Erap in stable condition – Jinggoy

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Joseph Estrada, who is battling COVID-19 and pneumonia, is now in stable condition, his son former senator Jinggoy Estrada said yesterday.

In his Facebook post, the younger Estrada said that his father’s kidney function is improving.

“As per updates from my father’s physicians, he continues to be in stable condition. His kidney function is improving and his requirement for oxygen support is also slowly getting better,” he said.

The son said that the former president’s other vital organs are functioning well.

“We were informed by his physicians that his inflammatory markers are on a downward trend for which we are thankful and hopefully this signals that his immune system is responding well,” he said.

Estrada’s son also said that President Duterte called him over the phone to check on them.

Estrada, who is turning 84 on April 19, was rushed to the hospital last week due to COVID-19 infection and severe pneumonia.

He was sedated to lessen his anxiety, then transferred to the intensive care unit for closer observation.

The other day, the former president and mayor of San Juan and Manila was placed on “mechanical ventilation” when his pneumonia turned for the worse.

His son explained that the mechanical ventilation is intended to improve oxygen delivery to the lungs and prevent the tiring of the respiratory mechanism.

Lorenzana’s battle

Another COVID-19 patient, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, is now trying to fill his mind with nothing but positivity as he battles the infection in isolation.

After a relatively stressful week marked by his strong statements to China that its vessels swarming Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea must leave, it seems Lorenzana will be giving himself a break.

“Yesterday, I got a call that I was COVID-19 positive. Today, I got the official result,” he announced on his Twitter account yesterday.

“I’m now working from home, while in isolation. Observing symptoms to manifest is agonizing, but I fill my mind with positive thoughts,” added Lorenzana, who also chairs the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

He said he will be in isolation, following quarantine guidelines, to avoid infecting others as those who have been exposed to him have been informed and advised to also isolate and get tested.