C.E.O. Shal Says He Followed All COVID Protocols and Still Got the Virus

Valentino Shal

Today, Shal told reporters that he followed all the protocols, but still contracted COVID-19.  He says this is why it is important to be safe and get vaccinated because you never know how or when you’ll be diagnosed with the virus.

Valentino Shal, Recovered COVID-19 Patient

“I had expected to contract it a long time ago but of course I had been practicing the protocol and the measures that we had all been advised to take; the hand washing; the wearing of mask; staying away from people and not shaking hands and that sort of thing. But I knew at some point that I would contract the virus and that is why I made sure to get vaccinated.”

Andrea Polanco

“Were you able to narrow down how you caught it, C.E.O.?”

Valentino Shal

“No, that’s the interesting thing because I was practicing the protocols – I have been avoiding social gatherings; sanitizing my hands and wearing mask and everything. So, where exactly I picked up the virus I am not able to tell. And I think this is the experience of a lot of people. And this is why you have to be extremely careful because you don’t know where you are going to pick it up from.  I am very encouraged by the reports coming from the health teams across the country. I see people lining up for vaccinations and that is very encouraging. I continue to encourage people to do it because the vaccine doesn’t necessarily make you immune, so you may contract the virus and if you do, your experience will not be a difficult one and you will be easily able to recover from the infection. And I think that is the point of the vaccine. In addition to that, what I found out afterwards, is that the vaccine also suppresses transmission. When you are vaccinated and you contract the virus it reduces the chance of spread as well. I live in the same household with my family and neither my wife nor kids got the virus from me and they were around me the entire time and  because I didn’t know initially that I was COVID positive we just continued living at home as normal. So, I think the vaccine helps to suppress the transmission and they got tested and they were all negative and this is why we need to get vaccinated because it not only protects you because it helps to slow down the transmission at least. I would have felt bad if my little girl had become infected but she didn’t and she is the one who is around me most of the time and she ok.”