PSG member tests positive for coronavirus but recovers ; no contact with Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — At least one member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) tested positive for the novel coronavirus but has since recovered, PSG chief Col. Jesus Durante said Tuesday.

In a text message to reporters, Durante also said that the virus-infected PSG member is not among President Rodrigo Duterte’s close-in security detail.

“No exposure with [President Duterte]. Does not belong with the close-in security detail,” Durante said.

In a separate statement, the PSG chief then bared that 160 have so far tested positive using the rapid test kits since March.

The COVID-19 detection using the rapid diagnostic tests is being done every two weeks to ensure that PSG troopers do not become a threat to the President, Durante said.

The presidential guards who tested positive then underwent real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, which the Department of Health touted as the “gold standard” of coronavirus testing.

Only one PSG member tested positive using the PCR-based testing and has already recovered, the PSG chief assured.

“[The] PSG Compound and Malacañang complex remains to be safe and secured for the President and the first family,” Durante stressed.

Duterte tested negative for the virus last March 31. He took the test after some members of his Cabinet were exposed to a coronavirus patient.