The Department of National Defense conducts mandatory rapid testing for its employees on July 13, 2020 at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Image from DND-PAS.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense will be placed under a lockdown beginning 12 noon Wednesday (July 15) to give way to the disinfection and sanitation of the main building and other premises.
In an advisory, the DND said the lockdown was in accordance with prescribed biosecurity protocols. Regular office operations will resume on Friday (July 17).
This came after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s senior military aide, Col. Rolando Nerona, tested positive for coronavirus. Lorenzana himself took a swab test on Tuesday (July 14) and is currently under self-quarantine while waiting for the results.
The DND said it also conducted mandatory rapid testing for its employees on Monday (July 13).
A total of 294 DND employees underwent rapid testing, in addition to 83 tests already conducted earlier this month.
Meanwhile, several Navy personnel and other guests who attended the commissioning of BRP Jose Rizal in Subic Bay last Friday (July 10) were told to place themselves on self-isolation after a junior officer tested positive from COVID-19.
Lorenzana’s aide also attended the event.
All the crew of BRP Jose Rizal were subjected to PCR testing while preparing for the ship’s participating in RIMPAC in Hawaii later this month. The ship will leave the Philippines on July 29.
“Those who will test positive of the COVID-19 virus will have to be put in a quarantine facility ashore, while the other crew members will continue to make preparations for the RIMPAC 2020 exercise,” the Navy said.