MANILA, Philippines — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones has tested negative for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones tested negative for COVID-19 as results came back on Monday,” DepEd said Tuesday in a statement. Several DepEd officials and personnel also underwent self-quarantine after a participant in two of its meetings tested positive for the virus. Other Cabinet members who have also tested negative for COVID-19 were Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, Public Works, and Highways Mark Villar and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named the novel coronavirus as SARS-CoV-2.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 17, 2020 08:37 UTC