Malacañang said members of the Cabinet who were in close contact with Interior Secretary Eduardo Año will undergo PCR test for COVID-19 today, August 22.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in an interview with state-run PTV-4 on Friday, "Matatapos ang 14 days namin mula kaming nagkaroon ng huling pagkikita ni Secretary Año sa Lunes. Pero minabuti pa rin namin na sa Sabado mag-swab test pa rin (The two-week period since our last interaction with Secretary Año will be over on Monday. But we still chose to undergo swab test on Saturday)."
President Duterte was supposed to meet personally with members of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Davao City last Monday but the meeting became virtual after Año revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 anew.
Duterte is set to deliver another public address after an IATF meeting on Monday but the venue is yet to be determined.
Cabinet and IATF members decided to undergo self-quarantine this week after hearing of Año's test result.
"Alam niyo naman po na si Secretary Año ay nag-positive at minabuti na po naming mag-self quarantine ngayon (You know that Secretary Año tested positive for COVID-19 and we opted to go on self-quarantine now)," Roque said on Monday, adding he will personally be in quarantine as well for five days maintaining "Ako kasi bilang tagapagsalita (As a spokesperson), I need to serve by way of example."