Grab PH’s Brian Cu tests negative for coronavirus

Grab Philippines head Brian Cu INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Grab Philippines’ President Brian Cu has tested negative for the 2019 coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

In a message to reporters on Wednesday, the Grab Media Team confirmed that Cu sent samples for testing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City which later showed negative results for the COVID-19.

“Yes he did take the test and the results are negative,” the representative said, noting that Cu is already healthy.

This came after messages circulated in social media alleged that Cu was positive for the virus.

Cu sent his samples at RITM after interacting with an employee from Grab’s corporate office in Singapore. The Grab employee from Singapore tested positive for the fatal disease on March 7.  No other details were given about the employee in Grab Singapore.

As of Wednesday, Grab Philippines has no employees infected by COVID-19.

Currently, the Philippines has 49 positive cases of COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that was first recorded in China’s city of Wuhan in Hubei province in December 2019.

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the novel coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.

The new coronavirus causes respiratory symptoms including fever and cough but it can cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia especially to older adults and people with existing health issues.

The coronavirus, a family of viruses, have surfaces with a crown-like appearance. The viruses are named for the spikes on their surfaces.