A Filipina Living in Berlin Who Tested Positive for COVID-19 Shares Her Recovery Story
Because there’s such a huge Filipino diaspora in the world, it was only a matter of time before we heard reports of our countrymen testing positive for COVID-19. The latest is an overseas Filipino worker in Kuwait who officials said had close contact with someone who recently traveled to the United Kingdom.
According to the Department of Health, a total of 245 Filipinos overseas are reported to have been infected with the coronavirus as of March 27, 2020
One of these is a student currently residing in Berlin, Germany, who shared her experiences suffering from symptoms of and eventually confirming that she had COVID-19 on Twitter.
[THREAD FYI]
Hello, I want to share my symptoms of COVID-19 to raise awareness and to make people calm.
I am a 24-year old Filipina who is currently residing in Berlin, Germany.
Last Saturday, I had sore throat (which is usual for me) cause I love sweets and cola. So, I ignored— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 19, 2020ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
“Hello, I want to share my symptoms of COVID-19 to raise awareness and to make people calm,” she begins her Twitter thread at around 8 p.m. Manila time on March 19. “I am a 24-year old Filipina who is currently residing in Berlin, Germany.”
Abagat is in the German capital pursuing a Masters degree.
Her symptoms started with a sore throat on Saturday, March 14. She didn’t think much of it because, as she says, she loves “sweets and cola.”
Sunday afternoon, I had a headache! I knew i would be sick (this is the kind of headache I usually have before having fever). Checked my temp, everything is normal.
— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 19, 2020
Slept early on that day, again another unusual for me cause I usually sleep late. I just couldn't contain the pain.
The next day she started getting a headache but her temperature was still normal. But by around midnight she had woken up feeling “warm” but “at the same time cold inside.”
By the time she checked her temperature again, she was 38.1 degrees.
Of course, I panicked for a bit. It was 3am in Berlin and my family from the Philippines are all wide awake. So I messaged them. They told me to keep calm and rest. So that was what I did.
— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 19, 2020
Monday morning my temperature went down, and I decided to go to one of the testing centers
In the morning, she headed to one of the testing centers in the city to get herself checked. She was told the result would take seven days.
In the meantime, as she locked herself inside her house, Abagat says she tried to figure out where she could have gotten the virus. She retraced her recent travels: She took the train to Brussels, Belgium via Cologne on March 9 and then flew back to Berlin on Friday, March 13.
[FLASH BACK]
To everyone who might ask me where I got the virus, IDK. I just know that I was in Brussels for 5 days with my Master's cohort. Took the train from Berlin to Brussels via Cologne on March 9. Then took the flight from Brussels to Berlin on Friday.— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 19, 2020ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
In the rest of the Twitter thread, Abagat describes how she’s been coping during self-quarantine: keeping herself busy with schoolwork and watching Netflix. But it was when she got the call from the doctor confirming that she had COVID-19 that she broke down.
Day by day i feel better. So I thought I am completley fine, until i finally got a call from a doctor today and was informed that I AM POSITIVE.
— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 19, 2020
At first, I cried. I did not know what to do. (I was watching CLOY when the doctor called)
But she says she’s keeping herself strong with the support of family and friends.
It's evident in her tweets that Abagat is choosing to remain cheerful and optimistic despite the situation. She may be far from her loved ones, but she wrote the Twitter thread to help demystify the virus and educate people about what it's like to be a person who tested positive for COVID-19.
Abagat also shares important reminders from her doctor as she recovers completely from the virus.
2. If no more symptoms until March 26, then I am completely safe and fine, I can already go out by March 29 from my flat if I want
— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 19, 2020
3. Inform my friends who have been with me for the last 14 days to STAY AT HOME. (Test is not necessary, but PLEASE STAY AT HOME!)
Her most important reminder?
5. Be well-rested. Eat healthy diet. Drink plenty of water.
— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 19, 2020
6. MOST IMPORTANT REMINDER - You won't die! Just stay at home and KEEP CALM!
7. If there is a difficulty of breathing and other severe pain, that is the only time you may call an ambulance.
“You won’t die,” she says. “Just stay at home and KEEP CALM!”
Takeaways so far:
— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 19, 2020
1. Learn to eat vegetables (my fam and friends know me for this -- I really dont eat veggies). Now I am FORCED! So do the same everyone. Eat healthy diet!!!
2. Don't travel when there is an outbreak/pandemic. (I SWEAR, I HAVE LEARNED IT THE HARD WAY!)
On Sunday, March 29, Abagat had some good news to share:
OFFICIALLY CLEARED BY THE DOCTOR.
— Kelly Abagat (@kellyabagat) March 29, 2020
I have recovered! Yay! :) #CoronaUpdate #COVID19 #Recovered #MyCoronaExperience #MyCovidStory #CoronaDiares
