Covid-19 retest of PRRD, CabSecs depends on health condition

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on March 30, 2020. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet men may opt to repeat the tests for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), in case they have the symptoms of the new coronavirus, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Wednesday.

Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año earlier admitted he has been tested positive for Covid-19.

“Depende sa kaniya-kaniyang karamdaman. At kung may sintomas, kailangang magpa-test (It depends on their health condition. If they exhibit symptoms of Covid-19, they need to be tested),” Nograles said in a virtual press briefing aired on state-owned PTV-4.

Año said on Tuesday he contracted Covid-19 after being exposed to four people infected with the coronavirus disease.

He advised those who had recent interaction with him to undergo self-quarantine and monitor their health condition.

Nograles said the decision to repeat tests for Covid-19 is up to Duterte and other Cabinet officials.

Duterte is on self-quarantine until April 7 to keep him free of Covid-19.

The last time Duterte had himself tested for Covid-19 was on March 12 and results bared that he tested negative for the coronavirus.

Nograles said he has been on self-isolation for nearly a week to protect himself against Covid-19.

He said has no plan of taking a test for Covid-19, unless he experiences symptoms of the new pathogen.

“Nag-simula po ang aking isolation at self-quarantine at work from home noong March 26. At habang wala pa po akong sintomas, hindi muna ako magpapa-test (My self-quarantine and work-from-home scheme began on March 26. And I would not take a test for Covid-19 since I am not exhibiting any symptoms),” Nograles said.

Common symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, dry cough, breathing difficulties, body aches, sore throat and diarrhea.

The infectious disease may also cause pneumonia, kidney failure, and death.