DepEd chief Briones now tests negative for COVID-19
MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Monday that she now tested negative for the novel coronavirus, a week after she revealed she contracted the disease.
An advisory from the Department of Education said Briones’ COVID-19 now yields a negative result, citing information from the Department of Health.
In a separate GMA News report, Briones was quoted as saying in a mix of English and Filipino: “Early this morning, [Health] Secretary [Francisco] Duque texted me that the result, for me only, is negative.”
Briones also told GMA News’ Unang Balita that they are still waiting for COVID-19 results of her family.
The 79-year-old Education chief disclosed Thursday last week that she received her test results on April 8 late afternoon. She is the second Cabinet member to have contracted the virus.
Briones said her first test, taken March 13, came out negative. This was after a number of DepEd officials had exposure to a confirmed case.
She underwent another test on April 2 after a Cabinet member who attended an urgent meeting with her last March 23 announced he contracted the disease.
Briones did not identify the government official, but Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said March 31 that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Other members of the Duterte Cabinet have been on self-quarantine since.
Briones said last week that she remains asymptomatic. “My body temperature, which is taken three times a day, remains normal.”
On Monday, Briones said in GMA’s Dobol B sa News TV that when she heard that she now tests negative, she felt like she was given a “last minute pardon” after receiving a death sentence.
As of Sunday, there are 4,648 infections in the country. Death tally is at 297, while recoveries stand at 197. — Kristine Joy Patag with reports from Ian Nicolas Cigaral
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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