Briones yields negative test result for COVID-19

Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Monday said she already tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after publicly disclosing last week that she contracted the virus.

"Early this morning nag-text sa akin si [Health] Secretary [Francisco] Duque na ang resulta ng test ko, sa akin lamang, ay negative," Briones said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

"Para akong may death sentence na na-pardon at the last minute," Briones said at a later interview on Dobol B sa News TV, when asked on how she felt after hearing the good news.

The Department of Health requires two negative test results to declare that a person has fully recovered from the virus. It has not been made clear yet if the negative test result that Briones mentioned was already her second one.

Briones had been in isolation since April 8 after she learned that she tested positive for COVID-19 based on the samples taken from her on April 2.

"Hinihintay pa namin ang resulta sa pamilya ko," she said on Unang Balita.

The 79-year-old Cabinet member said she also tried traditional remedies and observed a proper diet to boost her immune system while battling with COVID-19.

"I'm still being careful dahil 'yung aking staff, mga 25 of them, are also undergoing tests pa. Hindi ibig sabihin magiging careless lang tayo... Kailangan makipag-cooperate pa rin sa lahat ng mga mandato at advise ng Department of Health," Briones said.

COVID-19, believed to have originated in China in December 2019 and which has killed thousands globally, has affected 19 incumbent government officials in the Philippines. --Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News