PinOz Senior’s Testimony on COVID-19 quarantine in Melbourne
Photos: Marilie Bomediano
Sydney-Australia
July 5, 2020
Carmen Flowers, Sandigan Radio 88.1 FM 2RDJ's presenter of Burwood, a retired microbiologist and nutritional cell biologist that was once a part of the team of Flying Doctors Australia in 1973-1974 equipped with her education training in Switzerland on infant nutrition sponsored by Nestle.
SYDNEY NSW: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics as of 03 July 2020
“There have been no new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, meaning the total number of cases remains at 3,211.
A total of 17,848 tests were notified in the reporting period, compared with 18,347 tests in the previous 24 hours. NSW has carried out more than 900,000 COVID-19 tests.”
more infos: www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20200703_00.aspx
Sydney: Filipino-Australian Carmen Flowers, 75, yrs old resently returned from her recent trip from the Philippines this late June going through challenging two weeks of quarantine in Melbourne.
(right) Carmen Flowers with her late hubby George Flowers (left), the past Australian Ambassador for Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB)
Ms. Flowers is Sandigan Radio 88.1 FM 2RDJ's presenter of Burwood, a retired microbiologist and nutritional cell biologist that was once a part of the team of Flying Doctors Australia in 1973-1974 equipped with her education training in Switzerland on infant nutrition sponsored by Nestle.
She is the widow of the late George Flowers, the Australian Ambassador for Australian Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) under the Federal Intelligence Corp for over 25 years around the 70’s posted to over 12 countries and together they traveled to over 158 different countries through their married years.
“I left Sydney for Cebu first week in February to attend the school commencement exercises of my granddaughter and grandson.
When asked to describe Cebu as a travel destination:
“Cebu is a favourite destination for mainland Chinese visitors. A huge throng came direct from Wuhan to celebrate Chinese New Year (15 day festivities).
“While on holiday, a number of them took ill and presented to local private hospitals for admission.
“The hospital personnel at the time thinking that they were just treating the ordinary flu virus were not taking extra precautionary measures.
When asked about sad COVID-19 flashbacks in Cebu:
“Sadly enough two doctors and a nurse became the first casualties to succumb to the severity of the virulence of CCP virus in such a short period of time.
“Lo and behold all school graduation programs were duly cancelled. President Duterte officially declared Enhanced Community Quarantine on the 12th of March.
When asked about Cebu City’s local travel scenario:
“Travel and transport restrictions were strictly imposed within Cebu Province and all outlying islands thereby cutting off farm produce supply from Bohol, Negros and Mindanao.
Non-essential private establishments were also mandated to shut down.
When asked about Holyweek in Cebu City in April:
“Panic buying gripped the community at large. Even Supermarket shopping became a nightmare with mile long queues. Shelves were empty in fact I could not find cooking bananas for my “benignit” (Guinata-an). This is what we usually prepare during Good Friday as a form of fasting and penance.
“It was also mandated that all those who are over 65 y.o. were to isolate at home and prohibited to go anywhere unless they obtain the necessary permit signed by the Governor.
When asked about her COVID19 self isolation in Lahug, Cebu City:
“That’s when my Calvary started: to be confined within the four bedroom walls coupled with the harsh realisation that you are cut off from your beloved grandchildren and friends for an indefinite period of time was an extreme form of mortification.
“Retreating into my inner sanctum ..I prayed relentlessly seeking earnestly Gods merciful countenance. I humbly beg the intercession of our Mother of Perpetual Help and all the angels and saints to ask from our Lord the grace of an increase of deeper faith and hope. To be able to carry on trusting confidently that our Almighty Father God is taking care of everything and He is in charge. If God is with us who can be against us?
“I kept my mind occupied also with memorable joyous family occasions.
Considering my ripe age of three score years and ten (plus four) it will take forever to recount them all.
“Looking up towards heaven I focussed my reminiscence on the numerous amazing and wonderful family pilgrimages (to name a few) like the Holy Land ..Medjugorie ..Lourdes...Fatima..Akita of Japan..Padre Pio..incorruptible Body of St Francis of Goa,India.
“I dared as well to undertake virtual travel through the Trans Siberian railway originating from Moscow thru to the Mongolian steppes..it was hugely educational..fun and magical.
