Still has mild COVID symptoms, says Palace
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and ASHZEL HACHERO
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. is doing well and continues to work in isolation in his home, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said yesterday.
The President tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) last Friday.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla yesterday said he tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday last week.
Remulla, who was supposed to meet with justice beat reporters today, also said in a message to reporters that he only has “mild symptoms” and will undergo isolation as called for by health protocols.
Mico Clavano, a lawyer from Remulla’s office said the latter is “okay already and is working from home.”
Remulla is the second Cabinet member of the Marcos administration to be infected by COVID-19 since they assumed their posts on July 1.
Last week, acting Defense officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr.also announced he tested positive for the coronavirus.
Angeles said based on results of the medical check-up on Marcos on Saturday afternoon by his physician, Dr. Samuel Zacate, Marcos’ condition has “greatly improved with only mild symptoms.”
“His personal doctor, Dr. Zacate, reported Saturday that the President is doing well and very much in stable condition,” Angeles said.
She said Zacate’s examination indicated that Marcos did not have any fever, no loss of taste, no loss of smell, his throat was clear of any inflammation, and “most important, there was no sign of respiratory distress or pneumonia.”
She said Zacate also reported that Marcos’ vital signs are within normal limits and he will be subjected to further laboratory examination as may be needed.
Angeles said home medications for the President were being continued and he is under close monitoring by Zacate until the completion of his home isolation period.
The President on July 8 tested positive of COVID-19 and experienced mild fever, nasal stuffiness, nasal itchiness and mild occasional non-productive cough. An RT-PCR test confirmed he was positive for COVID-19.
Marcos was advised to undergo home isolation for seven days in compliance with the Department of Health protocols for fully-vaccinated individuals.
This is the second time that Marcos tested positive for COVID-19 with the first at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
Marcos had to skip some of his activities last Friday such as the 246th anniversary of US Independence at the US Embassy while Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez represented him in some of the meetings such as those with the security cluster.
Marcos attended virtually a meeting of the Leagues of Governors and Mayors, where he talked about the importance of a booster campaign rollout in order to safely resume face-to-face classes and fully reopen the economy.
Marcos again talked of the importance of the booster shot in his weekly vlog that was uploaded in his Facebook account on Saturday night.
He wants local government units to conduct large-scale immunization drives for booster shots. targeting school children so they can safely go back to school either by August or September and start the full face to face classes by November.
