Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 19) — The Health Department explained Thursday why a number of high-ranking officials managed to get tested for COVID-19 even if they do not exhibit virus symptoms.
“Before ma-revise ang protocol pa rin, ‘yung ating mga officials of government, they have shown symptoms o kaya they have exposure [to someone with COVID-19,] they had travels to areas with local transmission kaya sila pumasa sa criteria ng protocol natin. And they were tested,” Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: Before our protocol was revised, our government officials have shown symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, they had traveled to areas with local transmission, that’s why they passed the criteria for testing.]
Vergeire said family members of officials also got tested as they too were exposed to someone with COVID-19 or had traveled to a country with local transmission of the disease.
Under the revised protocol, only patients who are exhibiting severe symptoms are tested. Tests are also conducted on high risk individuals with mild symptoms such as senior citizens and pregnant women.
People exposed to an area with local transmission or to a COVID-19 patient are classified as persons under monitoring that need to self-quarantine at home for 14 days.
“Ayaw natin silang pumunta pa sa hospital na ngayon ay punong-puno at baka lalong mahawa sa sakit,” Vergeire said.
[Translation: We don’t want them to go to the hospitals which are now overloaded and they might even contract a disease there.]
A number of officials and senators, including President Rodrigo Duterte, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, had themselves tested for COVID-19.
Zubiri announced Monday that he tested positive. He said Thursday that he would no longer get tested for a second time and instead will just follow the Health department’s guidelines on home quarantine.
“I feel that the remaining available testing kits should be utilized by those who need them the most, like frontline medical personnel and symptomatic patients, especially the elderly,” Zubiri said.
COVID-19 has infected 202 people in the Philippines, with 17 of them dying because of the disease caused by a virus called SARS CoV-2. Seven of those infected have recovered.
Globally, over 200,000 have been infected and 8,810 have died because of the viral disease. Over 84,000 have recovered.
The disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze.
To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms.
Commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Those with severe and critical symptoms should call the Health Department at (02) 8-651-7800 local 1149-1150.