“I plan to make it a regular thing for me to do again whether in quarantine or not!
“That was my salvation. Time lost its essence. I was absorbed in contentment and peace that only comes as a gift from God! I was freed from the boredom of more than 3months of self isolation. Life is wonderful indeed.
When asked more about the Australian Federal government’s support:
“Then came the answer to my prayers. The Australian Embassy in Manila arranged a repatriation mercy flight. My children in Sydney promptly organised a seat for me. I got on the last one bound for Melbourne for the Sydney flight was full.
“Meanwhile Cebu City has now become the epicentre of Covid-19 in the whole of The Philippines Archipelago. Numerous Barangays were completely lockdown. The Army were deployed to prevent the urban dwellers from escaping from the isolated areas. Testing kit cost the equivalent to local workers one month salary. Countdown on recorded actual positive cases is theoretically erroneous then.
“The Hospitals by now we’re inundated to overflowing capacity. Absence of afflicted medical health personnel plus Lack of hospital beds and facilities made it impossible for them to serve the highly infectious sick community. Even if you put The deposit of P1million the Hospital won’t admit you!
“As a matter of fact there’s a recent sensational case of a British national recently who unfortunately died inside the ambulance after waiting overnight outside the hospital entrance without any medical attention given to him.
“What an irony? Most hospitals all over the world employs highly qualified Filipino health care professionals yet in our very own homeland there’s a shortage?
When asked about her two weeks quarantine experience in Melbourne:
“The flight to Melbourne was long and strenuous especially when undergoing the tedious border police inspections. The Victorian Govt Dept of Health and Services though showed its maximum efficiency.
““We were ushered into a City hotel in Swanston street. The doctors and Nurses rang me daily to monitor our mental outlook and physical well being. We got provided with all essential items including personal medications.
Taken in Feb 1999 with Paul Garrard (2nd from left) the former Parramatta City Mayor when George (3rd from left) & Carmen Flowers (4th from left) have established the sister city arrangement with Cebu City and Sydney. At that time, George Flowers was the honorary Consul for Cebu City.
“We can only see the window, were not allowed to go out of our room nor entertain visitors including my daughter Rosemay and granddaughter who drove all the way from Sydney to pick me up with the full intent of avoiding and eliminating completely any further possibility of getting infected with Covid-19 at airports from newly arrived passengers caught during overseas lockdown like me.
“Rosemay took one week compassionate leave from work (she is also a paramedic frontliner) with the NSW Dept of Health and Services, to ensure comfortable travel she was provided (free for a month) from her workplace a four wheel drive vehicle.
“This incredible generous gesture from the government markedly reminded us how blessed we are to be citizens of Australia.
“An Uber ride was organised to drop me where they were staying. We had planned to take a leisurely 5 days journey back to Sydney as part of my rehabilitation from the long period of angst suffered while in total isolation.
“It was an excellent decision. The very moment I left the hotel.. I felt brand new.. every cell in my body got rejuvenated by Melbourne’s crisp cool winter air plus the lovely clear blue skies and the green trees in the horizon with a warm welcome greetings.
“It’s worth mentioning here also how enjoyable it was in opening the Food parcels which was delivered 3x like clockwork outside the door of our hotel room.
“Impressively generous and every serving was wholesomely balanced and nutritious. First day was grilled lamb kebabs with black rice..yoghurt..cheese alfalfa sprouts in sweet potato salad. Wow!..From the blimey to the sublime!
“I knew then that I was miraculously back in Oz.. the proverbial land of milk and honey blessed by the Southern Cross beaming with blessings from above on a clear silent night sky, Ms Flowers added.
Cebu COVID-19 updates:
Secretary Eduardo Ano told ABS-CBN News Channel on Monday (June 29).
Cebu now has over 5,500 cases of Covid-19 and at least 156 have died there, the Health Ministry noted on Saturday.
source : www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/cebu-city-looms-as-philippines-new-covid-19-epicentre
NSW source: www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20200703_00.aspx
NSW COVID-19 updates
Cases Count
Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) 3,211
Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) 51
Cases reported recovered 2,789
Total tests carried out 907,763.
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