MANILA – A day after placing himself on self-quarantine after one of his staff tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 ( Covid-19), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said he tested negative for the disease.
“Dear everyone, My test came out negative. Thanks for the prayers,” he said in a message to reporters.
Lorenzana’s move came after his aide, Col. Rolly Nerona, tested positive for Covid-19 after undergoing swab testing last July 10.
Nerona was with the DND chief during the July 10 commissioning of missile-frigate BRP Jose Rizal and the July 13 visit to troops in Sulu.
Nerona learned that he was positive for the disease upon landing in Jolo.
Lorenzana had a swab testing on Tuesday as a result of this contact and placed himself in self-quarantine for the second time, the first time being on March 27 when he came into contact with Armed Forces chief Gen. Felimon Santos, who earlier tested positive for Covid-19.
He later tested negative on the disease on March 31 but was advised by his doctors to continue with his quarantine until April 6.