After surviving COVID-19, Joy Virata stresses importance of hand hygiene, physical distancing

MANILA -- After recovering from COVID-19, theater stalwart Joy Virata lent her voice to the Department of Health's (DOH) social media campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The former artistic director of Repertory Philippines was quoted in a post on the DOH Facebook page on Monday as part of the agency's "Survivors Speak" campaign.

According to Virata, she still does not know how or when she got infected by the virus, but she is certain about the importance of three things that will help prevent it from spreading.

"There is still a lot that is not known about this virus. But what is definite is that there are three simple rules that, if followed strictly by everyone, could lick this pest: wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer, strictly observe physical distancing, and wear a mask to protect others and hope everyone wears a mask to protect you," she said.

DOH, for its part, reminded the public to protect themselves and their loved ones by following health guidelines.

"Hindi pa tapos ang laban kaya't mahirap maging kampante ngayong panahon ng pandemya. Upang makaiwas sa COVID-19, sundin ang mga itinakdang health guidelines. Kagaya ng sabi ni Joy Virata, protektahan natin ang ating mga sarili para na rin sa kapakanan ng lahat. Ipadama natin ang ating pagmamahal sa bayan sa pamamagitan ng sabay-sabay na pag-iingat," it said.

"Dahil sa iyong buong tapang na pagharap sa virus, saludo kami sa 'yo Joy!" the agency added.

It was last April when Virata wrote about her battle against the novel coronavirus which also affected her husband, former Prime Minister and Finance Secretary Cesar Virata.

In her column in The Philippine Star, she said she first had her COVID-19 test in early March, after being admitted for hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia.