More government officials go on COVID-19 quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — Five members of President Duterte’s Cabinet are now on self-imposed quarantine after either testing positive for COVID-19 infection or having close contact with those who had tested positive.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, chair of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, confirmed yesterday that he was among those who have to self-isolate. He said he was in close contact with Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) director Dr. Dominador Chiong about a week ago.

“He became symptomatic with fever and cough. Today is the 6th day since exposed to him. I reckon I was not infected,” Lorenzana told The STAR.

Also under quarantine are vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, deputy testing czar Vince Dizon and Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año.

Earlier, presidential spokesman Harry Roque admitted that he tested positive for COVID-19 and has now gone on self-isolation. He said he would continue working since he remains asymptomatic.

“To avoid infecting others, I have isolated myself,” he said in a video conference from a hotel in Quezon City.

Roque’s close contacts – National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy chief Vince Dizon, Ilocos Norte Gov. Mathew Marcos-Manotoc, vice-governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos and Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos Keon – all went into self-quarantine as precautionary measures.

In Congress, Anakalusugan partylist Rep. Mike Defensor and Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong confirmed they have tested positive for COVID-19.

At the Senate, Sen. Risa Hontiveros is currently under a 14-day self-quarantine after being exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual.

“I’m on self-quarantine because one of the hosts of a show I had a taping with for Women’s Month on March 5, the host tested positive on March 12,” Hontiveros said during a virtual forum. Hontiveros said she was tested on March 12.

“I took a test. I tested negative but following the doctor’s instruction on that triage, he asked me to complete the 14-day quarantine since the exposure on March 5. So I’ll be quarantined until 19, until Friday,” said Hontiveros.  –  Christina Mendez, Raymund Catindig, Delon Porcalla, Cecille Suerte Felipe