MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Security Group will implement precautionary measures against the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) including limiting the persons who will be allowed to go near President Rodrigo Duterte and maintaining distance between the chief executive and his audience.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday, PSG said it has formed Task Force COVID-19 to implement protocols that would protect Duterte and his family from COVID-19, which has infected more than 153,000 persons worldwide.
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For private functions or meetings, only those who have tested negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to go near Duterte while those who were not tested will maintain at least a distance of six feet or two meters from him. For large events, the PSG would maintain a ten-meter distance between Duterte and the audience.
PSG also vowed to strictly implement a "no touch" policy on people who will meet with or attend the events of the President. Duterte, however, has rejected the policy, saying it is his job to interact with people and to shake hands with them.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Cabinet members would ensure that they maintain proper distance when meeting with the President.
"What we will do later is we should be six meters away (from the President) during the meeting," Panelo told reporters hours before the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease in Malacañang.
Panelo said Duterte does not shake hands with people who are seated far from him.
"If we are seated that far, he proceeds directly to his seat," the Palace official said.
"We will distance ourselves from him for his security and safety," he added.
PSG said it is working with the health department and other agencies to gather real time updates that could serve as basis for its new guidelines and action plans.
The presidential guards have also organized medical teams and established quarantine sites within Malacañang Complex.
Visitors of Malacañang are also required to comply with protocols. People going in and out Malacañang Complex are required to accomplish a health declaration form. PSG personnel posted as guards are required to wear surgical face masks and to conduct temperature checks on people going in and out of Malacañang.
The PSG has also vowed to regularly sanitize and disinfect the Malacañang Complex including its neighboring buildings and facilities.
Virtual press briefings
Even the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson and the Presidential Communications Operations Office have implemented adjustments to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The chairs at the Malacañang press briefing room have been rearranged to comply with the call of the health department to observe social distance.
Panelo's office also announced that the Palace spokesman would he holding virtual press conferences starting Tuesday.
The president's spokesman was wearing a N95 mask when he faced reporters Monday but he claimed that he is not sick.
"I do not have any problem...I just noticed I was coughing. Doctors said you should cover your mouth when coughing...I don't want anyone to catch the virus that comes from my mouth. These are just preemptive (measure). We won't lose anything if we observe them," Panelo said.
Panelo said he does not need to undergo COVID-19 testing because he is cautious about his health.
"Doctors said you should not undergo COVID tests if you do not feel sick... If you are not sick, you should just undergo self-quarantine," he said.
READ: Fact check: Panelo says Korea did total lockdown; eating bananas and gargling prevent COVID-19