As part of my obligation as a public official under this public health emergency, I would like to announce that I have…
Posted by Epimaco Densing III on Friday, July 3, 2020
Another government official was infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
On a Facebook post on Saturday, July 4, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III confirmed that he contracted the virus, but assured that his body has been “responding positively” to the treatment being given to him at a hospital where he is being taken care of.
“As part of my obligation as a public official under this public health emergency, I would like to announce that I have been tested positive of the Covid-19 Virus,” he wrote.
Densing said it might be stress that affected his immune system. Despite this, he remains optimistic that he will overcome his current situation.
He also advised the public to take care of themselves and be observant of those around them, especially during this coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, July 3, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country has breached 40,000, as the Department of Health recorded 1,531 new infections.
Among the 1,531 new cases, 688 were fresh or those patients whose test results came out positive in the last three days, while 843 were late cases or those whose test results yielded positive four days ago or earlier.
The DOH also recorded six new fatalities, bringing the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in the country to 1,280.
Malacañang also said on Friday that the government is boosting its COVID-19 testing to include those who are not showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved “in principle” the expanded testing strategy. Guidelines for this will soon be released by the National Task Force and the Health department.
Roque issued this statement after eleven individuals, including former social Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, filed a petition for mandamus before the Supreme Court (SC) to compel the government to conduct “proactive testing,” improve contact tracing and laboratory testing capacity, and release “accurate, timely, and complete” information regarding the COVID-19 situation in the country.