15 of Galvez’s staff test positive for COVID-19; vaccine czar in isolation

FILE National Task Force against Coronavirus Disease-2019 (NTF COVID-19) chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., gives an update to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members in Malacañang. KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that he is in isolation after exposure to the coronavirus when 15 members of his staff tested positive for COVID-19.

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s address to the nation aired Wednesday, Galvez, who also heads the National Task Force Against COVID-19, apologized for not physically attending the meeting.

“Pasensya na po, sir, hindi ako nakarating po ngayon kasi dalawang beses po ‘ko na-expose kaninang umaga sa aking mga kasamahan sa aking opisina,” the vaccine czar said.

(Sorry, sir, I was not able to go there because I was exposed twice this morning in our office.)

“Dahil kasi 15 po ang naging positive sa amin pong opisina ngayong araw,” he added.

(Fifteen individuals tested positive in our office today.)

Aside from Galvez, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana are also under quarantine after being exposed to COVID patients.

EDV