Philippines: President Rodrigo Duterte To Be Tested for Coronavirus
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will be tested for the new coronavirus, an official said, as two key government buildings were being disinfected over an exposure scare.
The Philippines has seen a jump this week in cases, including people who recently attended events with Senate lawmakers and government officials, potentially exposing them. In response, the Senate building and Philippine central bank were undergoing cleaning, and several officials announced they would isolate themselves as a precaution.
Duterte, who at 74 is in a vulnerable age group for the virus, will be tested because he has been in regular contact with some of those officials.
“It is just prudent for us to take precautionary measures in compliance with the advice of our health officials,” said Duterte ally and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, adding he too was to be tested.
Duterte’s health has been a recurring source of speculation in the Philippines since in 2016 he became the oldest person elected as the country’s president.
Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez and central bank head Benjamin Diokno were two of the officials who were isolating themselves.
