When COVID Hits Close

Photo by Evgeni Tcherkasski on Unsplash

Last Friday my uncle who lives in the same house was tested positive for COVID. He had been complaining of back and joint pains for days which he initially dismissed as rheumatism—until he started to have cough and fever last Thursday. By the next morning, he was already having difficulty breathing which is why he was rushed to the hospital. 

Almost immediately, as we are in the same household, we were asked to have ourselves swab-tested, including the two kids and my senior mom. I had to file an emergency leave at work for the rest of the day because the testing was to be done through the city’s health office. A regular swab test can cost around 7-8K, so it’s good that this is to be paid for by the LGU (considering 10 of us had to be swabbed). 

I don’t know how it’s done through a private clinic, but ours was done in a public-school gymnasium. We filled out a lot of forms and had to be interviewed one-by-one. It’s good that we made it through the cut-off that day and we’ve all been swabbed after an hour. However, since the testing is performed by RITM, it will take about 2-3 days before the results come out. Unlike when such testing is done through a private clinic or hospital where results are given in a few hours. 

Shining Shimmering Splendid

Manila is shining shimmering splendid once again with its high temperature, marking the start of a blazing summer. The heat seems to slowly melt my brain and I could swear I can feel my cerebrospinal fluid leaking through my ears.

Here I go again expressing my loath for this hellish weather and how I’ve always written about this every year. I guess, heat inspires me to pound my laptop keys and write something just to give you—you lucky people from countries along the northern hemisphere who are now wearing hoodies and jackets as you read this—a preview of what we’re experiencing down here near the equator. 

I have to bear the dog days again, which would probably last for another two months. And since nothing has really changed from a year ago, we’re still asked to stay home as much as possible.

Pulse check

To you who’s reading this, I sincerely hope you’re well. 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

With everything that’s been happening, checking on you guys is the least I could do. I know many of us are struggling in the midst of this pandemic for all sorts of reasons, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be reaching out to one another and at least have that hope that we’re getting by.