A Philippine minister was found to have tested positive for COVID-19 five months after the initial diagnosis, said authorities on Monday. It is reported that the experts currently investigating whether he had been re-infected.
Interior Secretary, Eduardo Ano said that he gave a positive test on Saturday after experiencing flu-like symptoms last week.
He has been diagnosed with the virus for the first time in March but does not show any signs of the infection at that time.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that experts currently analyzing Ano symptoms, previous positive tests, and laboratory results to see if this is a second infection.
“Let’s not call it a re-infection. The scientific community has not yet accepted that a re-infection occurs,” said Vergeire.
According to The Jakarta Post, Ano was tested ahead of a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and other key cabinet members on Monday.
The meeting was held to decide whether to extend the two-week closure in Manila and the four surrounding provinces, which will end this week.
Until today, Philippine has more than 160,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with almost 2,700 death. The people have been ordered to wear face masks and visors at their workplaces by the health and labor ministries.
Source: The Jakarta Post, The Straits Times