NEDA chief Pernia goes into self-quarantine

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has gone into self-quarantine after being exposed to a person who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), adding to the growing number of economic officials in confinement.

In a statement released Thursday, NEDA said Pernia opted to quarantine himself after attending a meeting with an individual who later tested positive for COVID-19.

"He had no close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 even though they were in the same meeting," the statement read.

Other officials of the economic cluster now in self-quarantine are Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno.

"The NEDA management is tracing officials and employees who were with the persons confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 during two separate meetings held last March 5 and 6, 2020," it elaborated.

NEDA said it has also advised all officials and employees who came in close contact with the virus-infected persons to go on self-quarantine.

In the same statement, NEDA clarified that there are still no confirmed cases within the agency.

"As of today, March 12, 2020, there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 recorded in NEDA," the agency said in an emailed statement.  — BM, GMA News