Although he has been fully vaccinated, Senator Richard J. Gordon has been found to be COVID-19 positive.
‘’I received word this morning from our molecular laboratory at the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) that my RT-PCR test result has come back ‘positive’,’’ according to Gordon who is the PRC chairman.
‘’I am feeling slightly under the weather but am exhibiting no other symptoms as of now and my doctor has advised me to rest and isolate at home. I will continue to observe my symptoms and report any significant changes to my doctor,’’ he said.
Gordon told Senate reporters that he prefers home quarantine but he might go a hospital this afternoon for blood chemistry and lungs test because he suspects a COVID-19 variant could have hit him.
He was not physically present during the opening of the third regular session of the 18th Congress at the Senate building in Pasay city last Monday. He attended it virtually.
Gordon said his wife, Kate, and staff members were tested negative but they would undergo another test after three days. He said he and Kate occupy separate rooms.
He said he suspects he could have been infected by janitor who was wearing a face mask but he was not. The unidentified janitor was later reported tested.
‘’I’m a very exposed person. I go to the provinces, and hold meetings every day trying find ways to be bring vaccines faster to the people,’’ he said.
‘’I'm asymptomatic but I'm better protected because I'm vaccinated,’’ he added.
Gordon emphasized that If you are vaccinated, you could still be hit but survive it. ‘’But if you're not vaccinated, you will be infected possibly with severe symptoma, and perhaps have a fatal outcome,’’ he pointed out.
He said he was making this announcement in order to speed up the contact tracing process and call on anyone who might have had contact with me to isolate immediately and get tested by RT-PCR five to seven days after said contact.
‘’I have been fully vaccinated and am grateful for the protection the vaccine affords me today. While infections in vaccinated people are relatively uncommon, they can and do happen. What vaccines offer, as has been documented in countries with high rate of vaccination, is protection against serious illness, hospitalization, and death,’’ he pointed out.
‘’Vaccines work and they save lives. I urge every Filipino to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if a vaccine is made available to you by your LGU (local government unit), your employer, the Red Cross, or any other organization that has access to vaccines. I call on the government, private sector, and humanitarian and civic organizations to work together to bring more vaccines into the country so that we can get as many people as possible vaccinated,’’ he said.
‘’We are at war with an invisible enemy. Protecting ourselves and our loved ones is our best chance to win this battle. For as long as large numbers of people remain unvaccinated, the virus will creep into our homes and communities and destroy lives and livelihood,’’ he stressed.
‘’I want to remind everyone that the most effective protective measures remain the same and must be practiced at all times - wear a mask, observe physical distancing, and wash/disinfect your hands regularly. These protocols should remain in place even for vaccinated people for as long as the majority of the population has not been vaccinated,’’ he added.