President Marcos tests positive for COVID-19

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. tested positive for COVID-19, according to Malacañang on Friday.

Marcos reportedly took an antigen test, and the result showed that he was positive for the viral disease, according to Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles at the press briefing.

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Marcos said he had a slight fever, Cruz-Angeles said. Other than that, the president is in good health.

Marcos’ son, Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos, tested negative for the virus. While out of town, First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos with their two other children, Simon and Vincent.

The Presidential Management Staff who became Marcos’ close contact has been notified to observe for themselves if they have any disease symptoms.

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Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also attended the briefing and announced that Marcos would be isolated for seven days. After that, he said it is up to his doctors to decide if the president still needs to undergo a confirmatory RT-PCR test.

“After that, if his symptoms have been resolved already, he may be able to get back to work and have his face-to-face activities,” Vergeire said.

President Marcos tests positive for COVID-19

According to Cruz-Angeles, Executive Secretary Atty. Vic Rodriguez attended the security meeting on Friday for Marcos.

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Due to the incident, Marcos will not be able to attend the 246th anniversary of US independence at the US Embassy in Manila, according to Cruz-Angeles.

The president will attend and give a message virtually at the Leagues of Governors and Mayors’ meeting tonight.

In March 2020, Marcos also tested positive for COVID-19. He and his family received backlash after receiving their results in 24 hours, while many Filipinos died waiting for their results.

The average turnaround time for the  ranges from days to weeks, causing many PUIs to die before knowing they were infected.

Rumors also spread on social media that Bongbong’s lungs collapsed, and was intubated at the time. Rumors also say Marcos Jr. flew to  using a private plane of Ilocos politician Chavit Singson.

However, his wife said, “He is not dying. Nor is he dead… he is at home and very much alive.”

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