Senator Zubiri tests positive for COVID-19; 2 more cases reported
By Charmaine A. Tadalan and Vann Marlo M. Villegas
SENATOR Juan Miguel F. Zubiri on Monday said he had tested positive for COVID-19.
“It is with sadness that I announce that I am positive for COVID-19,” he told reporters in a group message.
The senator must undergo 10 more days of isolation, since going into self-quarantine on Wednesday, before he takes another test, he said.
The Department of Health reported two more coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections last night, bringing the total to 142.
The latest cases are both males aged 50 and 63 years old.
It was not clear whether Mr. Zubiri, 50, was included in the DoH’s reported cases.
Meanwhile, DoH reported the first Filipino to recover from the disease, bringing the total of recovery to three.
He is a 46-year-old man, patient 14, admitted at Makati Medical Center.
“The patient is now asymptomatic and tested negative twice for COVID-19 prior to discharge,” DoH said.
“I hope my coming out will show how dangerously infectious this virus is,” he said, noting that he got infected even if he had practiced social distancing.
The Senate has been under restricted access since Thursday for disinfection, after it was reported that a resource person who attended a March 5 hearing had tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Senators Sherwin T. Gatchalian and Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay, who were both at the hearing, have also undergone self-quarantine and were awaiting their test results.
This also prompted Senators Franklin M. Drilon, Panfilo M. Lacson, Juan Edgardo M. Angara, Ramon B. Revilla, Jr., Imee R. Marcos, Francis N. Tolentino, Francis N. Pangilinan , Ralph G. Recto and Manuel M. Lapid to undergo self-quarantine. Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go earlier said he had tested negative.
