Senator Lito Lapid has been infected with the coronavirus, his office confirmed. 

Lapid’s chief of staff Jericho Acedera said on Monday, August 23, the actor turned senator is currently undergoing treatment at the Medical City Clark in Mabalacat, Pampanga. Lapid’s doctors consider him a mild to moderate case. 

All of Lapid’s close contacts have taken the necessary COVID-19 tests and have been advised to follow health protocols. 

Acedera said only Lapid’s personal and close-in employees were “considerably exposed” to him, as he was infected when the Senate was not holding sessions due to the reimposition of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila. The Senate’s headquarters is located in Pasay City. 

These members of Lapid’s staff already tested negative for COVID-19 in their antigen tests and have so far shown no symptoms. 

“We shall be reporting progress of his recovery when needed and as we get the news from his doctors. We enjoin everyone to pray that his health and of all those infected continue to improve, and more importantly, for this pandemic to soon be over,” Acedera said. 

Lapid is now the seventh Philippine senator to test positive for COVID-19. Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sonny Angara, Ronald dela Rosa, Bong Revilla Jr., and Richard Gordon were previously infected but all recovered from COVID-19. 

The Philippines is once again experiencing another surge in COVID-19 cases, with the country recording its third straight day with over 16,000 new infections on Sunday, August 22. Total COVID-19 caseload is now over 1.83 million. 

Multiple areas are under strict lockdowns to ward off the threat of the more infectious Delta variant, as well as the Lambda variant in the country. – Rappler.com