Nat’l artist Kidlat Tahimik tests positive for COVID-19; regrets ‘lapses’ in wearing face mask

BAGUIO CITY – National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik (or Eric de Guia in real life) on Sunday announced that he has gone into a self-imposed quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

He said he felt “obliged to openly declare” his case to encourage those who could have been exposed to him to take the necessary precautions.

According to him, his self-quarantine came after the recently concluded Ibagiw Festival, the city’s  “Creative City Festival” that gathered artists and craftsmen for various activities and a month-long exhibit that began on Nov. 6. Kidlat had an art installation in that event and guided guests.

“Regretfully, I may have had lapses in face-mask security—-posing for a selfie sans mask. Inadvertently I might have exposed myself to the coronavirus,” he said in a statement posted by local newspaper Baguio Chronicle on its Facebook page.

He added: “In turn, this would be of concern for those of you who were exposed to me.”  [ac]

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