Ex-solon Quimbo: Aunt who succumbed to COVID didn’t have any symptoms

Former congressman Miro Quimbo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former lawmaker Miro Quimbo on Monday shared how COVID-19 took their family by surprise and claimed the life of his aunt, describing the disease “deceptively cunning.”

In a Facebook post, Quimbo said their family did not suspect his aunt, Susan, of contracting COVID-19 as she did not have any symptoms of the deadly respiratory disease.

His cousin only noticed that his aunt wanted to “take siesta” every afternoon and became sleepy for several days.

It was only after she started snoring heavily that the family asked for medical advice.

“He (doctor) asked that a COVID test be done ASAP for precaution but he suspected that my Aunt was having a stroke,” he said.

“The test came out positive so off they went to the ER of NKTI. By the time they got there, her O2 level was below 50! She was immediately intubated. Two days later, she passed on,” he added.

The former lawmaker did not specify how his aunt could have gotten the disease — if she had any exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case.

He urged the public to stay safe and be vigilant as the disease is “like a sucker punch.”

“I want to tell my Aunt’s story to show how deceptively cunning this disease is. COVID is like a sucker punch. Kahit anong paghahanda gawin mo, d mo mapapansin na nandyan na pala sya,” Quimbo said.

“You only realize it’s there when the pain hits you. Let’s all be very vigilant mga besh. Stay safe. God bless us all,” he added.

https://www.facebook.com/miroquimbo/posts/10157580234811854

Quimbo also had a bout with the disease in July last year.

Quimbo served his last term in the 17th Congress as representative of Marikina 2nd District.

JPV