Gordon says 10 of his staff are positive for coronavirus

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Ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has begun, the staff of Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), has been helping in the country’s COVID-19 fight, even though they could be infected with the deadly virus. Unfortunately, the latter scenario happened to ten of Gordon’s “immediate” staff members.

In a statement on Saturday, July 18, Gordon said the PRC has been conducting regular RT-PCR testing on its staff and volunteers, and in the latest round of testing, the test results of these individuals came out positive.

“Upon receipt of the results, they immediately went into quarantine,” Gordon said.

As their work includes supervising their COVID-19 initiatives, conducting relief missions and cash grant distribution, as well as working with sick people who are in need of their services, it is not impossible for them to contract “many kinds of illnesses,” according to Gordon.

Despite this, the senator said his staff and volunteers at the PRC, including his Senate staff, “accept and face these and many other challenges.”

Gordon said they have now conducted contact tracing of those people who were exposed to the 10 staff members and have taken “appropriate measures.” Gordon, his wife Kate, and their two household staff also had themselves tested and their results turned negative. They will still be doing self-imposed isolation at home to ensure their safety and others.

He also urged the public to follow health protocols, like staying at home unless they needed to go out, wearing a face mask, and keeping social distance.

Also on Saturday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,357 more COVID-19 patients, bringing the country’s total count to more than 65,300. Of the new cases, 1,824 were from Metro Manila, 105 from Laguna, 62 from Cavite, 49 from Cebu, and 39 from Rizal.

The DOH also said 321 individuals were added to the tally of those who recovered from the virus, while 113 succumbed to it.

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