MANILA, Philippines — Mandaluyong City Councilor Charisse Marie Abalos-Vargas has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), days after her grandparents, former Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. and his wife Corazon tested positive for the illness.
“I am sad to say that I tested positive for COVID-19,” the younger Abalos said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
The councilor said she is now feeling well despite her positive test result.
“Last week, ako ay na stress, napuyat, nalungkot sa dinaranas ni Lolo Ben and Mama Cora. Hanggang sa nagising akong parang May bara sa ilong pero walang sipon. I couldn’t smell anything and I couldn’t taste anything. That was my red flag,” she added.
(Last week, I was stressed, I lacked sleep, and was saddened at what my Lolo ben and Mama Cora are going through. One day, I woke up with a clogged nose but I did not have colds. I couldn’t smell or taste anything. That was my red flag.)
Abalos said she immediately quarantined herself and went through a swab test when she exhibited these symptoms.
“For now, I can only hope and pray that no other symptoms appear. And that I didn’t infect my babies,” she also said, adding that her children will also undergo swab tests on Friday.
Her father and former Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos is now personally taking care of the Abalos couple who contracted the disease.