Michael V. tests positive for COVID-19

Michael V. has tested positive with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Kapuso comedian announced the news and documented his journey on his latest vlog post on Monday morning.

According to Bitoy, he experienced flu-like symptoms the last time he tried to vlog.

"Siyempre nag-isolate na kagad ako, nag-quarantine na kagad ako. I took medicine nagpa-check up ako sa doctor online. I got better the following day," he said.

Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms early on, Bitoy said he had a weird sensation on his nasal area and lost his sense of smell and taste.

"Wala akong maamoy ngayon, kumuha ako ng mga strong na perfume na normally ginagamit ko — alcohol, eucalyptus food — medyo weird. Wala akong masyadong maamoy," he said.

Bitoy added that in the last few months, he and his family have been strict about following protocols.

"We've been really strict about safety. 'Yung social distancing pina-practice namin yun, yung PPEs, every time we go out and interact with other people and 'pag lumalabas kami, normally nga halos wala talaga kaming labas eh. Very, very minimal yung times na lumabas kami," he narrated.

Bitoy said he is "still at lost of what to expect."

He admitted to feeling "worried not just for myself pero para din sa pamilya ko but with prayers and with God's help, I think we can go through this. I think it's gonna be OK."

Bitoy said what he struggled with the most is the fact that he couldn't spend time with his family physically.

"Nakakainis lang na ang lapit-lapit lang nila na sa kabilang kwarto lang and yet 'di mo sila mahawakan. Hindi mo sila mahalikan. I feel bad but kaya. Hopefully, we'll get through this and hopefully everything will be OK. We'll see," Bitoy said as he broke into tears.

On his fifth day of isolation, his wife and family had themselves tested. 

By then, his body temperature was below 37 degrees.

"Nandun pa rin yung flu-like symptoms. May slight body pains pero very, very slight eh. Hindi naman nakakaapekto sa galaw ko pero pinaka bad trip talaga yung nawala yung pang-amoy ko," he said.

"Tsaka nakakapraning kasi kung nandito siya sa nasal area kung may virus diyan parang ang lapit sa utak, so mahirap. Baka sabi pa naman nung iba masustansya yung utak ko, mataba yung utak ko baka pagpiyestahan ng mga virus eh," he added.

He reminded his viewers that COVID-19 is not a joke.

"Hindi biro itong mga nangyayaring ito. I wish hindi niyo bale-walain yung mga nararamdaman niyo. Sundin pa rin natin protocols ng social distancing, PPE, 'wag ng makipag-interact masyado sa iba kasi di natin alam sino yung carrier," he said.

Bitoy said the whole COVID-19 test took him five hours and cost more than P12,000.

On his sixth day, Bitoy showed his isolation area and shared that he's been using one utensil and his lunch box for food to avoid the spread of the virus.

He also shared that he still couldn't taste any of the food he eats.

"Feeling ko at this stage, na nawawala yung lasa dito nila nawawalan ng gana kumain kasi parang hindi kumpleto yung ginagawa mo pero hindi mo maamoy and hindi mo malasahan and yet kailangan mo kumain para malabanan mo yung virus so kain lang," he said.

Bitoy received the results of his COVID-19 on his 8th day of isolation. He called the hospital to confirm if he really tested positive.

"SARS-CoV-2 (causative agent of COVID-19) viral RNA detected so it's positive, right now fever na lang yung loss of smell na-re-regain ko na siya," he said.

Bitoy said he is still in the process of completely fighting off the disease.

"So that's it. Positive.  Just as we suspected early on," he said.

"Alam kong hindi normal yung nawala yung pang-amoy ko and I was counting na may kinalaman talaga yun sa COVID but I was praying na wala. But it turns out... tutuloy lang natin mga sinabi sa tin na kailangan gawin and we'll get through this; we've been through worse. Sobrang nami-miss ko na yung pamilya ko," he added.

Bitoy is among the few celebrities like Iza Calzado, Christopher de Leon, and Howie Severino who caught COVID-19. 

The Philippines reported over 2,000 COVID-19 cases on Sunday bringing the total to more than 67,000 COVID-19 cases. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News