Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced Monday he tested positive for COVID-19 based on the result of his RT-PCR test on March 14, Sunday.
“As of 11:29 this morning, nakuha ko ang result na positibo po ako para sa COVID… Itong test kung saan tayo nagposibo ay kahapon lamang para sana ngayon sa pagpupulong kay president mamaya (As of 11:29 this morning, I got the result that I am positive for COVID… This test yesterday was meant for the meeting with the president later),” he reported.
He also tested positive in the mandatory antigen test for visitors in Malacaῆang but explained that he has limited exposure since he is alone in his office.
Sec. Roque said he is currently asymptomatic and is “inclined to go to an isolation facility” but will continue to discharge his function as spokesman and member of the Inter-Agency Task for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
On March 11, he was with President Rodrigo Duterte in the inauguration of infrastructure projects in Dumaguete where he was negative for the disease based on his swab test result on March 10.
“I did not have any close contact with the President. Hindi ako nakalapit sa kaniya (I did not get close to him), just from afar,” he clarified.
“Sa dalas ng mga pagpupulong namin kay President (Due to the frequency of our meetings with the President), I have had to undergo at least three PCR tests a week… It came as a surprise and as a shock na after about 35 tests ay nag-positive tayo (It came as a surprise and as a shock that after about 35 tests I tested positive),” he admitted.
Sec. Roque was negative during his press briefing on March 12 in Ilocos Norte with several officials based on the result of his test on March 10. He is now encouraging the public to double their effort in observing minimum health standards and to get vaccinated if possible, saying the threat of transmission is always present.
– AG, PTV News Online
