Channel 2’s Fred Blankenship battling breakthrough case of COVID-19

ATLANTA — Channel 2′s Fred Blankenship will be back on the anchor desk soon after battling a breakthrough case of COVID-19.

Fred announced in a Facebook post Wednesday that he and several family members were exposed to the virus while on vacation in California.

After quarantining and testing negative twice, Fred ended up testing positive.

“Breakthrough positives as they are known are very real,” he said. “I thought because I was fully vaccinated the symptoms would be mild. They were not.”

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But Fred said despite the symptoms he had, his doctor told him it could’ve been a lot worse if he had not gotten the vaccine.

“My doctor told me the fact that I got the vaccination and stayed in relatively good shape kept me out of the hospital. It’s been a big reminder that health is the true wealth,” he said.

Fred is now feeling much better and will be back on Channel 2 Action News This Morning starting on Monday.

Read Fred’s full post below:

Dear family,

I hope you don’t find me too presumptuous calling you family. But, that’s who you are to me. So, let’s just go with it.

You may have noticed that I have been gone for a few weeks from WSB-TV and social. I like long vacations but even I have my limits. The long and short of it is that Covid found my family with a bullseye. While on vacation in California members of my immediate family came down with Covid. We took all the precautions, got the vaccinations and it still happened. We quarantined, tested like crazy and hoped for the best. My family appears to be doing just fine now. Thank you for thinking of them.

At the end of the vacation after receiving two negative tests I eventually tested positive. Breakthrough positives as they are known are very real. Arggghhh!!!! I thought because I was fully vaccinated the symptoms would be mild. They were not.

Over the past two weeks I have struggled to breathe. I’ve acted like the biggest baby through aches and pains. And, I lost my ability to taste and smell. Luckily that part is slowly starting to return. I think I smelled peanut butter today. Optimism is high!

My doctor told me the fact that I got the vaccination and stayed in relatively good shape kept me out of the hospital. It’s been a big reminder that health is the true wealth. I want us all to be healthy my friends.

Also, something interesting. At times during this ordeal where so much seemed out of my control—I had anxiety. I was emotional. I was scared. I expected none of this. It’s been a journey that I know so many others have gone through as well.

Thank you for thinking about me and taking the time listen to my story. It’s an honor to wake you up every morning. These last few weeks have reminded me how truly blessed I am to have my family, friends and this amazing job. I feel like the luckiest man alive.

The bottom line is I feel so much better and I’m back baby. Well, almost back. I’ll see you wonderful people on Monday! Until then stay positive and healthy. Let’s get it!!!!

Fred

Leave your well wishes for Fred on his post below:

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