NEGATIVE.

That is the result of the tests conducted on President Rodrigo Duterte and his former aide, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Go announced the results at about 11 p.m. Friday, March 13.

"We are fit and healthy to perform our duties," he stated on social media.

"But just like our advice to the general public, we will take precautionary measures seriously and comply with the advice of our health officials in order to remain healthy and avoid the spread of the virus while still being able to perform our mandate to the Filipino people," he added.

Go said elected officials should be able to continue serving the nation without putting the health of others at risk.

"Hindi pwedeng ipagpaliban ang tulong sa kapwa Pilipino, tuloy tuloy dapat ang serbisyo," he said.

The President and Go got themselves tested for the virus a few hours before Duterte announced the decision to impose a community quarantine in Metro Manila.

The test on the President was a preemptive measure considering that he regularly has close contact with his Cabinet members who may have also been in close contact with carriers or infected patients.

Several government officials have gone on home quarantine after getting into close contact with some people who have developed symptoms of Covid-19.

Among them are Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, and Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, Panfilo Lacson, among others.

The Department of Transportation, Department of Finance and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas offices have been closed for disinfection.

The Philippines is under a State of Public Health Emergency and government has raised the alert level to Code Red sub-level 2.

Metro Manila will go into partial lockdown on March 15 while across the nation, several local governments have suspended classes and closed doors to visitors.

There are 64 Covid-19 cases across the country as of Friday. Five have died. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)