Actor Jon Lucas, a former member of the boy group Hashtags, has revealed to fans that he had earlier tested positive for the novel coronavirus through rapid testing, but has since recovered.
Lucas opened up about his journey toward recovery on Facebook last Thursday, June 25, as he thanked health workers and other frontliners for their hard work.
“[Three] days ako nag stay sa NEGH [New Era General Hospital]. Kasi doon sa [rapid test] ko nag positive ako. Opo alam naman natin po at ng karamihan na hindi siya accurate para madetect yung virus. Minsan daw kahit negative ka pwede ka mag positive. Minsan naman daw positive ka pero negative ang lumalabas,” Lucas noted.
(I spent three days at the NEGH, where I underwent rapid testing and was found positive. I know, and a lot of you know, that these rapid tests are not accurate in detecting the virus. Sometimes, even if you are negative, you get a positive result. And sometimes when you are positive, you get negative results.)
“Ang lumabas don sa result ko ’29 days onwards recovery’ parang papagaling na yung infection sa katawan ko. Meaning parang dumaan lang siya,” Lucas added.
(My results stated that I am ’29 days onwards recovery,’ meaning the infection is about to go away. Like it just passed by.)
Lucas also said that there were times when he suffered from coughs and fever, which are among the symptoms of COVID-19. He said he ignored the symptoms, thinking that he was just stressed.
The “Descendants of the Sun” actor said that he spent his three days in the hospital with other COVID-19 patients, who tested positive both via rapid testing and swab testing, the latter being the more accurate testing method.
“Ayun na nga so [three] days kami magkakasama don, syempre bilang ako bago lang don diko alam anong klaseng sakit ba to,” Lucas narrated.
(So I spent three days with them at the hospital, and since I was new there, I did not know what kind of disease this was.)
“Diba pag nanonood ka sa social media talagang matatakot ka. Kasi nga ang dami na rin talagang pinatay ng sakit na ito. Pero doon sa NEGH bago ka pa man din maadmit, paulit-ulit ng ipapaunawa sa’yo ng mga Ministro na nandon, ang paulit ulit din na binanggit ng Diyos para sa mga lingkod niya na ‘Huwag kang matakot,'” he added.
(When you go to social media, you really are going to be scared because this disease has killed many. But in the NEGH, even before you get admitted, the minister there will tell you again and again what God has said several times to His followers: “Do not be afraid.”)
The actor noted that he and the other patients received their negative test results last June 24, underscoring that they recovered not only because of the frontliners, but also because the hospital followed the word of God through the Bible.
After saying that they were given multivitamins as part of the treatment, Lucas added, “Hindi vitamins ang nagpagaling sa amin! Kundi ang Panginoong Diyos na pinakamapangyarihan sa Lahat (We recovered not because of the vitamins, but because of God who is the most powerful of all)!”
“Kaya rin siguro ako napunta don para makita ko mismo kung ano ba talaga ang sitwasyon sa loob ng Hospital na may mga COVID patients. Para na rin maibahagi sainyong lahat ang pagtulong at pagmamahal ng mga Doctors, Nurses, medical [staff], mga Ministro at manggagawa natin sa mga kababayan nating naapektuhan ng COVID,” the actor emphasized.
(Maybe the reason why I was sent there is for me to see the real situation inside the hospital and of COVID-19 patients. And to also share to all of you the help and love from doctors, nurses, medical staff, ministers and other workers for our countrymen who have COVID-19.) /ra
RELATED STORIES:
Surviving COVID-19: How early intervention saved one man’s life
St. Luke’s doctor donates plasma for severe COVID-19 patients