Duterte admin’s Cabinet members negative for COVID-19

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar (C), Finance chief Carlos Dominguez. FILE PHOTOS

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (L), DPWH Secretary Mark Villar (C), Finance chief Carlos Dominguez. FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Three Cabinet members of the Duterte administration have tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, days after they underwent self-quarantine after being exposed to an infected person.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed in a text message to reporters Sunday that he did not contract the disease. But he noted that he has “to pursue (the) self-quarantine” protocol.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Build, Build, Build Committee chairperson Anna Mae Lamentillo announced in a Facebook post that DPWH Secretary Mark Villar also tested negative of the virus.

Meanwhile, Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino confirmed that Fc likewise tested negative for COVID-19.

The officials subjected themselves to the proposed 14-day self-quarantine after interacting with a COVID-19 positive person during a March 5 event in Caloocan City. 

READ: LIST: Philippine gov’t officials who are on self-quarantine

During the said event, the three officials were with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, who was earlier announced negative of COVID-19, a respiratory disease that has so far infected 111 people and killed eight in the country.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic after it killed more than 5,000 people and affected over 152,000 worldwide.

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