Quarantined For 21 Days

This article is a continuation of my previous post Travel During Enhanced Community Quarantine posted yesterday. Read the article so you may know the back story of this article.

In the last article, I tackled securing our requirements so we could travel back to Bohol with our newborn. It took us almost a month to complete everything. It was October 16 when we were given the tickets and so here goes what happened next.

Five Hours Inside Trans Asia

The agent from the travel agency informed us that we must be at the ship before three in the afternoon, clearances and other stuff has to be done since we were bringing our car. With that, we had to pack all our things and be out of the house by two but because James still had to work half day, we were able to get out at past two, it was almost three in the afternoon.

Then there was traffic and upon reaching the port, we were informed that we still have to get our things scanned. Of course, that's a protocol so we have no choice but to unload all our bags and stuff, thankfully, there were some women police who said the baby and mother can stay inside the car. It was only James who went on doing the necessary clearances.

After that, we headed straight to the ship. That part there took us almost an hour too so it was already almost five.

It was then a surprise to learn that the cars were not yet allowed to get in because they still had some other cargos being loaded into the ship. The passengers however were allowed to go up to the respective decks.

We positioned ourselves near the window, we opted for an open-air accommodation because staying in a close air-conditioned one, we would be more prone to catching a virus.

It was almost seven in the evening when the car owners were called to get the cars inside the ship. 

Then we were glad there was food being sold in their canteen. One meal cost Php 150. It was just chicken adobo and rice. We still had to buy our drinks.

As soon as the ship started moving, we were already on the bed. Matti behaved and we were thankful it was not too hot until around 11 in the evening when it was super hot, we took turns in fanning our baby.

By one in the early morning, we arrived in Tagbilaran City. We received some papers to fill in and as we went down, front-liners were present, and ambulances, as well as rescue units, were there to pick up the passengers.

Traveling to Guindulman

With our vehicle, we were advised to wait for our town's rescue unit upon arrival. The rescue unit arrived two hours after and we had to follow it, we were not allowed to interact with anyone at the port while waiting.

I couldn't forget that while James was driving, he suddenly slept in the road and our car wiggled, I was so scared and shouted, he got all his senses back.

We were not headed home, we were instead accompanied towards our quarantine facility. Before the advisory of our trip schedule, the LGU personnel already asked us where do we want to be quarantined. There were a few options, the first was the public one in the town's gymnasium or that in the elementary school. Or we could get a private room in either of the two private properties they had partnered which were suitable to accept the locally stranded individuals.

Since we have our baby with us, we opted for a private room. We also had to consider that James will be working. So, we ended up at Balai Maria Caria in Trinidad, Guindulman, Bohol.

14 Day Community Quarantine

At Balai Maria Caria, the room given to us was very tiny, according to the owner whom we had contacted before arrival, some customers came earlier and were able to get the bigger room which was intended for us thus, we instead had to take the smaller one. It was very small that we didn't have the space to move, I ended up taking out some of the things which were inside like their mini table and chair.

For 14 days, we had to stay inside the room, but because we have a baby, I requested the staff if we could get the baby out from time to time for him to get fresh air.

The good thing about this facility is that it has a huge lawn outside the house and that the guests can roam around as long as masks are being worn and that they observe social distancing.

Every single day, my parents would bring us lunch, and dinner. Included in the daily rate was breakfast so I had the chance to document every single breakfast we had of this facility in this video:

End of 14 Day Community Quarantine

There were several times that I got emotional and felt like we were imprisoned, I wanted to get out of the quarantine facility, it was not a fun thing to experience but I had to endure and make it to the end.

On our 15th day, there was a Medtech from the LGU who came to take a rapid test. The test was quick, a blood sample was taken and the results came in after three minutes, we were both cleared!

Matti on the other hand was not tested as he is breastfed. If in case my rapid test results came as positive, then he will be tested too but since I got a negative result, then he was all good.

Our family was not allowed to pick us up, we were not allowed to even drive our car, someone from our barangay rescue unit had to instead.

Another 7 Day Home Quarantine

When we thought the quarantine was over, we were told we still can't get out of our room. We still need to wait for another seven days before we can be cleared.

So at home, we still had to stay inside, no interaction with the people outside. This time, I am all fine as I could see my family, I have a view of the ricefields and the internet speed was better.

After a week, we were finally cleared! There was no official announcement that we had graduated from this 21 day quarantine period.

Conclusion

Some of the people I knew who went through the same quarantine restrictions had depressing experiences, some who were quarantined in a public facility had so much negative feedback on the services and the quality of their facility. I then realized how blessed we were that we were able to afford a private one, I am glad that even if we had to shell out some cash, the most relevant thing this time was that we are finally home.

xoxo,

mommy jean of momentswithmatti

Love harder than any pain you've ever felt.