MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque has gone into self-quarantine after a senior official at his agency tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019.
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Duque underwent COVID-19 testing on Thursday, adding the DOH chief has underlying conditions like asthma and hypertension.
“Yes, Secretary Duque is on home quarantine, but currently asymptomatic,” said Vergeire. “He has already been tested for [the] COVID-19 test as he is asthmatic and hypertensive.”
“The results of Duque’s test would come out in two to three days. Until then, the DoH chief said he was setting up work from home arrangements,” she added.
Based on an advisory by DOH, there were
now a total of 217 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, while another one
was added to the list of recovered patients from the virus.
Among the new COVID-19 patient was a 65-year-old man who was admitted at Chong
Hua Hospital in Mandaue City, Cebu. He was the second confirmed case in Visayas
region./PN
