Belmonte recovers from COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has been discharged from isolation after recovering from COVID-19 for the second time.

During the Laging Handa press briefing yesterday, Belmonte said her doctors have cleared her after a bout with mild symptoms of the viral disease.

She went on quarantine in one of the city’s community care facilities on March 29.

“COVID-19 is an ongoing and evolving pandemic so we should not let our guard down under any circumstances,” Belmonte earlier said. “Indeed, even after recovering from the virus last year and carefully observing all the necessary precautions, my positive result is a reminder that there is no room for complacency when it comes to this disease.”

Belmonte was asymptomatic when she first tested positive for COVID-19 in July last year.

Asked about her plans to get vaccinated, Belmonte said she would wait first for the clearance from her doctors.

The national government has allowed local chief executives in high-risk areas to get vaccinated against COVID-19, upgrading their classification as frontline workers under A4 category. Healthcare workers are listed A1, senior citizens (A2) and adults with comorbidities (A3).