 55-year-old Engr. Mario Vilela Mercado is currently working to have his remains transferred from Ajman to Sharjah to have it cremated, according to Engr. Arnel E. Caburnay, a close friend of the deceased.

Caburnay said Mercado, who hails from Ibaan, Batangas, was having second thoughts about his new site assignment where he eventually contracted the coronavirus and died.

“A day or two before siya na-transfer sa lilipatan niyang site, from EXPO 2020 to a project sa may Diera, nagkausap pa kami. Sabi niya akin, “Dre (tawagan namin), ililipat ako sa isang project sa may Deira.’

“Kaso lang sabi nya,  ‘Parang natatakot ako dahil nga naka-quarantine ang mga kasamahan ko na galing dyan due to symptoms of COVID-19 daw. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Gusto mo kausapin ko boss mo (dahil kakilal ko boss nya) at sabi nya ‘Huwag na,’” recalls Caburnay, who had worked with Mercado in other projects before.

(“He came up to me a day of two before he was transferred to a new site from Expo 2020, where he was working at, to Deira. He told me, ‘I am a bit afraid because my fellow staff who had been there were quarantined because they showed COVID-19 symptoms. I told him I can talk to his boss because I know the person. He said, ‘Never mind.’”)

Engr, Bobby Relente, Middle East vice president of the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) to which Mercado and Caburnay were members of, said Mercado tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to the hospital on April 18.

He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He died on April 27.

A relative said the Mercado’s company was working on having his remains moved to the emirate of Sharjah because Ajman, a neighboring emirate where Mercado died, doesn’t have a crematorium.

Caburnay, who has worked with Mercado since 2005, having gone together in Saudi Arabia, said the deceased was a health buff.

“Malinis sa katawan at health conscious. Sa mga time na nagkitakita kami dito sa Dubai wala naman akong nabalitaan na mayroon siyang health issues or  may problema sa health otherwise hindi siya ma-renew ng company. Pag makita mo sya di mo akalain na over 50 na siya, kasi still strong and able.

“At talagang active sya dahil nag-site supervision at nag-inspect halos every day, dahil site engineer nga work niya,” Caburnay said.

(He was a health conscious and neat person. When we were meeting up in Dubai, I never notice nor heard about any healthy issues concerning him. You’d never think he was over 50 years old if you see him back then when he was alive. He was strong and able. And he was very active as a site engineer, doing supervision and inspection every day.)

Caburnay said Mercado had long been looking to retire. “Halos kalahati ng buhay namin ay nagtratrabaho sa ibang bansa as OFWs. May plano na rin siyang mag-retire. Napag-uusapan din namin iyan, pero kung kailan ay hindi namin nabigyan ng tamang taon,” he said.

(“Almost half our lives have been spent abroad as OFWs. He already had plans to retire. We’ve been talking about it but couldn’t yet decide when.”)

Caburnay said Mercado has three children, including a special child. They are living with their mother in the Philippines.

DUBAI: An overseas Filipino worker (OFW), who had been staying home to avoid being infected with the coronavirus, has tested positive for COVID-19.

Jullian Marimla,  video editor, said he still does not know how he got the virus.

“We do not have any idea. It could have been from anywhere. We had a hunch we got it from a clinic where my girlfriend had her check-up.

“Then again, it could have also been from take-aways and food deliveries or groceries. It’s impossible to really tell,” Marimla told Rappler.

“Nowadays kasi, halos ang mga tao po ay asymptomatic na. You could not tell who has the virus,” he said.

Fever

Marimla started to have fever that went on and off around the second week of April – right in the midst of the government’s 24-hour “sterilization” drive in Dubai, when streets were empty and movements of people were restricted except for emergency purposes and essential needs.

“Lagnat lang na di na-aalis,” said the 24-year-old Marimla, who was born and raised in Dubai and whose family hails from Angeles City in Pampanga.

“I was extremely scared,” he said of the goosebumps he had after testing positive for COVID-19. The full lockdown in the city started April 4 and the surreal emptiness added to the apocalyptic eeriness of it all.

“When I heard about the result, all I could think of was whether I would survive this, how am I going to support my family? What will happen to me now?

“It was mixed emotions, actually,” he said.

Weak and tired

Marimla said he would feel weak and tired during the day with muscle pain around his eyes.

