Duterte, Bong Go test negative for COVID-19

Updated Sat, March 14, 2020 at 8:00 AM Published Thu, March 12, 2020 at 12:51 AM

President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Christopher "Bong" Go have tested negative for COVID-19.

Their test samples were collected on Thursday, March 12, and the results were released on Friday, March 13.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo confirmed Duterte's negative test result, stating there is no stopping the Chief Executive from performing his duties.

Duterte will continue to observe pre-emptive measures and will remain in Manila to oversee the government's response to the outbreak, despite calls for him to return to Davao City.

He also wants to hold daily meetings with the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to assess the virus.

The Philippines had declared a public health emergency due to the virus, with 64 confirmed cases and five fatalities at the time.

The COVID-19 outbreak has killed around 4,900 people and infected some 130,000 others worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization to declare it as a pandemic.

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