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‘YOU CAN GET COVID-19 AGAIN’: UAE-based Filipino shares experience getting the disease for the second time

In his first experience, he was asymptomatic. In his second one, he got several health problems

A Filipino-based in the UAE who has survived coronavirus disease (COVID-19) months ago is battling the virus again after contracting it for the second time.

Ryan Jay Buenaventura, 35, said that his experiences with both situations are completely different. For one, he said that when he was diagnosed on March 24, he was asymptomatic. Buenaventura also mentioned that he was declared negative three days later.

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Buenaventura’s first COVID-19 diagnosis

 

The second time he contracted the disease, which was on July 21, he said that he experienced body pains, fatigue, headaches, fever, loss of taste and smell, as well as diarrhea.

As of now, he said he is currently recovering in an isolation facility in Dubai.

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His second COVID-19 detection in July

“The first time I had the infection, it had affected me because of the stigma attached to it. I experienced discrimination in my own home. For now, I am trying not to get my mental health affected by this. It’s hard not to but I am trying my best to surround myself with good people,” said Buenaventura, who has been in the UAE for the past 10 years.

The OFW also said that he is trying to regain his immunity by taking vitamins, healthy meals, and cough syrup for his cough.

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He also called on other Filipinos not to ignore the regulations placed upon by the UAE government, because it is harder to recover from the disease than to adhere to the rules.

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“Whatever personal opinions we have about will never help our community. We can talk about your stand on wearing masks and about the pandemic when this is over, because our lives are bigger than all these issues. ‘Wag na pong matigas ang ulo, sumunod na lang po tayo sa mga payo ng experts and let’s fight this together!” he said.

Jamille Domingo

Jamille Domingo gathers stories on a wide array of topics, particularly on the Philippines, UAE, Saudi, and Bahrain—which are published on The Filipino Times Newspaper, The Filipino Times Website, and The Filipino Times Newsletter. She also presents the news on cam in the pre-recorded daily broadcast of The Filipino Times Newsbreak—a run-through of the most important events of the day, reaching 5,000 to 20,000 views—to deliver stories to audiences inclined to audio-visual content online. For recommendations and story pitches, you can reach her at [email protected]

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