Worker in quarantine for Ebola to spend Christmas with family

CEBU, Philippines - The overseas Filipino worker under quarantine in Cebu will be released this December 22 and will be able to spend Christmas with his family.

This was disclosed by Dr. Dino Caing, Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief and Ebola point person here.

"He will be released shortly before Christmas. I visited him today (yesterday) in his isolation room and he's doing fine. He continues to be asymptomatic," Caing told reporters.

The 62-year-old mining supervisor from Sierra Leone, West Africa has also been allowed to speak with his family from a distance of one meter and while wearing the proper protective gear like face mask.

"Since he is not feeling any of the symptoms of Ebola and we only consider him as person under investigation and not suspect for Ebola, we are allowing his family to visit. But rules must be followed like one meter distance and wearing of mask," Caing said.

As regards his vacation leave, which has been extended due to mandatory quarantine of 21 days both Sierra Leone and the Philippines, Caing said the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Health are helping the worker reach the man's British employer in West Africa.

"Though he works in Sierra Leone, his work is far from where outbreak was recorded. His area is in a mountainous area away from the capital. Their employer also restricts them from going out of their field office. In fact, food and other necessities are just being transported to them as they are not allowed to go out to prevent contracting Ebola," Caing explained.

There are 16 OFWs in Sierra Leone who are from Central Visayas and Caing said 15 others, aside from those placed under quarantine, are also being monitored.

Caing assured that DOH 7 has enough supply of personal protective equipment, which will protect health personnel from the deadly Ebola virus, especially that they interact with people who are under investigation and/or potential suspects.

"I would like to assure the people that DOH has enough PPEs. We currently have 55 sets delivered just yesterday (Monday) from the UK. We also have pending 100 more for delivery. While we remain on alert, we have noticed decreasing number of cases and deaths in areas with outbreak. Hopefully it stays this way," Caing said.

Each set of PPE costs P3,000 and a medical professional has 15 to 45 minutes on the average to wear them as the temperature inside is hot, he added.— (FREEMAN)