The Daily Manila Shimbun

 

Up to Duterte to undergo another COVID-19 test, Nograles says

April 1, 2020



It would be up to President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as to other members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, if he wants to get another test for the coronavirus disease after Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año was tested positive for the virus, an official said on Wednesday.

"It's their own respective decision depending on what they feel right now," said IATF spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles in a virtual press briefing.

Duterte underwent COVID-19 test more than two weeks ago. It was negative.

Año said he received his test result from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on Tuesday and it was positive.

Aside from Año, late last week, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Felimon Santos Jr. was also tested positive for the virus.

Since March 28, Duterte has decided to undergo self-quarantine due to his exposure with Año and other government officials.

Nograles said he has not undergone COVID-19 test since he is asymptomatic.

But since March 26, Nograles said he has decided to isolate himself from others, including his family.

"While I don't have any symptoms, I won't get a test," he said.

With Año, the first Cabinet member to contract COVID-19, he said this is a "painful reminder that the virus can infect anyone and is blind to age, gender, title, and station."

"This sobering news also hammers home the point that those working and leading from the front, like Sec. Año, are the ones most vulnerable to the disease," he said, as he urged the people to pray for Año's good health and immediate recovery.

As of Tuesday afternoon, confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines rose to 2,084 with 88 deaths and 49 recoveries. Celerina Monte/DMS