DPWH’s Mark Villar announces he tested positive for coronavirus

https://www.facebook.com/SecMarkVillar/posts/3733034630045821

A Cabinet official has revealed that he is infected with the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

On Wednesday, July 15. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said in a Facebook post that he received his test result and “it is positive for COVID-19.” No further details were disclosed other than this.

Commenting on his post, netizens, meanwhile, hope for the Cabinet official’s speedy recovery.

Presidential Harry Roque told the media that he underwent a swab test since he had close contact with Villar last week.

“I was with him last Friday for contract signing and groundbreaking of Cavitex segments 2 and 3a,” the spokesman said, adding that he is currently waiting for his test result.

As the number of people infected with the virus continues to spike, the Philippine government has introduced the “Philippine anti-COVID czars” who are tasked to lead the country’s response to the pandemic, with Villar being the “chief isolation czar.” Apart from the DPWH chief, Malacañang also named Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalog as “chief tracing czar,” Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega as “chief treatment czar,” and Bases and Conversions Development Authority (BCDA) chief Vince Dizon as “chief testing czar.”

In his update on Monday, Villar said the country now has 129 regional evacuation centers being used as quarantine facilities and that they are building 11 centers in Region 7, 16 in Region 8, 20 in Region 10, and three in Region 12. The government, he said, is targeting to build 50 more quarantine facilities in the next three weeks.

“Asahan ninyo po na walang tigil po ang aming pagtatayo ng quarantine facilities para ma-control po natin ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 (We will not stop building quarantine facilities to control the spread of COVID-19),” Villar assured.

The Department of Health on Tuesday recorded 634 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Philippines to more than 57,500. It also recorded 88 additional recoveries, making the total number of recovered patients to more than 20,400.