“To my dear fellow Filipinos, my Kababayans. It is with sadness that I announce that I am positive for Covid-19,”
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri announced on Monday, March 16, 2020, that he tested positive of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) amid the increasing number of Covid-19 infected patients and fatalities.
The senator made the announcement in a post on his Facebook page.
Zubiri said he had a test taken on him on Friday, March 13, 2020, while on self quarantine.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque informed the senator on Monday that he tested positive of the coronavirus.
“My heart sank with what he had said but I’m uplifted with the fact that I am asymptomatic and have no fever or cough nor am I weak or have any headaches,” the senator said.
The senator said having himself under self quarantine last Wednesday, March 12, 2020, was the best decision he made and could have protected his family from contamination.
“As one of those very early on in the Senate who espoused and advocated for stronger government response on controlling Covid-19, I was very careful in my dealings with people at work in the Senate. I practiced social distancing as well as a no handshake policy but yet I got contaminated. How, I do not know. This just goes to show how easily this virus is spread and therefore it is best for everyone to stay home and stay clean,” the senator said.
The senator assured that he will put himself in isolation in the next more days and until health authorities will check him again.
“I hope my coming out will show how dangerously infectious this virus is. Sa aking mga Kababayans, makinig po tayo sa mga babala nang gobyerno at wag na po kayo lumabas sa inyong mga tahanan. God bless us all,” he said.
Zubiri brings the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country to 142, 12 death and two patients discharged from hospital after feeling better.
Other government officials who got tested for Covid-19 are President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go, both tested negative of the coronavirus.
Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay also put themselves under self-quarantine. Davao City Mayor Sasa Duterte also is on home quarantine while giving for directions for the city under lockdown because of Covid-19.
Other local officials on self-quarantine are Iligan Representative Frederick Siao and Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado. (MCV)
