Duterte under quarantine after household staff gets COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:04 p.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte is under quarantine after a member of his household staff tested positive for COVID-19, the Palace announced Thursday, saying also that the president has tested negative for the coronavirus.

Acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said the 76-year-old Duterte has tested negative for the disease but is observing mandatory quarantine protocols.

"The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was recently exposed to household staff who tested positive for COVID-19," Nograles said in a statement.

"The chief executive continues to work while in quarantine, and is in constant communication with the members of the Cabinet in order to ensure that urgent matters are addressed, and to monitor the implementation of his directives, particularly with regard to the government’s COVID-19 response," Nograles also said.

Nograles said Duterte was last exposed to a person infected with COVID-19 last Sunday. The president took RT-PCR tests on January 31 and on February 1 and got negative results for both tests, the Palace official added.

Nograles also confirmed information circulating through social media that Duterte had visited Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan but only for his "routine medical check-up." It was not clear if his visit to the hospital happened before or after his exposure to a person who tested positive for COVID-19. Nograles has not answered questions seeking to clarify the matter as of press time.

Duterte, who had admitted to suffering from various illnesses, including acute bronchitis, migraine, Barrett’s esophagus, and Buerger’s disease, last delivered a public address on January 24. He also attended the Rizal Day rites in Manila last December 30.

The Presidential Security Group (PSG) has been implementing measures to protect Duterte from COVID-19, which has infected more than 3.5 million people in the Philippines.

During private meetings or events, only persons who tested negative for COVID-19 may go near the president while those who were not tested should maintain at least six-feet or two-meter distance from him. For large events, the PSG keeps a ten-meter distance between Duterte and the audience. 

Duterte has been vaccinated with Sinopharm and has received his booster shot, according to the PSG.