Elaine Lozano and her entire family tested positive for COVID-19.

It all started with just the common cold. But even then, with their symptoms still mild, she felt overcome with anxiety. She was afraid of discrimination from their neighbors and people who know them.

"I was crying. I couldn't tell anybody. Siguro nahihiya ako kasi parang pag nagka covid ka parang nakakadiri. (Perhaps I was embarrassed because when you get it you may be looked upon with disgust)." Lozano shared.

Fearing discrimination, Lozano did not call anybody. They opted to isolate at home rather than go to the hospital for treatment because of concerns about further exposure. She took care of her family and her mom who has a heart illness.

"My grandson and ako nag fever na (My grandson and I had fever). I started experiencing short, small coughs. My husband was still okay then. And then on the 10th or 11th [of August], Marlon had a fever pero nawala (but it subsided)," Lozano narrated.

Eventually, she attempted to ask for assistance from a former mayor, the incumbent mayor, and even a senator who tested positive for COVID-19. None of them were of much help. Finally, a local official assisted them and ordered a swab test for the whole family. This was conducted by a team from the barangay.

She waited for one week for the results. She hoped it was just a regular flu. In the meantime, she continued to self-medicate with vitamin C and ginger juice.

But her condition got worse.

"Ginger helped a lot doon sa mga ehem ehem naming pare-pareho ang tunog nung ubo namin (Ginger helped a lot with my family's cough which all sounded alike). And then I became worse. Di na ako makatayo, bumigay na ako (I can barely stand up. My body gave up).

Most of her family members got better except her. A family friend who is a doctor immediately prescribed an antibiotic for her cough. She coughed so hard to the point that her stomach and back ached.

Her family took care of each other. Her husband aided her but kept at a distance to avoid getting reinfected.

"My husband was there and he was with me inside the room. But I was far away from him. I was trying to [cover my mouth]. Baka naman kasi gumaling na siya, baka mahawa ko ulit siya (I might infect him again).

The family had no source of income while in isolation so they attempted to start a business.

"Nagtayo kami ng kitchen (We established an eatery). As soon as it was done, di namin nagamit na (we were not able to use it). Kasi we didn't want to contaminate anybody anymore so we shut down. This was the only income na pwede kong magawa (that we can make use of) while locked down in a house. We couldn't operate," Lozano said while breaking into tears.

Asked if ever they experienced discrimation, Lozano said they did not. "Wala naman (none so far). But walang support talaga kasi from the government or follow up man lang (but there was no support or even a follow-up from the government). We were all positive and had older people in the house who could have gotten worse. Wala naman doctor na nag assess ng case namin (there was no doctor who assessed our case) or told us how to take care of the elderly or my husband who's diabetic. We were left on our own."

She said her family will have another swab test.

Lozano's experience prompted her to lend her voice to calls for the public to just stay at home as much as possible. She reminds the public to observe minimum health protocols such as using face masks, frequent hand washing, and social distancing.