MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Friday said he is extending his observance of self-quarantine to 21 days.
Zubiri, who was the first senator to test positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has been in self-quarantine since March 11.
“I am now on my 16th day of isolation but I have decided to extend it to 21 days just to be absolutely sure that I no longer have any symptoms,” Zubiri told reporters.
The senator bared that he “feels good” and that his last symptoms were on March 11 and 12 as he underscored that he has been under isolation since then.
“I can’t emphasize enough that we must all stay home and quarantine our selves from this deadly virus. The lives of our people and most especially of our front liners depend on it,” Zubiri said.
“That is the only way we can stop the spread of the virus. Thank you all for your support during this difficult time of my life and may God the Father bless you all,” the senator added.
On March 16, Zubiri announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Zubiri said that it was Health Secretary Francisco Duque who told him about the results of the tests.
He was found to be asymptomatic, meaning that he has yet to show any symptoms of the disease like dry cough, fever, and shortness of breath.
But Zubiri admitted that he had a “slight fever” days before he found out that he tested positive for COVID-19.
Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Sonny Angara have also tested positive for the disease.