BBC Africa journalist and Former K24 TV Presenter Ian Wafula on Sunday, July 26, announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The former KTN presenter broke the news on social media revealing that he had largely been asymptomatic except for the last week when he developed mild headaches, an itchy throat, loss of taste, all within two days.
He went on to reveal that he received his test results via e-mail and despite testing positive for the virus, he is doing well and is currently self-isolating at home.
He also contrasted his situation now and in the last month when he had been covering the disease including packaging a story titled Do You Know Somebody?
He is now the patient.
“Got my results earlier today and I tested positive for COVID19. Have spent the last 4 months covering the pandemic and even did a story on “Do you know somebody?” Well now I do. I remember last week Monday feeling slight headaches, itchy throat, slight chest pain and lack of taste but that was it,” he posted on instagram
“Dr. Wasike here (pictured above) is a gem, as soon as she saw the results on mail I could tell she panicked but up until she broke the news and told me how to take care of myself moving forward she had been very calm and professional and we ended up laughing about the whole scenario,” he said.
“I’m the first patient she has had to break the news to. She was glad that I’ve been exercising and trying to keep safe. My family and friends have been very supportive once I told them and so have my bosses,” he added.
The presenter further underscored that he is going public about his condition to sensitize Kenyans on the need to keep safe and help change the mentality that has seen COVID-19 patients subjected to stigma.
“I’m sharing this so that more of us know that the disease is real, so we stop having stigma towards it and so that we be careful. My sister and I will isolate at home as we stay together. She is well and has not shown any symptoms. All is well!” he added.
Ian Wafula is now among a couple of popular media personalities who have tested positive for the disease.
Last week, Citizen TV anchor and talk show host Jeff Koinange tested positive for the disease. The week before that, Citizen TV’s senior political reporter Stephen Letoo also tested positive for the disease.
KBC Radio Taifa‘s Bonnie Musambi and Miss Katiwa of Homeboyz Radio have also tested positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Kenya continues to report more and more cases as the disease continues to spread at a very fast rate.
On Sunday, Kenya recorded 960 new cases pushing the country’s total caseload so far to 17,603.
The Ministry of Health said the new infections were recorded following testing of 8,261 samples.
Of the 960 new cases, Nairobi posted the highest number with 510 new infections followed by Kajiado (102), Kiambu (100), Machakos (58), Mombasa (48), Busia (21), Garissa (17), Uasin Gishu (15), Kisumu (14), Nakuru (12) and Narok (10).
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