COVID-hit Año back to work after extended leave of absence

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año is returning to work on Friday, following his extended leave of absence that started in January.

DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Año has scheduled a meeting with agency officials on Friday morning.

“Ngayong araw babalik ng trabaho si Secretary Eduardo Año… Nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng nagdasal at nagbigay ng suporta sa kanya,” Malaya said in an interview with Teleradyo.

(Secretary Eduardo Año will return to work today… We want to thank those who prayed for him and extended support.)

“Ang kanyang mga doktor ay nagbigay na ng clearance sa kanya para makabalik sa trabaho,” he added.

(His doctors already gave him clearance to return to work.)

Año started his leave of absence in January as part of his recovery after being infected twice last year with the new coronavirus SARS-COV-2, which causes COVID-19. He initially extended his leave for the duration of February and further extended it until March.

READ: Año extends leave of absence

During a medical checkup in January, Año was advised by his doctors “to slow down and take a break from stressful activities.”

Año first tested positive for the new coronavirus on March 3, 2020. He again tested positive on August 16, 2020.

KGA