MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Celine Pialago announced Friday that she is negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“I started to have colds, dry cough and other flu-like symptoms during the first three days of my quarantine,” Pialago wrote in a Facebook post.
“Since COVID symptoms are flu-like, I requested for a Covid test, and the result thankfully was negative,” she added.
The MMDA official said she decided to disclose this development to inform her close contacts.
“I owe it to the people who were with me from March 18-22, since I was in close interaction with people who later tested positive for COVID-19,” Pialago said.
Pialago and MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia placed themselves under self-isolation on March 23 after interacting with a patient positive for coronavirus disease.
However, Garcia announced over the weekend that he contracted the infectious disease.