Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday he tested positive for COVID-19.
Lorenzana, who also chairs the country's National Task Force on COVID-19, said he would undergo isolation and that he advised the same for those he had close contact with.
"The result of my RT-PCR test today, 06 April 2021, came up positive. I will be undergoing isolation, following the quarantine guidelines to avoid infecting others," Lorenzana said in a statement.
"Those who have been exposed to me have been informed. They have been advised to isolate and get tested for COVID-19 as well," Lorenzana said.
The 72-year-old official said the Department of National Defense would be on skeleton workforce.
"I would like to remind everyone that the threat of the virus is as real as ever, more so now due to the new variants. Let us all cooperate and abide by the prescribed health protocols to help in curbing the spread of COVID-19," Lorenzana added.
Lorenzana is the latest among Duterte's Cabinet officials to contract the disease. Others that recently tested positive are Communications Sec. Martin Andanar and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
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