Senator COVID positive anew

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sonny Angara, who recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) last month, has tested positive anew for the virus after two negative test results.

In a post on his Twitter account, the 47-year-old Angara said the doctors learned that he was again positive with COVID-19 as he was preparing to donate his blood plasma, which could serve as antibodies for other COVID-19 patients under treatment.

“It has been close to one month since I recovered from COVID-19. But while preparing to donate my blood plasma for a second time, my doctors, after the results of the initial antibody test taken before donating, had me take another swab test, which registered positive,” Angara said.

“My wife Tootsy has tested negative, which could be proof of what my doctors are posting that I am probably no longer infectious and that this latest positive result is probably picking up remnants of the virus,” Angara said.

Angara said the development would force him not to attend the resumption of session on May 4 so as not to risk infecting his fellow senators, some of them are senior citizens who are more vulnerable.

“Nothing is 100 percent sure at this point so it is best to be prudent and cautious and thus it is best that I not attend Senate sessions in person for the risk posed to others. And we will follow the usual quarantine procedures for myself and members of my household as a precaution,” said Angara.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said yesterday that having tested positive again for COVID-19 does not mean Angara is infectious.

She noted that Angara’s doctors are correct that the infection detected in his swab samples could only be remnants of the virus.

“The RT-PCR is not recommended by our experts as a measure of cure as the virus may still be apparent in the body of COVID-positive cases even long after they have recovered, such as the case of Sen. Sonny Angara,” she told reporters.

RT-PCR or realtime-polymerase chain reaction is considered as the gold standard for testing COVID-19 and not the rapid antibody test kits.

Vergeire added it could only “be remnants of the virus in his body but are not necessarily infectious anymore.”

Survivors are believed to retain the antibodies they generated when they got infected with COVID-19.

But a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization last April 24 showed there was “no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.”

Last March 31, Angara said he was feeling better and recovering after being tested and was confirmed that he is infected with the virus. He observed strict self-quarantine and isolated from his family.

“It was hard being isolated from my family before when I tested positive. I felt so much joy and happiness when I was cleared and was able to kiss and hug them again. Now I’m back in isolation. I am hopeful that soon our lives will return to normal,” he said.

“I will continue to stay at home for now but I will participate in Senate proceedings through teleconferencing which the Senate may allow starting Monday after an amendment to our rules. Rest assured that I will continue working from home like many of our countrymen and performing my duties as a senator to the best of my ability,” he noted.

“Once again I wish to thank all our frontliners, especially the healthcare workers. To our kababayans, let us continue to observe quarantine rules and continue taking precautions like safe distancing, washing hands and wearing masks, if necessary,” he said.

Angara thanked the public for continued prayers for everyone’s well-being. “As I’ve said before, with hope, sacrifice and unity of effort, we will overcome this crisis.”