Northern Samar 1st District Representative Paul Daza has been infected with the coronavirus.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday, August 26, Daza said his swab test results came back positive the day before.

“Sadly, I share the news that I was diagnosed as COVID-19-positive yesterday, August 25. I am now hospitalized and look forward to being discharged upon clearance by my doctors,” said Daza.

Daza was possibly infected during the time he went around Catarman town to meet with local officials, community leaders, and residents, as well as inspect infrastructure projects from August 8 to 15. 

Daza was initially in Metro Manila and had himself swabbed before his flight to Catarman. His RT-PCR test results came back negative, so the lawmaker was able to return to his home province on August 8.

He then went about his duties as congressman for over a week. But on August 16, Daza said he began to “feel unwell.” 

He decided to self-isolate and work from home instead. Daza also took medications that were prescribed to him by his doctors. 

“Mindful of the need to observe and isolate myself, I continued to work from our house in [Barangay] Daganas and did not go outside anymore. I also took medications prescribed by our local doctors,” Daza said.

But because his symptoms persisted, Daza’s doctors advised him to fly back to Manila. Upon his arrival on August 24, Daza immediately proceeded to a hospital, where he underwent several tests.

Just a day later, his COVID-19 swab test results came back positive. 

Daza said he has instructed his staff members at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City and his field office in Daganas to do contact tracing of all the individuals he met with in the past days. 

Daza is the 4th congressman to be infected with COVID-19, along with deputy speakers Mujiv Hataman and Johnny Pimentel, and the late Senior Citizens representative Francisco Datol Jr.

Hataman already recovered, but Datol succumbed to COVID-19, making him the first Filipino lawmaker to die of the disease. – Rappler.com