FILE: Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque/ Screenshot from PCOO Facebook video
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday said his doctors now deem him fit enough to leave his hospital room in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for a space in the temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF).
TTMFs are amenities that cater to COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms to free up rooms in hospitals for moderate to severe cases.
“Sinabihan na po ako that I should arrange for a TTMF beginning Wednesday. Naging very epektibo naman iyong Remdesivir sa akin,” he revealed in a Palace briefing.
(I was told I should arrange for a TTMF beginning Wednesday. Remdesivir has been very effective on me.)
“Pero ang binabantayan po talaga nila ngayon, and I’m wearing for 24 hours an ECG machine, ay iyong epekto ng Remdesivir sa puso. But other than po, we are fit to transfer to a TTMF,” he added.
(But right now they are still monitoring the effect of Remdesivir on my heart so I’m wearing an ECG machine for 24 hours. But other than that, we are fit to transfer to a TTMF.)
Roque, on April 10, announced that he was hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment. According to him, he was rushed to the hospital after his oxygen level dropped to 90%.
He defended his admission to a hospital saying he was in “bad shape” when he got admitted to PGH.
By April 11, he said he was already feeling “normal” after taking the anti-viral drug Remdesivir but said his doctors would not discharge him until he has completed four more vials of the drug.
He first announced he has the new coronavirus disease on March 15 and has recovered on March 25 as he already tested negative for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
During Tuesday’s briefing, Roque also revealed he started experiencing symptoms of the disease on April 5 and that he tested positive again for the coronavirus on April 6.
To recall, Roque was able to hold his regular press briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacañang complex on April 5 and 6.
He even had testing czar Vince Dizon join him in his briefing on April 6.