By Aaron Recuenco and Richa Noriega
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has tested positive for COVID-19, the latest among the top government officials who have contracted the disease.
In an interview, Año said he learned of the test result on Tuesday evening from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
He said he was tested on March 27 after learning that four government officials he had close contact with also tested positive for COVID-19, among them military chief of staff Gen. Felimon Santos and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Jojo Garcia.
“I’m okay. I will continue my home quarantine, I will continue working from home,” said Año, who disclosed that he has been on self-quarantine since March 26.
He said being under self-quarantine did not affect his job as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and one of the officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
In fact, he said he has been talking with his people at the DILG and fellow officials at the Malacañan Palace and attending teleconference meetings.
He said he has informed President Duterte of his test result.
“(He said to) continue my work and stay at home and work from home. Malacañan is really concerned, and in fact they said that if I need medicine, they will provide me,” Año said.
In an earlier text message, Ano said he made the announcement to call the attention of people he had close contact with to go on self-quarantine and observe for any symptoms.
“I am doing fine and have no symptoms. The result of my test will not in any way dampen my spirit and energy to do my job,” he said.
He appealed to the public to heed the government’s call to follow home quarantine and other rules to avoid being infected.
“I am advising everyone to stay at home and follow social distancing. Your strong commitment will help defeat the virus,” Año said.