Image: Facebook/@IamBernadetteSembrano
“TV Patrol” anchor Bernadette Sembrano recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus, she disclosed on Instagram yesterday, April 22.
Sembrano reminded the public about the dangers of COVID-19 as she revealed that she is asymptomatic, admitting that being one can potentially endanger others.
“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,” the reporter-songwriter said in a two-minute video. (I was shocked too because I feel nothing at all. In fact, I feel healthy, I have no symptoms.)
“Pero mayroon kaming mandatory RT-PCR tests sa work so when it came out, nawindang din ako,” she added. (But we have mandatory RT-PCR tests at work so when it came out, I was stunned.)
“Anyway, I am coming out para lang ma-enlighten ang marami sa atin. Kadalasan ang iniisip natin pag COVID, ‘yun pong mga pasyente na mahina ang katawan na may tubo, nangangayayat, inuubo,” Sembrano explained.
(Anyway, I am coming out to enlighten many of us. Because when we think of COVID-19, what often comes to mind is the image of weak patients who are intubated, losing weight and coughing.)
She then noted that many patients are asymptomatic like her, often leaving them unaware that they already have the disease and still interact with other people instead of being treated and isolated.
“‘Yun iyong nakakatakot kasi (That is what is terrifying) we can be endangering the lives of the people around us and the lives of our loved ones,” Sembrano stressed.
“So, please practice the health protocols because we are doing it not only to protect ourselves, we’re doing it to protect our loved ones,” she added.
Sembrano said she was fortunate she got tested even without showing symptoms, allowing her to isolate early on.
“Sa panahon ngayon, hindi natin kaaway ang isa’t isa. Ang kaaway natin COVID (In these times, our enemy is not each other. COVID-19 is the enemy). Hopefully, we can fight this together,” the anchor then emphasized.
Sembrano and fellow anchors Noli de Castro and Henry Omaga-Diaz have all undergone self-quarantine, temporary “TV Patrol” anchor Julius Babao said during the program last Wednesday night, April 21. Babao, Karen Davila and Alvin Elchico take over as anchors in the meantime. /ra
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