Senior officials of the Philippine government Friday were quarantined after tests confirmed that the chief of staff of the armed forces of the country had been infected with the Corona virus.
The chief of public affairs, Captain Jonathan Zata, said that the chief of staff of the armed forces, Philemon Santos, attended meetings with the government and other officials, before he was quarantined on Monday, when tests confirmed the infection of a naval officer who had been with him, with the Corona virus.
Zata added that Santos himself was infected with the virus on Thursday, indicating that "he is fine and in good health."
For that reason, most members of President Rodrigo Duterte's government will be subjected to self-quarantine from Friday.
"I have no symptoms, but according to the protocol, I have to be subjected to a self-quarantine for 14 days," said Defense Minister Delphine Lorenzana.
On Friday, the head of the security group ordered "complete detention" of all team members and that their family members remain in a compound near the presidential palace.
"All members of the Presidential Security Group and their family members must submit to self-quarantine, all at his headquarters during the period of detention," said Colonel Jesus Dorante.
There are 707 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Philippines, of which 45 have died, according to the Ministry of Health.