FOLLOW PROTOCOL. Dr. Ma. Julia Villanueva, Department of Health - Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) 6 (Western Visayas) assistant director, on Wednesday (June 24, 2020) urges locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated overseas Filipino workers to follow quarantine protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19. As of Tuesday, 47 out of the 16,379 LSIs who arrived in the region were found positive of the disease. (PNA photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY – The Department of Health - Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) 6 (Western Visayas) on Wednesday told locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to be responsible enough to follow quarantine protocols to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
As of Tuesday, 47 out of 16,379 LSIs have been found positive of Covid-19 after undergoing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests upon arrival in Western Visayas.
“As reported, the number of the confirmed cases from LSIs is increasing and I will reiterate to our LSIs and OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) to be responsible in ensuring that they follow quarantine protocol to prevent the spread of the infection,” Dr. Ma. Julia Villanueva, DOH-CHD 6 assistant director, said in a press conference.
The LSIs and OFWs should observe public health standards, such as physical distancing, wearing of masks, and frequent hand washing“Voluntarily undergoing home quarantine, even those who are not experiencing signs and symptoms of Covid-19, should be considered as part of our social responsibility to ensure that our homes and communities remain protected from the disease,” Villanueva said.
She said they should strictly follow the 14-day home quarantine and not wander around.
Citing an example, Villanueva said a 37-year-old man from Cebu City out to deliver heavy equipment for a construction company in Calinog town, Iloilo, tested positive for Covid-19 last June 18.
Before the release of his positive result, he traveled to this city through a public utility vehicle, the local government unit (LGU) of Calinog said in a statement.
To recall, three of the security guards at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol here were placed on quarantine after their exposure to the Covid-19-positive LSI.
In the statement, the Calinog LGU said the Covid-19-positive LSI and his companion took a taxi going to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol to inquire where to get an RT-PCR test last June 16.
They also took a cab going to the Western Visayas Medical Center Sub-national laboratory for confirmatory testing.
“The public taking utility vehicles (does) not know who they are with during a ride. The LSI should follow the 14-day home quarantine and should not wander elsewhere,” Villanueva said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas announced on Wednesday afternoon that LSIs arriving in Iloilo City may opt for quarantine either in a hotel or a local government facility for 14 days.
“The Iloilo City Covid team will no longer allow LSIs to go on home quarantine,” Treñas’ statement released to the media said in response to reports of LSIs violating the 14-day quarantine.
Moreover, the city will no longer use the rapid diagnostic test, only the RT-PCR tests.
“We are calling on DOH to assure early results for the swab. At the moment, we have more than 1,000 swab results outstanding,” he said. (PNA)
