Philippine policemen wearing facemasks man a checkpoint after the government imposed an enhanced quarantine as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Manila on March 25, 2020. / AFP / Ted ALJIBE
Manila, Philippines - The Philippine military chief of staff has tested positive for the coronavirus and the country’s defense chief will also go on self-quarantine after being exposed to him in developments that came as the military is helping impose a massive lockdown to contain the viral outbreak.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he would go on home quarantine starting Friday after having been in two recent meetings with Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., who disclosed that he has been infected with the virus.
Both said they were in fine condition. Lorenzana and Santos have had meetings in recent weeks with President Rodrigo Duterte, who aides said has tested negative for the virus two weeks ago.
Most of Duterte’s elite guards have also been ordered to go on quarantine in the Malacanang presidential palace complex. Lorenzana and other top officials leading an inter-agency group that’s enforcing a lockdown of the main northern Philippine region of Luzon have gone on home quarantine after exposure to infected people.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said the group continues to hold meetings online as a health precaution. Several legislators have also tested positive for the virus or gone on home quarantine, including Sen.
Aquilino Pimentel III, who has been threatened with a lawsuit after he went out of home quarantine Tuesday night to take his wife, who was due to deliver a baby, to a hospital, where he got a phone call informing him that a test showed he was infected.