“At nights, my temperature would spike to 39 degrees. Dry coughs came after a few days and it eventually worsened to the point that I was having difficulty breathing and I could not speak properly,” he recalls.

On April 19^th, the third consecutive day that he was having fever, Marimla said he and a close friend finally went to a hospital for a check-up and test.

He said he was admitted at midnight of April 22 and stayed in the hospital for 10 days.

Treatment

Marimla said he was thankful he did not end up at the hospital’s  Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“The moment I was admitted, naka-oxygen support na ako,” he said.

“Then they gave me paracetamol for my fever, and anti-biotics and anti-virals through IV because they found out that the virus has gone down to my lungs and I have already contracted pneumonia,” Marimla further shared.

He said the medical staff took his blood samples every day; it was swab tests every two to three days, he added.

Marimla was discharged in the morning of May 3.

Much better now

Marimla said he feels much better these days “though there is still coughing that the doctors said would be the last to go away.”

His ordeal can be traumatic and he advised everyone to be “cautious, really be extra careful and don’t take it lightly.”

“Coronavirus is scary. You will never know what is happening or when it got you. Kalma lang,” he said.

“It’s scary,” Marimla added, “but keep telling yourself you’ll surpass this.”

 “Don’t let anxiety and fear eat you up.”

 Equally important, he said, is to keep boosting your immune system.

“It’s all you have. If down yung resistensya mo, malalagay ka talaga sa alanganin,” Marimla said.

DUBAI: The number of Filipinos in Dubai who have died due to COVID-19 has gone up to 23, or six new deaths in a span of five days from Sunday, May 3 when the figure was at 17.

This was gathered from Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes who also said there has been “quite a number” of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Among the COVID-19 positive cases was a video editor who was staying at home when he contracted the virus. He has now been discharged from the hospital.

Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana has earlier disclosed there were 21 COVID fatalities among Filipinos in the UAE. Seventeen were recorded in Dubai and four in Abu Dhabi, she told the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

Cortes said the ambassador’s figures were as of May 3, Sunday. He said that number has gone up to 23 today, May 8.

Cortes said they have been receiving calls from OFWs seeking help after finding out they have COVID-19. The consulate coordinates these cases with Dubai Police and Dubai Health Authorities.

“There has been quite a number,” he said.

The OFWs are picked up from their residences and transferred to a hospital. At the same time, contact tracing is done, Cortes said.

Stayed at home

Meantime, an OFW, who had been staying home to avoid being infected with the coronavirus, has tested positive for COVID-19.

Jullian Marimla, video editor, said he still does not know how he got the virus.

“We do not have any idea. It could have been from anywhere. We had a hunch we got it from a clinic where my girlfriend had her check-up.

“Then again, it could have also been from take-aways and food deliveries or groceries. It’s impossible to really tell,” Marimla told Rappler.

“Nowadays kasi, halos ang mga tao po ay asymptomatic na. You could not tell who has the virus,” he said.

Marimla said he started to have fever that went on and off around the second week of April.

“Lagnat lang na di na-aalis,” said the 24-year-old Marimla, who was born and raised in Dubai and whose family hails from Angeles City in Pampanga.

“I was extremely scared,” he said.

“When I heard about the result, all I could think of was whether I would survive this, how am I going to support my family? What will happen to me now?

“It was mixed emotions, actually,” he said.

Weak and tired

Marimla said he would feel weak and tired during the day with muscle pain around his eyes.

“At nights, my temperature would spike to 39 degrees. Dry coughs came after a few days and it eventually worsened to the point that I was having difficulty breathing and I could not speak properly,” he recalls.

On April 19^th, the third consecutive day that he was having fever, Marimla said he and a close friend finally went to a hospital for a check-up and test.

He said he was admitted at midnight of April 22 and stayed in the hospital for 10 days.

Treatment

Marimla said he was thankful he did not end up at the hospital’s  Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“The moment I was admitted, naka-oxygen support na ako,” he said.

“Then they gave me paracetamol for my fever, and anti-biotics and anti-virals through IV because they found out that the virus has gone down to my lungs and I have already contracted pneumonia,” Marimla further shared.

He said the medical staff took his blood samples every day; it was swab tests every two to three days, he added.

Marimla was discharged in the morning of May 3.

DUBAI: Twenty-one Filipinos in the UAE have died of COVID-19, according to Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana.

