Sweeper flight passenger tests positive for COVID

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – One of the more than 200 passengers of a sweeper flight that arrived in Davao City from Manila on May 6 tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, authorities said yesterday.

The city government of Davao said the patient was taken to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for treatment.

Authorities have started the contact tracing for other passengers, especially those who were seated next to or near the patient during the flight.

The city government has been conducting health screening of all individuals arriving in the city.

The passenger failed the screening and was sent to the SPMC for swab testing, which confirmed he was infected with the virus.

Passengers of the May 6 flight were advised to go to the SPMC once they develop symptoms of COVID-19.

Relatives of these passengers were directed to avoid physical contact with them until after the lapse of the 14-day quarantine period.

Individuals who have just arrived in the city are marked with indelible ink on their left index finger.

“If you see anyone with this mark, please do not go near them for the next 14 to 21 days,” the city government said in a statement issued yesterday.

It said it would ask the national government to prohibit individuals without confirmed negative COVID test results from leaving Metro Manila.

As this developed, the 21 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in Clark, Pampanga were flown home to their provinces in Mindanao on Saturday.

The OFWs were issued certifications of quarantine completion by the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Quarantine and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration.

Lockdown lifted

The city government of Baguio has lifted the lockdown in certain areas in several barangays with previous COVID cases.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said these areas are the Teacher’s Village in Sto. Tomas Proper, San Luis Extension, Woodsgate Subdivision at Camp 7, Purok 1 at Camp 8, Sitio Sto. Niño in Bakakeng Central and Sector 5 in Dominican-Mirador.

Magalong cited the assessment report submitted by the city’s contact tracing team in lifting the lockdown.

Meanwhile, Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez lifted the lockdown in Purok 10 in Barangay Linao after a resident who earlier tested positive for COVID in the rapid test turned out negative in the RT-PCR test.

Four other persons with whom the resident had contact tested negative for the disease. – Artemio Dumlao, Ding Cervantes, Lalaine Jimenea