MANILA, Philippines – Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones confirmed on Thursday that she had tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
"As a government official and Cabinet member, and as a Filipino, it is my duty to annouce that yesterday, April 8, late afternoon, I was informed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine that I am positive for SARS-COV-2," Briones said in a statement.
The 79-year-old Briones was tested again for the disease after attending a meeting on March 23 with Cabinet member, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who later announced that he was infected with COVID-19.
Last March 13, the Education secretary got tested for the coronavirus after a number of executive committee members were exposed to a patient who tested positive for COVID-19. The result came back negative.
Briones said she is currently asymptomatic and now on isolation. She said to continue her function despite the condition.
“I am going on isolation. However, like my fellow Cabinet member, I will continue working -- virtually attend IATF meetings, preside over the DepEd Execom and Mancom, and make all decisions necessary to keep DepEd in full operation,” she said.
The Philippines as of Wednesday confirmed 3,870 cases of COVID-19, with 182 deaths and 96 recoveries.
— The Summit Express
"As a government official and Cabinet member, and as a Filipino, it is my duty to annouce that yesterday, April 8, late afternoon, I was informed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine that I am positive for SARS-COV-2," Briones said in a statement.
The 79-year-old Briones was tested again for the disease after attending a meeting on March 23 with Cabinet member, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who later announced that he was infected with COVID-19.
Last March 13, the Education secretary got tested for the coronavirus after a number of executive committee members were exposed to a patient who tested positive for COVID-19. The result came back negative.
Briones said she is currently asymptomatic and now on isolation. She said to continue her function despite the condition.
“I am going on isolation. However, like my fellow Cabinet member, I will continue working -- virtually attend IATF meetings, preside over the DepEd Execom and Mancom, and make all decisions necessary to keep DepEd in full operation,” she said.
The Philippines as of Wednesday confirmed 3,870 cases of COVID-19, with 182 deaths and 96 recoveries.
— The Summit Express
