Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar got a clean bill of health after recovering from the coronavirus illness.
Andanar announced Saturday that he has “fully recovered” from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but will still take an additional five-day quarantine as a health precaution.
The Palace official confirmed on March 29 that he tested positive for the coronavirus disease and immediately went on isolation at home.
"I am pleased to share that I have fully recovered from COVID-19 after undergoing a 14-day home quarantine," Andanar said in a statement Saturday, April 10.
"Despite my clean bill of health, I will still observe another 5 days of voluntary quarantine to ensure the safety of those around me and those I will come into contact with," he added.
Andanar expressed gratitude to the Lord as well as family and friends for their support. "I thank the Lord for this blessing of being able to overcome the virus. I am also very grateful for my family, loved ones, and colleagues, among others, for all their support and prayers while I undertook my recovery," he said.
He also urged other people battling the coronavirus to stay "strong-willed and to be hopeful of their recovery." He said they should trust the Lord would hear the prayers of healing and health.
Andanar likewise renewed his appeal to the public to continue to observe health precautions such as wearing mask and physical distancing to avoid getting sick.
"We continue to remind everyone to observe all health protocols for us to be on the road towards our collective recovery as a nation from this pandemic," he said.
Andanar, while recuperating from the coronavirus infection, continued to perform his duties including hosting some of his regular programs online in recent days.
Andanar was among the Cabinet members who had been infected with the coronavirus since the pandemic started last year.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana recently announced he tested positive for the coronavirus and went on isolation. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also got infected with COVID-19 for the second time.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Education Secretary Leonor Briones were previously infected with the virus and have recovered from the illness.