The Block star drops Joe Rogan Covid bombshell

Block contestant Josh says he’s “listening to Joe Rogan” and has ordered a cocktail of drugs “the government doesn’t want you to take.”

The Block contestant Josh Packham has revealed he’s tested positive for Covid after a recent trip to Melbourne – and urged any of the “lots of people” he encountered during his trip to get tested immediately.

And in a concerning update, he told his followers that while he’s experiencing mild symptoms, he has still ordered a number of drug treatments online that “the government doesn’t want people to take” after listening to controversial podcaster Joe Rogan, who touts the antiparastic medication Ivermectin as an alternative Covid treatment.

Asked by one of his followers how he was feeling, Packham described the symptoms as “nothing I haven’t had before when I’ve had a cold or a flu” and said he was already starting to feel better.

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Josh Packham (left) and Joe Rogan.

“What I am concerned about is that there are no early prevention methods put in place by the government. They basically say have the vaccine, if you catch it stay in isolation or 14 days, and if you’re a really bad case, go to hospital, blah blah blah,” he continued, before citing Rogan and UFC director Dana White, who both turned to non-recommended treatments when they developed Covid.

“I’m going to listen to Joe Rogan, Dana White. They had Azithromycin, Monoclonal and Ivermectin. I’ve got those three on the way for myself today. The government for some reason don’t want people to take them - apparently it’s dangerous. I’m going to take it, and we’ll see if it works for me, I’m sure it will. What’s more dangerous, Covid or FDA-approved drugs? We’ll see.”

Ivermectin has not been approved by the FDA to treat the virus.

The FDA “has not authorized or approved Ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals. Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms and head lice and skin conditions like rosacea,” its website states.

“There’s no evidence to support the use of ivermectin to treat Covid-19. Don’t look for magic cures online, and don’t rely on what’s being peddled on the internet, because none of them work,” Westmead Hospital toxicologist Associate Professor Naren Gunja said when a Sydney man was recently rushed to hospital after self-administering Ivermectin.

Josh warns celeb partygoers: ‘Go get tested’

Packham, who competed on the most recent season of The Block with his identical twin brother Luke, had travelled from Sydney to Melbourne last week to watch his brother compete in a celebrity boxing match last Friday.

The event, which many Australian reality TV stars either competed in or attended, already made headlines over the weekend when several former Married At First Sight contestants were involved in an ugly public fight while in the audience.

Josh: “No surprises, I’m positive.”

Two former MAFS stars came to blows at the event.

In an Instagram video posted to his 167k followers, Packham said it was “no surprise” to learn he’d been diagnosed with Covid following the interstate trip.

“I just got my results back and no surprises guys, I’m positive. Obviously it sucks that I’m not spending Christmas with family and friends, but I do have my roommate isolating with me, so we’re doing it together.”

Packham said he wasn’t feeling too sick – “bit of a cough, bit of a head cold” – and was hopeful he might be freed from isolation by New Years. But he warned anyone who’d come in contact with him in Melbourne to get tested.

“Obviously, I came in contact with a lot of friends while I was in Melbourne. So if you’re watching this, probably go get tested immediately, guys. Don’t muck around with it. There was obviously a lot of people when I was in Melbourne coming up to say hi, which is completely fine – but yeah, you should probably go get tested straight away, if you’re watching this,” he continued.

The Block star Josh Packham is choosing Joe Rogan’s Covid treatment.

Josh (left) and Luke came second in the most recent season of The Block. Picture: Supplied

“If you do want to spend Christmas with your family, it’s probably best to keep your distance from people you’re not really close with, and keep that close circle as small as possible. Chances are you will catch it, because it’s running rampant through Sydney and Melbourne right now. If you want to spend Chrissy with your family, just do the right thing.”

Australian reality TV contestants, including Josh’s brother Luke, Bachelorette stars Ciarran Stott and Shannon Karaka, MAFS contestant Sam Carraro, and Love Island’s Todd Elton competed at the boxing event.

Celebs in the audience included Neighbours actor Benjamin Turland and MAFS new parents Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson, who were involved in a fiery scuffle with former co-star Sam Carraro.

New mum Rawson was reportedly injured in the altercation after stepping in to diffuse tensions between the two men, whose reality TV grudge has seemingly spewed into real life, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Josh and his brother, who had both previously appeared together as contestants on Love Island, were two of this season’s most controversial Block contestants due to their part in the “cheating scandal” that overwhelmed the season – but they finished in second place, pocketing $530,000 for their home reno.