President Duterte ends quarantine after exposure

President Duterte has ended his quarantine and has been doing well after his exposure to a COVID-19 case, Malacañang said on Friday. Duterte underwent a routine medical checkup at Cardinal Santos Medical Center and is doing OK, according to acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles. “He is as healthy as any healthy individual at his age could be,” Nograles said at a press briefing. Nograles said Duterte was able to end his quarantine after the date of his last exposure was revised to Jan. 28 instead of Jan. 30 as earlier disclosed, based on the assessment of his physician. Even though another member of the President’s household tested positive on Jan. 30, Duterte was not considered exposed because he was not a close contact of this household member, he said. Duterte tested negative for the new coronavirus on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. —Leila B. Salaverria