DILG Usec. Densing says he tested positive for COVID-19

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Operations Epimaco Densing III on Saturday said he has tested positive for COVID-19.

"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 Covid19 Virus," Densing wrote in a post on Facebook.

He is already at a hospital and is responding well to treatment.

"I am now being taken cared of at the hospital of my choice and my body has been responding positively," Densing said.

The DILG official then urged the public to take care of their health.

"Sa aking mga kababayan, hwag nating pabayaan ang ating katawan at maging mapagnatuay sa mga taong nakapaligid sa atin," he said.

Densing believes his immunity may have weakened due to the many matters he needed to attend to.

"Maaring bumagsak ang aking resisiyensya sa dami ng problema at paggdedesisyong na kailangan gawin ng walang pinipipiling oras na nakaapekto sa buhay ng kakararami. At natsambahan sa isang maikling pagkaktaon na dumaan ang virus sa pangagatawan ko," he said. 

Densing nevertheless is optimistic he will get well soon.

"Gayun pa man, nangayo ko sa inyong pag-ampo na malampasan nako ning bag-ong hamon sa akong ginabuhi! Dili ko paapekto. Mu-Payts ko [fist bump]. And in all our prayers, please do not forget to prayers for President Duterte and most especially our country!" he said.

The Philippines' total number of COVID-19 cases reached 40,336 after 1,531 more cases were recorded on Friday, according to the Department of Health.

Of these new cases of infection, 688 are considered "fresh" or newly validated while 843 are reported "late."

The DOH also announced 400 new recoveries, bringing to 11,073 the total number of COVID-19 survivors in the country.

Meanwhile, the death toll due to the virus increased to 1,280 with six new fatalities. —KG, GMA News