Health Secretary Francisco Duque has assured the public that the government’s response on the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 will continue despite him being on self-quarantine.
Duque added that his isolation will not have an impact on the government’s work because he is closely monitoring the situation on the ground. Duque, who heads the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), announced that he will be in home quarantine starting Wednesday after a health official who he had interacted with was found positive for COVID-19.
Duque is asthmatic and hypertensive, however the health official said that he remains to be asymptomatic.
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“So, kahit wala ako, tuloy ang kanilang pagpupulong para tugunan ang mga gaps or issues na lumulutang matapos magsagawa ng community quarantine,” Duque told ABS-CBN news.
The country is now dealing with community transmission of the virus, prompting the government to declare an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon island.
Duque said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año will be leading the inter-agency meetings for the time being.
“Kahapon pa tinututukan ko yung ating paparating na test kits, kasi yun yung pinakamahalagang mga measures na we need to put in place to ensure adequacy or yung sapat yung ating kakayahan na magsuri ng mga nose and throat swabs,” he said.
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Other health officials also underwent home quarantine, but Duque said that other officials do not need to do the same.
“I always maintain distance,” he said. He also said that he had no close contact with President Rodrigo Duterte and they were always seated three meters away.
“There is always alcohol and we always wash our hands. Everyone at the IATF observes precautionary measures,” he added.
The health chief expects to receive the result of his COVID-19 test in four days, but he would still complete his 14 day-quarantine.
