Former President Joseph Estrada tests positive for COVID-19

Ex-President and former Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada has tested positive for COVID-19, his son, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said on Monday.

"Sa aking mga kababayan, Nais ko pong ipaalam sa inyo na ang aking ama, na si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada, ay isinugod namin sa ospital kagabi sa kadahilanan ng panghihina ng kanyang katawan," Jinggoy said in a Facebook post.

[To my countrymen, I just want to inform you that my father, former President Joseph Estrada, was rushed to the hospital last night since he was getting weak.]

"Na-diagnose na po siya na positibo sa covid 19," he added.

[He was diagnosed to be positive for COVID-19].

"Stable po ang kanyang kundisyon at ako po ay humihingi ng inyong mga panalangin sa kanyang agarang paggaling. Maraming salamat po! Stay safe mga kababayan ko!" Jinggoy said.

"His condition is stable and I am asking for your prayers for his swift recovery. Thank you very much! Stay safe, my countrymen!]

In an interview on Dobol B TV, Jinggoy said he first noticed on Thursday that the former President was not his usual strong self.

"Huwebes napansin ko na na medyo nanghina ang kanyang katawan. Madalas siyang magpunta sa banyo. Medyo kinabahan na ako noon," he said.

[It was Thursday when I noticed that he grew weak. He also went to the bathroom often. I became nervous.]

"Pina-swab ko that day. Negatibo naman. Pagkatapos, kahapon napansin kong mahinang mahina siya. Hiningal," he said.

"I had him undergo swab test that day (Thursday). Result was negative. Then yesterday, I noticed that he became very weak. He was catching his breath.]

Jinggoy said he called a doctor. The former President's oxygen level also went down.

"Doon na ako naalarma. Inuubo din. Sabi ng doktor na kakilala ko, dalhin na sa ospital," he said.

[I got alarmed. He was also coughing. The doctor said to bring him right away to the hospital.]

Jinggoy said it was the hospital's standard operating procedure to perform a swab test on those to be admitted.

The former President's swab test showed positive for the coronavirus on Sunday.

Jinggoy said his father, who is 83, did not go out much.

"Unang una, mahigpit naming sinasabi sa kanya na senior citizen siya, madaling mahawa. Siguro one of his visitors merong may COVID, nahawa, 'di rin natin alam," he said.

[First of all, we told him [not to go out] since he is a senior citizen and is vulnerable and may get infected. Probably one of his visitors had COVID-19 and he got infected. We don't know.]

Jinggoy said they would be careful and not allow visitors to their house anymore to prevent the further transmission of COVID-19.

"Kahit magalit ang tatay ko, hindi na siguro ako magpapapasok kahit sinong bisita," he said.

[Even if my father will get mad, I would probably not allow any more visitors.]

"Nu'ng nahirapan huminga, akala ko dahil sa smoking," Jinggoy said.

[When he had difficulty breathing, I thought it was due to his smoking.]

Jinggoy said he has gone on self-quarantine since he was a close contact of his father.

He also said the former President's condition has improved as his oxygen level has gone up.

"OK naman. Bawal na kami doon," he added.

[He is okay. We are not allowed to go there to visit.] —KG, GMA News