Another Covid test up to Duterte – Nograles

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and members of the Cabinet may undergo another test if they show symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), a Palace official said on Wednesday.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles said it was up to the President and Cabinet members if they wanted to undergo Covid-19 testing.

“Dependesakaniya-kaniyang kara md am an. At kung may sin tom as, kailangangmagpa- test (It depends on their health condition. If they exhibit symptoms of Covid-19, they need to be tested),” Nograles said.

“Nasa membership napong IATF kungmagpapa- test basilaohindi, depend es aka ni lang kara md am an .( It’s up to the members of the IATF if they want to be tested depending on what they feel),” he added.

IATF-EID is the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

On Tuesday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed that he contracted Covid-19 after being exposed to four people infected with the coronavirus.

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

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go,

Duterte’s former special assistant, said it was the President’s doctor who would decide whether or not the Chief Executive would take another test.

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

The President tested negative for the virus more than two weeks ago.

Nograles said Año’s case was proof that the virus can infect anyone.

“This sobering news also hammers home the point that those working and leading from the front, like Secretary Año, are the ones most vulnerable to the disease,” he added.

Go on Wednesday thumbed down suggestions that he and Duterte undergo a second Covid test.

“‘ Di nam una. In ga tl an gt a yo la hat. Patu lo ypoka ming mag-i in ga tat para ti ko pin a pa al ala kay Pangu lo[ na]m aging at. na lid erl al on asap ana honngkri sis (Not yet. We should all be careful. We continue to be careful and I always remind the President to be careful. We need a strong President during the current crisis),” he said.

Go was found free of the virus on March 12.