Zubiri recovering from COVID-19 after second negative result

Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri on Sunday said he received the second negative result for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a requisite for patients to be considered.

"Just received the happiest news ever of my second negative result from the Makati City health office which is a requirement for all COVID-positive patients to be considered recovered," he said in a statement.

On March 16, Zubiri announced that he tested positive for COVID-19. 

The senator said he had a slight fever before he was tested  for the disease.

"As a day of thanksgiving I would also like to thank God and our Lord for a second chance in my life by healing me from COVID-19," said Zubiri.

Prior to his March 16 announcement, he had gone into self-quarantine along with several other senators after learning that a resource person who attended a hearing tested positive for COVID-19.

The wife of the resource person became the first Filipino fatality due to the disease, Zubiri confirmed earlier.

Aside from Zubiri, Senators Sonny Angara and Koko Pimentel also tested positive for COVID-19.

The new coronavirus has claimed 297 lives and infected over 4,600 people in the Philippines as of Sunday. —Julia Mari Ornedo and Jon Viktor Cabuenas/LBG, GMA News