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Three COVID cases shut down DOLE office; Bello tests negative

Philippines | National

Three COVID cases shut down DOLE office; Bello tests negative

By Ellson Quismorio

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sec. Silvestre Bello III says the agency's main office in Manila will undergo lockdown beginning 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 17.

(Photo via Ellson Quismorio)

Bello made the announcement during the agency's weekly virtual press briefing that same day, as he bared that three DOLE employees had just tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Cabinet official said he underwent a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and the result came out negative.

DOLE Information and Publication Service (IPS) Director Rolly Francia's test also turned out negative.

Bello said some offices within DOLE would reopen on Friday in order to render service to the public.

The sudden lockdown changed the set-up of the weekly presser, which in effect clued the reporters in that something was amiss.

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