A 70-YEAR-OLD man from Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City who recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) says he may have gotten the virus at the mall before Cebu was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) last month.
In an interview with Radio dySS on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, Porferio Daclan Jr. said he thought he was a goner after testing positive for Covid-19.
Daclan has pre-existing medical conditions including diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
“Lord, ikaw nalay mag-igo unya sa akong pamilya (Lord, I entrust my family to You),” Daclan said, recalling how he felt during his stay at the University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMed) in Mandaue City from March 19 to April 5.
Daclan remembers going to a coffee shop in the mall in Lapu-Lapu City along with other senior citizens. He said it was his first time in that coffee shop.
He disclosed that he is often busy with the family-owned business and had no previous travel history to Covid-19 affected countries.
“Kada adlaw nga tua ko sa mall. Tingali sa CR, kanang mosud ka sa CR unya tuay sige og ubo mahabilin ang kagaw nga gibugwak unya ikaw nakapuli (Every day I was in the mall. Maybe in the CR, like when someone has been coughing, spreads the virus, and you happen to get it),” Daclan said, in the interview.
SunStar Cebu reported Daclan’s recovery and eventual discharge from UCMed last April 5 through the account of his son, Dr. Francis Daclan.
Daclan’s son, an Internal Medicine specialist, was part of the medical team in UCMed that treated him while he was sick with Covid-19.
For Daclan, faith in God and his family’s devotion to St. Vincent Ferrer helped in his recovery.
“Dili tungod kay duna kay grabe nga experience diha pa ta mosangpit Niya. Dili ta na paabuton nga mahinumdom lang Kaniya og magkinahanglan nata (What shouldn’t be the case is turning to God only when we are faced with a serious
problem. When we are in a desperate need),” Daclan added.
When finally brought home by his family from the hospital, Daclan was surprised to see some of his neighbors in Barangay Babag welcoming him with placards of encouraging messages.
Still, he also understands if some neighbors are still anxious and afraid because of what happened to him.
“Sige lang, kay wa man na tuyo-a nga magpa Covid Covid. Ato nalang na dawaton sa way pagkusmod (It’s okay. Let’s just try to understand and not feel offended. No one wants to get this virus,” Daclan added. (FVQ / JKV)