Speaking during a live-streamed interview with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) in Manila yesterday, Quintana, head of the Philippine mission to the UAE, told PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio that 17 of the fatalities were from Dubai and four were from Abu Dhabi.

“About 17 sa sumakabilang buhay ay (mula) sa Dubai at 4 po sa Abu Dhabi,” Quintana said, adding that they based these figures from Notifications of Death that they receive.

“Iyan po ang information at the moment,” Quintana said.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 215 Filipinos have died of COVID-19 globally as of May 6, 2020.

There were 1,905 confirmed COVID-19 cases; 1,167 undergoing treatment; and 523 discharged.

The figures were from 46 countries and regions across the world, DFA said.

Meantime, Quintana urged the Filipino community in the UAE to strictly observe health and safety protocols in light of eased restrictions on the movement of people that were started to be implemented two weeks back.

“Kailangang patuloy pa rin ang pag-iingat kahit nagsisimula na ang normal,” Quintana said. “Dapat po huwag maging complacent.”

New COVID cases

Also yesterday May 6, the UAE reported 546 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 15,738.

This figure includes the 12,222  patients receiving treatment; 3,359 recovered cases; and157 deaths.

Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE government, also announced plans to further expand the scope of coronavirus testing, noting that health authorities have performed 25,573 additional tests.  

Dr. Sahmsi said that 30 of the latest confirmed cases were from 2 families that held a family gathering without adherence to precautionary measures and social distancing. The cases include a baby under the age of two months and several elderly people, she said.

The fight against COVID-19 is like a game of chess, said Asia’s First Chess Grandmaster Eugene Torre, who said one needs to be “patient and avoid weak as well as risky moves” to win.

In a message to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE, the 68-year-old chess grandmaster, said blunders should be avoided in these uncertain times.

“To all OFWs in the UAE, until a vaccine is discovered, we have a new normal. We all need to have patience, stay healthy, promote mental and physical attributes, avoid weak and risky moves, bawal mag-blunder and as Filipinos you need to act as one and help one another,” Torre said.

Torre, who obtained his grandmaster title at the age of 22 when he won a bronze medal at the 1974 Chess Olympiad held in Nice, France, said COVID-19 is “a mind game just like chess.”

“Unang-una, kailangan ay positive attitude tayo na kaya natin ito. Sa chess, kapag feeling mo ay talo ka, natutuluyan eh. Kailangan positive thinking tayo at samahan natin ng tamang preparasyon.

“At syempre, ang pinakasandalan natin dyan ay humingi tayo ng lakas at proteksyon sa ating Panginoon. Iyon ang importante.” Torre said.

Torre, who made another milestone in 1976 for becoming the only player to win against then World Champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia,  said he believes that people are like pawns during this COVID-19 crisis.

The pawns are said to be the soul of chess. They are the foot soldiers of the game. One wrong move can weaken the position of other pieces, and increase the chances of losing a game.

“Ganun din sa buhay. Naisip ko na tayong mga mamamayan, para tayong mga peones (pawns). Dapat na magtulungan tayo para hindi tayo magkaroon ng weakness. Kailangan talaga nating magdasal at huwag bibitaw. Isipin lagi natin na kakayanin natin kasi kapag nanghina tayo, mas humihina yung tirade,” he said.

“Naka-depende talaga sa mga mamamayan kung mag-succeed tayo o hindi. Napakahirap ng laban na ito kaya kailangan talaga ng disiplina at magtulungan ang lahat ng piyesa para hindi maka-penetrate yung COVID-19.” he further added.

Following the rules of chess, GM Torre also disciplines himself under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period where he stays at home.

Well past the 60-year mark, Torre is at higher risk of getting the COVID-19, however, the veteran chess grandmaster keeps positive and has his own “armaments” to fight off the virus.

“Very important yung healthy ang food. Sa umaga usually fruits, oatmeal with raisins or walnuts, soya milk and brewed coffee. Sa tanghali, meron akong black or brown rice and vegetables. Iwas muna sa karne, sa mga taba-taba,” he said.

In 2016, Torre was enshrined to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame on the basis of his many achievements like winning four bronze medals in the Olympiad playing exactly 23 times – the most number of showing of a Filipino player in the prestigious sports event. Torre also has four gold medals from the Asian Chess Championships.