For human resources consultant Paul Nyan Myint Soe, the COVID-19 pandemic means chaos and disaster.
The 43-year-old business director was diagnosed with COVID-19 in October, and from his quarantine room, he learned how the virus caused him and his family a great loss.
“When my mother fell ill in late September, we took her to a private hospital. The doctor suggested for me to either take my mother to a government hospital for a COVID-19 test or to return home and give her antibiotic injections every 12 hours. Due to my mother’s condition of needing fulltime assistance, we took the second option. With there being no improvement to her condition, we decided to test her for COVID-19. She was found positive and taken to the Phaung Gyi COVID-19 Treatment Center, which is about 100 kilometres away from our home.
“As I was taking care of my mother day and night, I felt I may have contracted COVID-19 too. Adhering to my responsibilities, I immediately contacted the township medical officer to get further guidance. My family was quarantined at a hotel, and each of us stayed in different rooms. My 11-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son were able to stay with their nanny, which I was thankful for. We underwent testing and my household helper and I tested positive.
“As I was taking care of my mother day and night, I felt I may have contracted COVID-19 too. Adhering to my responsibilities, I immediately contacted the township medical officer to get further guidance. My family was quarantined at a hotel, and each of us stayed in different rooms. My 11-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son were able to stay with their nanny, which I was thankful for. We underwent testing and my household helper and I tested positive.
“During the quarantine period, my family supported and encouraged one another through video calls. At night before going to bed, we usually had a video call to pray together. Thankfully, my kids, my wife, my father and the nanny were all negative so they could go home, but I continued my treatment at another COVID-19 treatment center.
“I also called my mother everyday since she arrived at Phaung Gyi on 4 October and my last contact with her was on 7 October. After that my mom was either asleep or unconscious each time I called. The medical officers informed us that her oxygen level was low, and her sugar level was high. My mother passed away on 17 October.
“My father and I drove as fast as we could to her quarantine center to see her for the last time before the cremation. We couldn’t see her actually, as she was all wrapped up, but we managed to pay our last rites together with the Chaplain from Phaung Gyi COVID Treatment Centre and the pastors from our church.
“Throughout this whole ordeal, my family, relatives, the church community are my biggest sources of strength. My friends checked in on me, while my physician and my father told me to focus on myself. I ate healthy foods, took vitamins, and did light exercises to stay fit so I could go back to my family and work.
“My company, Sagawa Development Company, was also affected by the pandemic. We started to work from home in February. We shifted the consulting arm of our business to online platforms, but the other areas of business had to close. We turned our small in-house catering services into food delivery service for my clients. Some clients ordered the food and donated them to COVID-19 treatment centres in Yangon.
“If I can express COVID-19 in a formula, it’s equal to chaos and disaster. We need to be careful, not only for ourselves but also for our loved ones.
“But COVID-19 is not all negative, I can see some positive changes. People are more aware of health and hygiene. With the increased rate of handwashing, there appears to be less regular coughs and colds. We also see the rise of e-commerce, digital shopping, e-banking and payment, which can be a positive trend for the future.”
Interviewed by Novia D. Rulistia. The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. The views and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the interviewee and do not reflect the official policy or position of ASEAN.
