Duterte won’t need to get retested for Covid-19

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte remains “fit and healthy” and does not exhibit any symptoms of Covid-19 such as colds, cough, fever, sore throat or shortness of breath. (File photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA – There won’t be a need for President Rodrigo Duterte to undergo a second round of testing for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte remains “fit and healthy” and does not exhibit any symptoms of Covid-19 such as colds, cough, fever, sore throat or shortness of breath.

He said Duterte was not exposed to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, the first Cabinet Secretary who tested positive for Covid-19.

“No need for a 2nd Covid test. He was not exposed to Sec. (Eduardo) Año prior to March 26 when the latter was exposed to four persons confirmed infected with the virus,” he said in a message to reporters.

Last March 12, Duterte and former aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, underwent tests for Covid-19 at Bahay Pagbabago in Malacañan. Both their results came out negative.

Go said it was only “prudent” for them to get tested since at least two Cabinet members announced that they would go on self-quarantine after having exposure to infected persons.

Malacañan Palace, particularly areas frequented by Duterte, was temporarily closed for disinfection on March 12.

Duterte decided to stay at Malacañan Palace during the month-long enhanced community quarantine to oversee his administration’s efforts to reduce the transmission of Covid-19.

The Luzon-wide quarantine set to expire on April 12.

Panelo said Duterte will decide whether to lift or extend the community quarantine based on the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).