Deped’s Briones recovers from virus

EDUCATION Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones on Monday announced she has tested negative for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), days after announcing that she was infected.

“Good news! Early this morning, nag-text si Secretary Duque na ang test ko ay negative [I received a text message from Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III that I tested negative for Covid-19],” the 79-year-old Briones, who could not contain her happiness, said during a television interview.

On April 8, 2020, Briones was informed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) that she was positive for SARS-COV-2, the causative agent of Covid-19.

She has since stayed home, under tight quarantine, and under constant medical watch for her temperature, oxygen levels, among others.

Earlier on March 16, when she had herself tested after exposure to a person positive of the disease, Briones had tested negative. However, she underwent a second test because she was again exposed to an infected person.

“Last April 2, I had myself tested again after another Cabinet member announced that he was tested and declared positive. He and I attended an urgent and critical meeting of select Cabinet officials on March 23. My test result, as I said, was positive,” Briones lamented.

Briones was asymptomatic and her body temperature, which is taken three times a day, remains normal.

Following the negative test result, Briones said that she will be very careful and will not go out of the house.

Claudeth Mocon-ciriaco