House appropriations panel chair tests positive for Covid

In a statement, Yap said he took the test on March 15 and received the result on March 25, after being exposed to persons infected with the respiratory virus. (File photo: Cong. Eric Go Yap/Facebook)

MANILA – House appropriations committee chair Eric Go Yap on Wednesday night confirmed that he tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

In a statement, Yap said he took the test on March 15 and received the result on March 25, after being exposed to persons infected with the respiratory virus.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share to all of you that I tested positive for coronavirus. Nagpa-test ako noong March 15 at ngayong araw, 10 days after, nakatanggap tayo ng tawag mula sa DOH [Department of Health] upang iparating sa akin ang resulta (I got myself tested on March 15, and today, 10 days after, I received a call from the DOH to inform me about the results),” Yap said.

“Inis at galit ang naramdaman ko dahil alam ko sa sarili ko na maaaring nailagay ko sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga taong nakapaligid sa akin (I feel vexed and angry because I know that I may have endangered the lives of the people around me),” he added.

Yap noted that on March 21, he attended a meeting in Malacañang to discuss the government’s steps to combat the Covid-19 crisis.

“Bago tayo magpunta doon, nagtanong ako kung may resulta na ang aking test, pero wala pa daw (Before going there, I asked for the test result, but it was not yet complete). I attended the meeting and was careful the whole time knowing na (that) I could potentially be a carrier of the virus,” he said.

He also recounted that he attended the Special Session of the House of Representatives on March 23.

“Earlier that day, bago magtungo ng Kongreso, nagtanong ako kung may resulta na ang aking test, pero wala pa rin daw. (before heading to Congress, I asked if the test result is out, but it was still not done). That was 8 days after my test,” he said.

Yap apologized to the people he encountered these past few days, noting that despite practicing good personal hygiene, he still acquired the virus.

“Wala pong kinikilalang pulitika, kapangyarihan, o kayamanan ang sakit na ito. Pantay pantay po tayong lahat. Kung gusto nating sugpuin ang pagkalat ng virus, kinakailangan na magkaisa tayo. Sama sama, kaya natin ito (The virus does not spare the wealthy, the powerful, or those in politics. It reminds us that we are all equal. If we want to combat the spread of the virus, we should all unite. We can do this together),” he said.

“I appeal to you to stay at home… Stop going out and stop socializing; ‘lower risk’ does not mean ‘no risk’. This is a minor setback for me but it will not stop me from fulfilling my duties and responsibilities. Let’s all rise from this together,” he added.