MANILA, Philippines —Senator Win Gatchalian revealed Wednesday night that he would go into self-quarantine after interacting with a resource person in a recent Senate committee hearing who tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“I have recently been informed that a resource person who attended the hearing of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture last March 5, 2020, which I Chair, has tested positive for COVID-19,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
“Though I am asymptomatic and feel healthy, I will follow government set protocols on such cases and go into self-quarantine immediately given that I interacted with the said individual during that committee hearing,” he added.
The senator also said that he has instructed all his staff to do the same especially those who had direct contact with the said person too.
On March 5, Gatchalian led a public hearing on the complementary roles of public and private institutions in the Philippine educational system.
Among those who attended the hearing were officials from the Department of Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and several other school and university officials.
Gatchalian is the highest Philippine official to undergo self-quarantine amid the spike in the cases of COVID-19 in the country.
Philippine health officials have so far reported a total of 49 coronavirus infection in the country.
The virus causes mild symptoms such as fever and cough for most people but can cause serious illness such as pneumonia for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.
Authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms.