Duterte to work under medical supervision
MANILA, Philippines (Update 1, 5:10 p.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte will be working under a doctor's medical supervision from here on, Sen. Bong Go confirmed on Thursday.
According to Go, the president's former aide and de facto spokesperson, Duterte would continue to work and would opt not to undergo self-quarantine for now.
This, despite the chief executive's consistent and close contact with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who has been confirmed to undergo self-quarantine.
Duque was tested for possible transmission of the new coronavirus and will be working from home for the time being. His results have not been released as of this writing.
On Tuesday, Go also disclosed that the Duterte family, including presidential children Paolo, Sebastian and Veronica and his partner Honeylet Avanceña got tested for COVID-19.
Asked about the reason behind the family's decision to have themselves tested, Go said, “Para makasigurado (Just to be sure)."
The president has already tested negative earlier, although this was before his interactions with Duque this week.
It is unclear if the decision to place him under medical supervision is linked to the Health secretary's decision, and Duque has yet to respond to Philstar.com's request for comment.
Sara Duterte-Carpio, the chief executive's eldest daughter, also tested negative for the virus after she underwent self-quarantine owing to her attendance at a hearing at the Senate hours before it was placed on lockdown on March 11.
According to the Health department's screening tool for possible cases, the three factors indicating possible contraction of the virus are signs and symptoms, travel history, and history of exposure to confirmed cases or other persons under investigation.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Health department declared 15 additional confirmed cases, bringing the national total to 217 patients.
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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