By Mela Lesmoras
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Thursday that he has completed his quarantine for COVID-19 and already tested negative for the Novel Coronavirus.
In his virtual press briefing, Secretary Roque thanked the medical team who took care of him during isolation.
“Well, mayroon na po akong certificate of quarantine issued po ng mga napakagaling na mga doctors and staff members. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa kanila (Well, I now have a certificate of quarantine issued by the very good doctors and staff members. I thank them all,” he said.
Moving forward, the Palace Spokesperson also shared his realizations and plans in mind after getting infected.
“In terms of future plans, alam ninyo po ang duda ko, iyong pag-iikot ko sa ospital. Iyon po iyong bagong mga galaw ko na hindi naman kasama sa aking mga dating mga public appearances. So ngayon po kung talagang hindi kinakailangang pumunta sa ospital, hindi na po ako tatapak sa ospital ‘no. Dahil noong ako po ay nag-test ng positive, binilang ko, mga pitong ospital ang aking pinuntahan all within a period of two weeks (In terms of future plans, you know I had doubts when I made the rounds in hospitals. Those are my recent moves which are not included in my public appearances before. So now, if there is no need to go to a hospital, I will no longer step into one. When I got myself tested, I counted that I went to seven hospitals all within a period of two weeks),” he shared.
It was March 15, 2021 when Secretary Roque announced that he tested positive for COVID-19.
“I am asymptomatic. Wala po akong nararamdaman (I was not feeling anything). I was completely surprised and shocked by the result. At wala po akong deputy spox, so habang wala po tayong nararamdaman (I do not have a deputy spox, so while I do not feel ill), I will proceed to discharge my functions while on isolation.”
After becoming part of the Filipino population who got infected by COVID-19, Secretary Roque realized he has now a deeper understanding of the situation, asking people to strictly follow the health protocols and get vaccinated, for them not to have the same experience.