Prime Minister Recovers from COVID-19

John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño has made a full recovery after contracting COVID-19 fourteen days ago, on November twenty-third. The prime minister went into self-isolation in his room in his home in Orange Walk for two weeks after which he was swabbed. He showed no signs and symptoms, unlike his Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie who also contracted the virus.  Like PM Briceño, Leslie has also been declared clinically recovered.  Briceño says that his last PCR test results were positive but doctors have declared him clinically recovered. The Prime Minister spoke of his experience with the deadly virus.  

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Two weeks ago as you all know I was found to be positive with COVID-19. It is just like almost an impulse I decided to go and check because I had no symptoms. I was found that I was positive and then I was in self quarantine for two weeks. I stayed in my bedroom and followed all the strict protocols. I must tell you that my family that I had to follow the protocols. On Friday last a doctor from the Ministry of Health went to do two things, give me the PCR test and also to clinically examine me. As I said I had no symptoms. I had no fever, no headache, no pains, no diarrhea, nothing. No loss of smell or taste. So she then took the PCR test and examined me. She then declared me clinically recovered, that I could have moved around from then but my wife insisted that you are going to do your fourteen days. I stayed until Sunday so today is the first time that I am really out and I am here back to work. I must tell you that my PCR came back and it is still positive. But when I talk to the doctors and as we all know the CDC and all in Europe they are saying once you pass that period where you are infectious, once you pass tht period you can continue with your life. Initially when they did not know a lot of people were kept back a whole month, two months, three months because they still find the virus in your system. The PCR will find it but if I were to go and take a rapid test quite likely it is going to come out negative.  But I am free to move around, I will not get anybody sick. That is why I am out working but it is also important wear your mask at all times. You never know who will have it. Ironically it seems that I did not get the virus from the campaign. I thought if it was going to happen it was going to happen on election night. But it seems that I got it right here from this office.”