Quezon City Mayor Joy Bolmente confirmed that she contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but assured that she is currently in a ‘good condition’ and that she is not experiencing any symptoms.
In her statement released by the Quezon City Government on Facebook, Belmonte said she was thankful because they discovered right away that she tested positive for the virus.
“Dahil sa pagdalaw sa ating mga health center at ospital, special concern lockdown areas at mga komunidad upang alamin ang kanilang mga pangangailangan, sa simula pa lang, batid na naming posibleng mangyari ito (Due to my visits in health centers and hospitals, special concern lockdown areas and communities to determine their needs, I knew from the start that this might happen),” she said.
“Pero hindi ko po ito pinagsisisihan. Inihanda ko na po ang aking sarili at buong puso ko po itong tinatanggap (But I do not regret this. I already prepared myself and I wholeheartedly accept this),” she added.
Belmonte advised the public to be really mindful of COVID-19 because even an individual like her who follows safety protocols, such as wearing a face mask, frequent hand washing, and observing social distancing, still got infected with the virus.
The mayor said her office, as well as common areas in Quezon City Hall, were temporarily closed for disinfection and that the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (QC-ESU) is now conducting contact tracing. Despite this, Belmonte assured that their response to the needs of her constituents will continue.
“Bagama’t limitado ang aking pagkilos, mananatili po akong nakatutok sa kalagayan at pangangailangan ng buong Quezon City (Even though my movements are limited, I will still monitor the situation and the need of the entire Quezon City),” she said.
Belmonte confirmed this news after another government official, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, said last Saturday, July 4, that he was infected with the virus, but he assured that his body has been “responding positively” to the treatment.
[READ: DILG’s Densing confirms he tested positive for COVID-19]