Dingdong Dantes Shares Experience, Tips on How to Survive COVID

With the COVID-19 cases continuously coming in, the question is no longer who got it. It now seems like a question of when a person will contract the virus. This narrative does not exclude Filipino actors and celebrities as they continue to share their experiences through their social media accounts. Among them is actor Dingdong Dantes who revealed through a video he posted that their household, like many others, got infected by the virus. Not only did he share what was it like for them, but he also shared insights on how to survive COVID in these trying times.

They Got Their Booster Shots 2 Weeks Before Getting COVID-19

Many fans were caught off guard when they saw a video post from Dingdong Dantes on his Facebook account with the title “Our COVID Experience.”

Dantes started off by mentioning that he was grateful to get a booster shot from the City of Paranaque. He said that it came just in time, as his last dose was in July 2021. However, despite vaccinations and a booster shot, he and members of his household still got infected. He continued by saying that apart from the usual side effects, they also suffered from fever and other symptoms.

“Hanggang sa lahat kami dito sa bahay nilagnat na at nagkaroon ng sintomas kaya iniisip namin mukhang ‘eto na ‘yun, mukhang nasama na kami sa surge so nag-test kami at ‘yun na nga nag-positive kami sa COVID.”

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID symptoms usually appear 2-14 days after exposure. Some of these symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath (difficulty breathing)
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Runny nose (or nasal congestion)
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Diarrhea

To date, they still don’t know where they got it from, but Dantes was thankful that symptoms were mild. He highlighted that the booster shot was a key tip on how to survive COVID.

They Quarantined Together at Home

Aside from the booster shot, they also did their part by spending quarantine together so as to not pass the infection on to others.

According to its new guidelines, the Department of Health shortened both the isolation and quarantine period for fully-vaccinated people. Those who came in close contact with a COVID-positive person should quarantine for at least 5 days. But partially vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals still have to undergo the whole 2-week quarantine period.

Meanwhile, fully immunized COVID-infected individuals showing some symptoms may observe a 7-day isolation period. But a partially immunized and unvaccinated individual should isolate for at least 10 days.

The isolation period for asymptomatic fully-vaccinated individuals should last for 5 – 7 days from when they got the positive result. Meanwhile, partially immunized and unvaccinated individuals should still follow the 10-day isolation period despite not exhibiting any symptoms.

Dantes said they also had some fair share of difficulties attending to chores, such as buying food and medicine. That is why another key on his shortlist on how to survive COVID is having a good set of people to provide help and support during the isolation period.

He extended his gratitude and appreciation to a number of people, including his mom for sending over their favorite food. He also thanked the Office of the Vice President, together with Vice President Leni Robredo herself, who provided the family with some COVID care packages. The said package included an oximeter that was a necessary tool to monitor oxygen saturation, a big help to them as they navigated through learning how to survive COVID.

Some Tips to Prevent the Spread of the Virus

People often ask about how to survive COVID. Aside from eating healthy, taking medications as prescribed, and practicing self-isolation, there are other ways to prevent the spread of the disease.

• Stay at home as much as possible (except when in need of specialized medical care).
• Separate yourself from other people at home who are not sick.
• Monitor your symptoms.
• Take a test (and inform your close contacts to do the same thing).
• Wear a mask over the nose and mouth.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Avoid sharing personal household items.
• Disinfect surfaces daily.

Key Takeaways

Dingdong Dantes ended by reminding his viewers that contracting the virus is not something a person should be ashamed about. He said, “Hindi po kasalanan o dapat ikahiya ang pagkakaroon ng COVID kasi kahit anong pag-iingat ang gawin, nandiyan pa rin ang panganib na makuha ito.”

“’Yung pagsubok na ‘to na pinagdadaanan natin ng buong mundo, isang napakahirap na hamon para sa ating lahat pero malalampasan nating lahat ito kung tayo’y magtutulungan at patuloy na iisipin ang kapakanan ng bawat isa,” he also added.

Other celebrities who tested positive for COVID-19 besides Dingdong Dantes include Iya Villania and her family, Candy Pangilinan, Tuesday Vargas, Pia Wurtzbach, Aubrey Miles, Troy Montero, Hidilyn Diaz, and Arnold Clavio, among others.

Learn more about Coronavirus here.

Image from Facebook.