Chino Gaston recovers from COVID-19 after spending 3 weeks in quarantine facility

Chino Gaston finally recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after spending three weeks in a quarantine facility.

In a “Frontliners” episode on Tuesday, the GMA reporter shared that he found out he was infected with the virus back in July after he took a swab test in Mandaluyong City.

“Naisip ko rin siyempre, paano ‘pag nag-positive ako ’di ba? Ang belief ko kasi parang it’s only a matter of time. Those who are out in the field, kahit gaano ka-ingat, eventually, madadapuan sa madadapuan,” he shared.

Chino shared that when he first felt the symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever and loss of taste and smell, he already isolated himself from his family.

When he tested positive, his family quickly underwent swab tests and he was brought to the quarantine facility at Marikina Hotel and Convention Center.

At the facility, shared Chino, they were served food three times a day: at 8 a.m., 12 noon, and 6 p.m. Patients were also allowed to have food delivered to the building.

In his room, he had a television set and a view.

Although he was infected with the virus due to the nature of his job, Chino emphasized how important journalists were especially in the time of pandemic.

“Pakiramdam ko naman, very significant at historical moment ito sa kasaysayan ng bansa, maging sa buong mundo,” he said.

There was a time, he recalled, when he had to stay in Manila and go to places with a high number of infections.

“’Ika nga, sinasabi nga ’di ba, feeling immortal ka. ’Di ba kasi hindi ka dadapuan noong sakit kasi parang ’pag nandoon ka sa field, alam mo, possible, pero hindi mo maisip talaga na actually mangyayari sa ’yo. Nag-iingat ka, pero hindi, eh,” he shared.

After seeing condo unit owners give praise and applause to the frontliners working at the hospital in front of them, it gave him hope.

“It gives you hope na may mga taong nagtatrabaho pa rin talaga kahit na matindi ang panganib noong magkasakit ka at posible kang mamatay,” he said.

Not only did he and his team members follow safety protocols when on duty, Chino also shared that he had an active lifestyle and thought he was less susceptible to getting the virus.

“Feeling ko, physically fit. ’Yun naman ’yung sinasabi ’di ba, pag malakas ang resistance mo, physically, malamang sa hindi, hindi ka dadapuan,” he shared. “I survived 4 months na not a sign of infection. Negative ako sa RTK (rapid test kit) ever since. Pero in one flash, in one instant, nahawa ako.”

Road to recovery

Chino expressed how restless he felt during his stay at the facility.

“Tingin lang dito sa labas, pinagmamasdan ’yung mga nagdaraang mga sasakyan sa kalsada. Bored out of my wits, naubos ko na yata lahat ng pelikula sa Netflix,” he shared.

Fortunately, Chino’s sense of smell and taste gradually returned by the third or fourth day.

“On the 3rd or 4th day, bumalik na, unti-unting bumabalik na, napapansin ko na naamoy ko na ’yung mga bagay-bagay,” he shared. “'Yung fruits una, kasi medyo sharp ’yung smell noong fruits, ’yung taste maasim, matamis, and so nate-taste ko kaagad ’yung mga citrus and apple. Eventually, unti-unti hanggang ’yung taste ng meat.”

Chino shared that he didn’t feel any more symptoms during the two weeks he stayed at the quarantine facility.

However, Dave David, Marikina City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, said: “Sabi ni DOH [Department of Health], basta naka 14-day quarantine ka lang straight, wala kang nararamdamang sintomas, automatic healed ka na. Pero sa ’min sa Marikina, hindi. We need to make sure na we test you at at least makapag-negative ka before ma-release ka doon sa aming isolation facility.”

“We don’t want to take the risk to release you without verification or confirmation na ikaw ay negative through ’yung RT-PCR test, ’yung swab test na tinatawag,” he added.

Chino, who has been a journalist for over 13 years, said that although he had covered disasters and wars, this very pandemic was a whole different war zone altogether.

“’Yung bala kasi, puwede mong iwasan, puwede mong paghandaan. You can arm yourself against being put in a situation na puwede kang mamatay sa giyera or sa conflict. Dito, wala, e. Puwede kang dapuan ng sakit anywhere you go. It isn’t a matter of whether prepared ka o hindi,” he said.

He added, “Parang ito, wala kang choice, e. Hindi ka puwedeng magtago, hindi ka puwedeng tumakbo kasi it’s all around us.”

Thankfully, Chino’s team tested negative with the virus and after three weeks at the facility, Chino himself turned negative as well.

“After 21 days dito sa quarantine facility ng Marikina, dumating na ’yung test results ko. Bale pangalawang swab test ’yun and this time around negative ’yung resulta so ibig sabihin puwede na akong umuwi,” said Chino.

After recovering, Chino shared that he would continue doing his job as a journalist.

“Life must go on. Dagdag pag-iingat lang siguro but then again, it won’t stop me from doing my job. Magsilbing aral ito na kahit sino talaga, regardless of ’yung physical condition ay puwedeng mahawa sa sakit na ’to,” he said. – RC, GMA News