Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been on self-quarantine for the past three days after being exposed to officials who tested positive for the coronavirus, a senator said yesterday.
Duterte’s 14-day self-quarantine will end on April 7, according to Senator Christopher Go, a former executive assistant of the president.
Duterte is set to celebrate his 75th birthday today.
“His doctors advised him to go on self-quarantine for his protection because he is exposed in Malacanang (presidential palace),” Go said.
“Despite this, he continues to be on top of the situation and to give important directives to government officials.”
Go did not say if Duterte was experiencing any symptoms of the disease, and added, “It’s sad that he will be alone on his birthday, but his only wish is for every Filipino to follow the rules and stay at home.”
Almost all members of Duterte’s cabinet also went on self-quarantine yesterday after armed forces chief of staff General Felimon Santos confirmed he tested positive for the virus.
“I have no symptoms, but protocol says I have to self-quarantine for 14 days,” said Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Santos had been in meetings with the cabinet and other officials in Malacanang before he went into quarantine on Monday, when a navy officer he came into contact with tested positive for Covid-19, said public affairs chief Captain Jonathan Zata.
Santos himself found out he tested positive on Thursday, Zata said, adding: “He is well and in good health.” 
The head of the presidential security group on Friday ordered a “total lockdown” for all members of the team and their family members staying at a compound near the palace.
“All (presidential security group) personnel and their dependents are required to undergo self-quarantine and will just stay in their respective quarters for the duration of the lockdown,” said Colonel Jesus Durante III.
The Department of Health reported 96 new confirmed cases yesterday, bringing to 803 the total tally in the Philippines.
The death toll rose to 54 after nine more patients succumbed to the disease, while recoveries totalled 31, it added.
An official of the department has tested positive for Covid-19, but was well and stable, said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Vergeire called on volunteer doctors, nurses and other hospital workers to be assigned in three Covid-19 centres being set up by the government and other facilities that are facing staff shortages.
One of the centres, the state-run Philippine General Hospital, began accepting patients yesterday. 
It has 130 beds in a Covid-19 wing that is separate from the rest of the hospital to protect other patients.
“Today we launched the (department’s) health warriors portal for whoever wants to help and volunteer,” she said. “The country needs your help to face this war against Covid-19.” On the portal, volunteers are offered an allowance of 500 pesos ($10) for eight-hour shifts for 14 days and insurance coverage that would pay 100,000 pesos if they are infected and 1mn pesos if they die from the disease.
At least 10 doctors have died after being infected with the virus while treating patients, while hundreds of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers have been on quarantine after being exposed to the infected patients.