What's it like to be an asymptomatic carrier of the Coronavirus Disease? Find out from those who tested positive for COVID-19

The world was stunned when Hollywood actor Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease or COVID-19. Tom and Rita were among the first few high-profile celebrities to have contracted the novel coronavirus. A few days after their announcement, famous personalities have one by one revealed that they were also positive with COVID-19. Among them were 'Game of Thrones' star Kristofer Hivju, 'Frozen II' star Rachel Matthews, and 'Quantum of Solace' actress Olga Kurylenko. While most of these celebrities reportedly experienced symptoms like colds and body aches, there were some who had no symptoms at all - or are asymptomatic - but still tested positive for COVID-19.

Clueless of Coronavirus infection

The symptoms of the Coronavirus Disease could be very tricky because they're very much like the common flu: fever, exhaustion, colds, body ache, and dry cough.

However, there are also notable emergency warning signs of COVID-19 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC. They include:

-Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

-Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

-New confusion or inability to arouse

-Bluish lips or face

Once you experience these symptoms and you're aware of possible exposure to someone who's infected with COVID-19, then that's the time you can suspect that you may have also contracted the Coronavirus Disease.

But, there have also been cases where people test positive for COVID-19 even when they're not showing any symptoms at all. These infected people are now referred to as asymptomatic carriers of the Coronavirus Disease.

Some of the famous personalities who are asymptomatic and yet still tested positive for COVID-19 are actor Idris Elba, and Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. In the Philippines, actor Christopher de Leon and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri were among the high-profile individuals who revealed that they were infected with COVID-19.

In an Instagram post, Christopher said that he had no recent travel history outside of the Philippines and also no known contact with anyone who is positive with COVID-19. How he acquired the Coronavirus Disease still remains a mystery.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Good Morning America, Utah Jazz All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell narrated what it was like to be an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19.

"I could walk down the street. If it wasn't public knowledge that I was sick, you wouldn't know it. I think that's the scariest part the virus: you may seem fine, be fine, but you never know who you may be talking to and who they're going home to."

Utah Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert -- who made light of the Coronavirus pandemic by jokingly touching the microphones and recorders after a press con, before being diagnosed with COVID-19 days after -- have since felt remorseful for his actions.

"I have gone through so many emotions since learning of my diagnosis…mostly fear, anxiety, and embarrassment. The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected.”

What Prompted Them to Get Tested?

You're probably wondering what compelled these famous figures to get tested for COVID-19 when they're not even experiencing any symptom at all?

With the exception of Rudy Gobert and Christopher de Leon -- who both weren't able to specify where they got the virus from -- the common denominator these celebrities have is that they've been exposed to someone who had tested positive for COVID-19.

On March 18, a day after finding out about his diagnosis, actor Idris Elba went live on Twitter to share his story and answer his followers' questions about COVID-19.

He recounted, “On Friday, I was told that someone who I've had contact with had tested positive, and I'm on location, about to start filming. And the news breaks, that this person - also in the public eye - had tested positive.

“So, it was definitely something I had to do 'cause I was about to start filming and I was around a lot of people. And quite honestly, my job made me test immediately. I had to test anyway because it meant putting a lot of people at risk if I had been exposed.”

This is also the case for Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who decided to take a test after being told by Senator Win Gatchalian that a resource person who had previously attended a senate hearing with them had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 11.

In an interview with Mike Enriquez in 24 Oras, Senator Zubiri shared his frustration about taking the necessary precautions but still ending up getting infected with COVID-19. He said, “Ingat na ingat po ko, Sir Mike. Ingat na ingat po ako sa senado. Wala na po akong kinakamayan for two weeks na. Almost every five minutes nag-aalcohol ako. I practice social distancing and yet nahawaan pa rin ako. Hindi ko po alam paano. But I'm sure sa senado ko po 'yan - under my function as a senator - nakuha dahil ano lang naman po ako eh, senado-bahay eh. After work, uwi po ako sa bahay.”

Life After Testing Positive

In general, individuals who test positive for the Coronavirus Disease and are not experiencing severe symptoms are sent home and advised to do self-quarantine.

And, according to Senator Zubiri, Recovering COVID-19 patients under home quarantine would then have to take multivitamins to boost their immune system and constantly monitor their temperature. They're only advised to call the hospital for further action once they experience high fever.

Actor Idris Elba seems to be doing the same thing while under quarantine. He told fans, “My temperature's fine. I don't have fever. I have asthma so I should fit in the high category of most at risk. I have a respiratory issue. I've had asthma all my life. So, catching Corona was definitely not in my bucket list at all.

“But, even my asthma is okay. I don't feel any restriction within my breathing or my lungs. (I have) a little bit of a runny nose. But I don't think that's anything. I haven't been coughing too much. I generally feel okay.”

Importance of Early Testing

If there's any takeaway from the experiences of asymptomatic carriers of the Coronavirus Disease, it would definitely be the importance of getting tested as early as possible.

Awareness of one's status can greatly help in curbing the spread of COVID-19. If you are informed that you are positive with the Coronavirus Disease, then you can undergo self-quarantine and/or practice social distancing, so you won't pass on the virus to another person.

And, it's also important for people with COVID-19 to come forward and inform people of their status, so the people they've recently interacted with can get tested and undergo home quarantine.

Actor Christopher de Leon resonated this on his Instagram post:

“Due to the nature of my work in the entertainment business, I have interacted with many people. I therefore ask anyone who has come in contact me within the last week or two to observe stringent self-quarantine, observe for symptoms and follow the triage procedures published by the DOH, whether asymptomatic or not. Please cooperate with the authorities in their contact tracing efforts. My wife Sandy, daughter Mica & our kasambahay are in self-quarantine at home.

So, if you're showing symptoms of COVID-19, it's best that you get tested right away. But definitely, whether you're asymptomatic or not, the best thing to do amid the Coronavirus pandemic is to stay home and keep yourself and other people safe.

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