Duterte tests negative for coronavirus

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte tested negative for the coronavirus disease, Senator Bong Go said Friday night.

Duterte took the COVID-19 test on Thursday as the disease continues to pose its threat to the country—infecting 64 people in the Philippines as of posting time.

Go, Duterte’s former aide turned senator, also took the test.

“The results of the tests for COVID-19 conducted on President Rodrigo Duterte and I turned out negative. We are fit and healthy to perform our duties,” Go said in a statement.

The results were also confirmed by Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

“It’s a negative for both [Duterte] and Sen. Bong Go,” Panelo said in a message to reporters.

Duterte took the test after some members of his Cabinet decided to place themselves under quarantine due to exposure to a COVID-19 patient.

Despite the positive results, Go said that they will still take “precautionary measures” and urged the public anew to do the same.

“But just like our advice to the general public, we will take precautionary measures seriously and comply with the advice of our health officials in order to remain healthy and avoid the spread of the virus while still being able to perform our mandate to the Filipino people,” Go said.

“Now more than ever, we as elected officials should do everything we can to be of service to the Filipino people. The government as a whole should still do its job in a manner that will not put the health of others at risk,” the senator added.

Among the Cabinet members who subjected themselves to self-quarantine include Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the incubation period, which is the time between exposure to infection and appearance of the symptoms, ranges from one to 12.5 days. Some cases, however, could reach up to 14 days.

Thus, those with possible exposure to the virus are advised to place themselves under quarantine for 14 days.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that first emerged in China’s city of Wuhan in Hubei province in late 2019.

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

The virus causes mild symptoms such as fever and cough for most people but can cause serious illness such as pneumonia for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

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