Duterte finishes quarantine after exposure to COVID-19

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go posted a picture of him with President Rodrigo Duterte, clad in a tan personal protective equipment (PPE), together with a female doctor, on their way to the hospital for the President’s medical checkup after an exposure to a COVID-19 positive staff. Image from Sen. Bong Go.

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte remains “healthy” for his age despite his recent exposure to a COVID-positive staff, Malacañang assured Friday.

Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said Duterte is “okay” and “as healthy as any healthy individual at his age would be” after his routine medical check-up.

The President has also already finished his quarantine after his exposure to a COVID-19 case.

“Pagkatapos ng kanyang routine medical check-up, okay naman si Pangulo. He is as healthy as any healthy individual at his age would be,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(After his routine medical check-up, the President is okay.)

Nograles also clarified that Duterte’s last day of exposure to COVID-19 was on Jan. 28, and not on Jan. 30 as earlier disclosed.

This was based on the assessment of the President’s physician, he said.

Malacañang only announced Duterte’s exposure to COVID-19 on February 3 when he would have already been done with his quarantine.

Nograles earlier said that Duterte’s last day of exposure was on Jan. 30, however, based on his physician, this was no longer considered an exposure to COVID-19 since the President was not a close contact of the infected staff.

The Palace acting spokesman earlier said Duterte tested negative twice on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

He also said that the President went to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan for his “routine medical check-up.”

EDV