ROJoson Report to Facebook Friends on His Isolation

A report to my Facebook Friends- 20mar31

To all Facebook Friends, thanks for all your prayers. I have NOT developed symptoms suggestive of COVID19 infections since March 14, 2020 when I was last "near" Dr. Greg Macasaet in the MDH Operating Room before he was confined in MDH on March 15 and who unfortunately died of COVID19 on March 22 (eternal rest grant upon him, O Lord). I just learned he was with COVID19 only on March 22, 2020. Learning this, my wife imprisoned me right away in a separate room for close observation and so that I don't contaminate the other members of my family. Even before this, I was in home quarantine (did not go to work) because of a Makati ordinance for senior citizens to stay home. This was starting March 15 to March 22, 2020. That being so, counting from March 14, 2020 to today, March 31, 2020, I have been in self-quarantine cum isolation for 16 to 17 days now. So far, NO definite symptoms of COVID19 have developed in me - either I was really not infected to start with or really infected but my immune resistance thwarted the development of COVID19 disease. My family members (wife and daughter) who were at home with me all these days also have NOT developed definite symptoms of COVID19. That means so far there is NO active COVID19 infection among us.

I have done my duty as a citizen to obey the decisions and rules of the government - stay home. I have obeyed my wife to be isolated completely (imprisoned).

More important or most important of all, I have been transparent in reporting my status in Facebook thereby sounding off to those patients and friends of mine who have come into contact with me before and on March 14. By telling them, they started closely monitoring themselves. There were at least 2 patients (I had only 5 patients on March 14, 2020 because a lot of patients were afraid to go to the clinic anymore) with whom I interacted on March 14, 2020 who communicated with me in messenger soon after I announced in Facebook that I might be infected by the anesthesiologist who got and died of COVID19. I advised them of the small risk to allay their fear but just the same advised them to observe for symptoms of COVID19 like what I am doing. As of today, these 2 patients just like me have not developed definite symptoms of COVID19. I thanked God for this. My secretary and the other patients that I interacted on March 14, 2020 have not likewise developed symptoms of COVID19. I thanked God for this.

My postings in Facebook of my health status, daily at time, 3x a day, inclusive of the meals and foods that my wife-warden was providing me, have been my way to be TRANSPARENT for the welfare of those patients and friends whom I have interacted on and before March 14, 2020. Being TRANSPARENT constitutes being a socially responsible physician and a citizen.

My postings in Facebook of my daily health status during my strict isolation have also been my way of reporting to and updating my friends and relatives who are concerned and who have been praying for me. I feel I owe them this reporting and update. Aside from the well-wishing, stay-safe and ingat-doc postings in Facebook, there were also private messages in Messenger, texts and voice calls of patients and relatives inquiring on my status and wishing me well. My usual answers in these private calls: "I AM STILL ALIVE. NO SYMPTOMS. THANK YOU. STAY SAFE ALSO."

My daily 3 times a day postings of the foods that my wife-warden serves me is my way of thanking her and to show the world what a strict but compassionate wife-warden she was and that I am fortunate to hav. The well prepared foods that are being appreciated by the food afficionados is just an icing on the cake.

I am still in prison / isolation up to now (March 31, 2020). My wife-warden is not yet allowing me to go of my room / prison. More of extended precaution, I guess.

In my room / prison, though physically isolated, I am NOT totally isolated to the world because of Internet. I am currently actively supporting the nation's fight against COVID19 in my isolation room at home - online education for the public, facilitating donations to where they should go in terms of needs, channeling my Donors' Donations to Rural Health Units and government hospitals outside MetroCities. The other thing that I am doing is TELEMEDICAL CONSULTATION to help patients with medical concern including COVID19 concern and to protect them from going to hospitals which may be COVID19 risky and which may not be necessary.

Above is my long report to my Facebook friends on my current status, health and otherwise.

Thank you again, FB FRIENDS, for all your prayers and concern. Stay safe kayo rin from COVID19 and other illnesses, all of you!

Mabuhay kayong lahat!

Dr. Rey

20mar31