42,000 returning OFWs may overwhelm isolation facilities — Galvez
MANILA, Philippines — The 42,000 Overseas Filipino Workers arriving to the country in the coming weeks, amid COVID-19 pandemic, may overwhelm the country’s isolation facilities, Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez warned.
In an Inter-Agency Task Force meeting aired Wednesday midnight, Galvez, also National Task Force on COVID-19 chief implementer, explained that some 27,000 OFWs are already isolated at different hubs in Manila.
“There are 42,000 others arriving his coming May and June,” Galvez said.
The government previously said all returning migrant workers would undergo a COVID-19 test. Those who tested negative will be given clearances from the Bureau of Quarantine and would be allowed to leave the isolation facility.
Galvez said the Philippine Red Cross performed more than 22,000 tests for returning migrant workers, and 465 of them tested positive with the coronavirus disease.
But Galvez assured President Rodrigo Duterte that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and the Department of Transportation are coordinating to immediately transport back home OFWs who tested negative, with the help of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Maritime Industry Authority.
Some OFWs escape isolation facility while waiting for test result
Some OFWs complained of their prolonged period of stay in quarantine facilities while waiting for their COVID-19 test results.
The Palace on Tuesday said they will look into their concerns and ordered OWWA to submit an inventory of OFWs in quarantine facilities and updates on their COVID-19 tests.
The coast guard reported last weekend that eight OFWs waiting for results of their COVID-19 test escaped their isolation facilities to go home.
One of them tested positive for COVID-19, while the rest tested negative. Authorities are locating the eight who will face complaints for violating quarantine protocols.
Data from the Philippine Coast Guard showed that as of May 19, 30,918 OFWs underwent RT-PCR testing, the gold standard for COVID-19 test. More than 12,000 tested negative and were allowed to go home.
“A total of 11,000 other names are pending for release in the next days,” PCG said.
“Approximately 7,000 swab samples remain at the Philippine Red Cross for analysis,” it added.
A thread of major news, developments and government pronouncements related the extended community quarantine across the country. Real-time updates about the coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines are available in this live blog. (Main image by AFP/Ted Aljibe)
The province of Laguna and the cities of Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro will be placed on lockdown until the middle of August, Malacañang announces.
"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to place Laguna, Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) beginning Aug. 6 until Aug. 15, 2021," presidential spokesman Harry Roque says in a statement.
Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro have been under the strictest quarantine classification since July 16. — The STAR/Alexis Romero
The Department of Health reports an additional 6,686 COVID-19 infections, bringing the national tally to 1,300,349.
- Active cases: 61,345 or 4.7%% of the total
- Recoveries: 3,190, pushing total to 1,216,497
- Deaths: 196, bringing total to 22,507
President Rodrigo Duterte approves the recommendation of Cabinet members to place Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal under modified enhanced community quarantine.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the new quarantine measures will be imposed starting midnight of August 4 and will stay in place until August 18.
The inter-agency task force on COVID-19 imposes a moratorium on the transit of locally stranded persons in Western Visayas, Cebu island, Mactan, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.
"Wala na po silang lugar para mag-quarantine," IATF spokesperson Harry Roque says in a virtual briefing.
(They have no place to undergo quarantine anymore.)
The Department of Health announces 485 "fresh" COVID-19 cases on Sunday, June 28.
Another 168 are "late" cases, or "released to patients four days ago or more."
Most of the cases are still from the National Capital Region, with 245 "fresh" and 111 "late."
Central Visayas accounts for 120 "fresh" cases and 11 "late" ones.
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