President Marcos has been diagnosed as “recovered” as he is no longer showing any symptoms of COVID-19, Malacañang said on Saturday.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr is progressing well in his recovery,” the Presidential Communications Office said in a Facebook post.
The PCO said Mr. Marcos is now “free from cough, nasal congestion, and fever for more than 24 hours.”
“All other medical findings were unremarkable. Consequently, the President’s final diagnosis is COVID-19 recovered,” it added.
As a precaution, the PCO said the President will continue to wear a face mask during public engagements for 10 days following his isolation period.
The Department of Health’s revised guidelines mandate five-day home isolation for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals infected with COVID-19.
The isolation may be shortened for those who are “fever-free for at least 24 hours without using antipyretics [such as] paracetamol and with improvement of respiratory systems.”
The updated rules also require patients to wear a well-fitted face mask for 10 days after undergoing isolation.
Earlier this week, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa urged the public to wear face masks amid increasing COVID-19 cases in the country.
“We recommend optional wearing of masks for people who are high risk, elderly people in places which are enclosed… It would be a good practice to also wear your mask, especially if you are prone to illnesses,” Herbosa said.
The Philippines recorded 1,340 new COVID cases from Nov. 28 to Dec. 4, 2023 – the highest number of fresh infections in 19 weeks.
Herbosa said the wearing of face masks can also prevent the spread of mycoplasma pneumoniae, otherwise known as “walking pneumonia.”