Newly diagnosed with coronavirus, Local 10 anchor calls for more contact tracing
Louis Aguirre is one of the lucky ones.
The Local 10 anchor is among nine employees at WPLG to test positive for COVID-19 in recent days, but has yet to experience symptoms.
Aguirre, 53, took to social media Thursday to thank his fans and followers and assure them that he was OK. He also attempted to answer the many questions they had regarding his illness.
The Miami native and former anchor for “The Insider” and “Deco Drive,” said that he first was tested at Walgreens in Sunrise offering free, appointment-only testing with results in three hours.
After that test came back positive, Aguirre said he retested Wednesday at Finlay Clinical Lab, 330 SW 27th Ave., to make sure he didn’t get a false positive. This laboratory has a 36-hour result turnaround, with no wait or appointment necessary. Cost: $100.
Aguirre ended his video with an important message regarding contact tracing, a way public health professionals help control the spread of the novel coronavirus.
These experts work with COVID patients to develop a list of everyone they have been in contact with during a certain period of time. Those individuals are notified about their exposure and then are able to take precautionary steps to protect those around them, such as quarantining.
“Our state government has dropped the ball on this, but we can and must be proactive,” Aguirre posted. “If you tested positive or think you might have been exposed, please reach out to a contact tracer.”
Aguirre gave the link to sign up to be traced at volunteer.larkinhospital.com
“This is all our virus. The only way to attack it and get to the other side is if we, as a community, fight this together and take the steps to protect each other and keep each other safe. It is an act of love.”
On Monday night, Local 10 evening anchor Nicole Perez told her Twitter followers that she had tested positive for COVID-19, along with her husband, reporter Roy Ramos.
Since then, more people tested positive, bringing the total to nine people in the newsroom, some behind the scenes.
Perez and Ramos, both fitness buffs, are at home, recuperating. Unlike Aguirre, they have more severe symptoms.
On Thursday, Perez said she was experiencing a “pounding headache” as well as nausea, “a few dizzy spells and some stomach aches.”
Ramos, after dealing with severe coughing and shortness of breath, was diagnosed with pneumonia. He continues to monitor his health with the help of an oximeter, to monitor oxygen levels, Perez said.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 12:50 PM.
