Roque’s close contacts in Negros, Ilocos sought

PRESIDENT’S TEAM President Duterte (sixth from left) unveils a project marker at Dumaguete Sibulan Airport on March 11. Among the officials joining the President in the event is presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (fourth from left), who announced on Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19. —MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Health officials in the provinces of Negros Oriental and Ilocos Norte have started tracing people who had close contact with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, after the latter announced on Monday that he tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr. Liland Estacion, assistant provincial health officer, said they had swabbed at least 17 people, including Roque’s driver, the person who served him food and the people with whom he shared a meal while in Negros Oriental for the inauguration of airport and port projects with President Duterte on March 11.

“Further contact tracing is still under way,” she said.

Vaccine rollout

In Ilocos Norte province, Gov. Matthew Marcos-Manotoc said he started quarantine immediately on Monday after learning of Roque’s health condition.

“I was clearly a close contact and I will need to [undergo] quarantine. We ask everyone who interacted with Secretary Roque to also [undergo] quarantine,” Manotoc said on his Facebook page.

Roque was in the Ilocos Norte capital of Laoag on March 12 for the ceremonial rollout of AstraZeneca vaccines at Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) and Governor Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital. He was joined by other top government officials, including Vivencio Dizon, who oversees the government’s COVID-19 testing, during the event.

Roque said the rollout in Laoag was his last public event before he tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Manotoc, the local government followed all health protocols and made sure that all events lined up during Roque’s visit were held “outdoors or as well-ventilated as possible.”Estacion said Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo had a short conversation with Roque but he was wearing a mask and face shield.

‘Low chance’

“They did not eat together. They observed distancing when they briefly spoke to each other so the governor has a low chance of getting infected with the virus,” she said.

Degamo chose not to be placed under quarantine, maintaining that he did not have any close contact with Roque during the latter’s visit.

“He (Roque) was negative for the virus when he was in Dumaguete because he could not go close to the President if he were positive. He must have gotten the virus a day after he returned to Manila,” the governor said.

Roque, in a televised briefing on Monday, said he tested negative for COVID-19 on March 10, a day before his last interaction with the President in Dumaguete. At a press briefing at LCGH in Laoag, Roque also said he tested negative for COVID-19 two days before his travel to Ilocos Norte.

Sunday test

He said the test that came back positive was administered to him on Sunday in preparation for his attendance at President Duterte’s public address on Monday.

While in Ilocos Norte, Roque also interacted with local officials, including Ilocos Norte Vice Gov. Cecilia Marcos Araneta, Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon and Laoag Councilor Handy Lao.

Dr. Norman Rabago, provincial health consultant, told the Inquirer in a text message that Roque had “so many” contacts during his visit here, and those traced so far would be tested starting Wednesday.

All those who interacted with Roque were asked to undergo strict home quarantine and self-monitoring, Rabago said.

Two public hospitals visited by Roque would also be placed on lockdown if one of his contacts there would test positive for COVID-19, Rabago said.