Kapamilya journalist and TV Patrol anchor Bernadette Sembrano has publicly admitted to being positive for COVID-19.
In an Instagram video, Sembrado shared that she tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing the ABS-CBN mandatory RT-PCR test.
In the video, Sembrano said she was shocked because she doesn’t have any symptoms of the disease.
“I just wanted to inform you that I tested positive for COVID. Nagulat din po ako. Kasi wala akong nararamdaman at all. In fact, I feel healthy. Wala pong symptoms. Pero meron kaming mandatory RT-PCR test sa work, so when it came out, nawindang din ako,” she said
“I am coming out para lang ma-enlighten ang marami sa atin. Kadalasan ang iniisip natin pag COVID yun pong mga pasyenteng mahina ang katawan na may tubo, nangangayayat, inuubo.
“Pero marami po ang kagaya ko na asymptomatic. Asymptomatic na feeling mo wala kayong sakit. Wala kayong COVID at patuloy na nakikihalobilo kasama ang ibang tao. Yun po ang nakakatakot kasi we can be endangering the lives of the people around us and the lives of our loved ones,” she explained.
Asymptomatic carriers are the scariest part of the COVID-19 pandemic because they are unknowingly spreading the virus.
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According to the study conducted by researchers at Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, there is evidence that asymptomatic carriers are capable of spreading and transmitting the virus to another person. The authors said that the findings “offer biological plausibility” to reports of asymptomatic transmission.
The Department of Health through Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire also confirmed that there are studies that proved that the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted by an asymptomatic person.
“May mga ebidensya na transmission occurs from patients who are lab-positive for COVID-19 but have no symptoms yet, or report that they have no symptoms but have very mild symptoms.”
These studies and Bernadette’s experience then bring to life what many health advocates and Netizens are calling for the longest time; mass testing. It is only through mass testing that these asymptomatic carriers are detected and isolated to avoid increasing the chance of spreading COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Ate B also encourages people to get vaccinated to be protected from the virus and never forget to continue following minimum health standards because that will protect not only themselves but also their loved ones from getting infected.
“Magpa-vaccinate na rin tayo. I still believe that we can thrive and outsmart the virus. Alam naman natin yung gagawin natin e. Nakalusot pero sa awa ng Diyos na-test agad at nakapag-isolate agad,” encouraged Sembrano.
“Please practice the health protocols because we are not doing it just to protect ourselves, we are doing it to protect our loved ones.”
