MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang, Monday, assured that President Rodrigo Duterte is in good health even though the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government he was with recently tested positive for the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“The president is in perpetual isolation because no one can come close to him. I think sinabi ko na rin sa inyo, whenever we meet with him, there is a velvet rope that keeps him at least six feet away from everyone else so no one can really come close to the president,”presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual briefing.
“He does undergo regular PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests. Nagrereklamo siya nga kasi paulit-ulit na yung pagsundot sa ilong niya.”
The president is currently in Davao City while away from other people, and he also undergoes RT-PCR tests every time he goes home in compliance with health protocols.
It will be recalled that Duterte met Interior Secretary Eduardo Año – who is COVID-19 positive again – at a meeting on August 10.
Despite that, Roque said that Digong has no “close contact” especially since the Presidential Group is doing their job well so as not to be approached by anyone.
“Hindi siya nag-close contact dahil malayo kaming lahat kay presidente at naka-face shield at face mask,”the spokesperson added.
Apart from Año, Duterte was also accompanied by Trade Secretary Roamon Lopez and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
On Sunday, Roque denied the rumors that Duterte had been taken to Singapore by “air ambulance” for unknown reasons. He said the president did not leave Davao.
Duterte is set to announce new quarantine classifications in various parts of the Philippines later, which will determine whether the lockdowns against the spread of COVI9-19 will be eased or further tightened.
