By Rizal Obanil A Filipino nurse in New York reportedly died after battling with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for 13 days. A report by Raffy Tima for GMA-7’s “24 Oras” Monday night, identified the fatality as Dennis Guillermo, 44, who worked at the Long Island Community Hospital. Guillermo’s wife Romielyn in an interview said that she believes her husband got infected with COVID-19 while working at the said hospital, despite possibly having no personal protective equipment (PPE) at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Kasi during that time three weeks ago parang nag-uumpisa pa lang. Wala pang mga protective gear, parang inaano pa lang nila kung anong mga procedure sa ospital. (Because during that time three weeks ago, it (pandemic) was just starting. Wala pang protective gear, the hospital was probably then still figuring out the proper procedure,” 24 Oras quoted Romielyn as saying. Initially, Guillermo tested negative but after eventually exhibiting symptoms, was tested again and the second test came out positive. After succumbing to the dreaded disease, the fatality’s remains were cremated following pandemic protocols. Many health workers or otherwise known as frontliners, have fallen to COVID-19, further stressing the need for governments around the world to ensure that they are all provided the proper PPEs. In the Philippines, the government has been scrambling to procure more PPEs so that health workers are afforded the necessary protection against COVID-19. Because of the high demand for PPEs though, some local health workers have been forced to make do with just mere do-it-yourself (DIY) PPEs.