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Duterte, guests to take virus tests a day before 5th SONA

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President Rodrigo Duterte and the guests to his fifth State-of-the-Nation Address or SONA will undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR test the day before the annual event on July 27, Malacañang said Thursday.

READ: Duterte SONA to bare recovery roadmap amid pandemic effects

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte and his guests must have tests to make sure they are free of COVID-19 before they head to the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, the venue of Duterte’s fifth and penultimate SONA.

READ: Fifth Sona: Palace eyes limited number of attendees in Batasan venue

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“All those who will get inside the Batasan will be subjected to RT-PCR testing on Sunday, the day before [the SONA],” Roque said in a virtual press briefing aired on state-run PTV-4.

The latest health protocol came a day after the Presidential Security Group or PSG confirmed that eight of its personnel assigned to the office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea had tested positive for COVID-19.

The eight did not have any close contact with Duterte, PSG commander Jesus Durante III said Wednesday.

Roque said “strict” measures would be in place to protect Duterte and his guests against COVID-19.

The presidential family, the members of Congress and their spouses, former presidents, foreign diplomats, government officials and other dignitaries are usually invited to grace the SONA.

Roque said Duterte would be accompanied mostly by PSG members, and that 15 Cabinet members and 50 lawmakers had also been invited to the SONA.

He said he was not sure if Medialdea, who had already tested negative for COVID-19, could attend the SONA.

Roque, who will be at the Batasang Pambansa on July 27, could also not confirm the attendance of Duterte’s family to the SONA. He said it would be understandable if the presidential family skipped the event.

Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said Wednesday she would skip the SONA to avoid the strict health procedures.

To ease the risk of exposure to COVID-19, Duterte will be delivering his SONA in a chamber separate from guests, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced Wednesday.

Duterte is expected to present a roadmap that will help the nation recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roque said Duterte’s SONA would be aired live.

READ: ’Hybrid’ joint session set for Rody's SONA

READ: 5th Sona: Rights lawyers on alert

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