Tolentino tests negative for COVID-19 despite DOH guideline not to test if asymptomaticMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Tolentino early this week announced that he tested negative for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after he got tested with other senators. The senator himself confirmed this in a Facebook post on his official page on March 17, showing what seems to be his office. According to the Department of Health's algorithm for the triage of possible COVID-19 patients as of March 11, only patients experiencing "severe and critical" symptoms may get tested. This, while there is "no need to test" patients who are classified as persons under investigation (PUIs), who are instead instructed to undergo home quarantine. According to DOH's triage, only persons under investigation with mild or critical symptoms are tested for COVID-19.

Source: Philippine Star March 22, 2020 05:09 UTC