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QC exec says OFW with Delta variant now recovered

By Marita Moaje

July 26, 2021, 6:02 pm

<p>Quezon City Hall <em>(File photo)</em></p>

Quezon City Hall (File photo)

MANILA – The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who lives in Quezon City and who tested positive for the Delta variant of the coronavirus has recovered, the local government confirmed on Monday.

The 34-year-old male returned from Saudi Arabia on June 24 and was booked for a 10-day quarantine in a Makati hotel.

The OFW complained of itchy throat on June 28 and underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test two days later.

Upon confirmation of his positive result, he was transferred to another isolation hotel in Manila where he stayed from July 4 until he was declared Covid-free on July 11.

The city government, through its Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU), was informed of the result of his genome sequenced sample on Sunday night.

On Monday, the CESU arranged for another round of swab tests for the OFW as well as his family members who are considered close contacts.

Pending the result, the OFW and the others swabbed are under strict home quarantine.

“He underwent another swab test, along with his family, as part of our protocol even if he is considered a recovered patient. We are doing extensive contact tracing on his close contacts just to make sure,” CESU head Dr. Rolly Cruz said in a statement.

Another case

The QC government is also coordinating with another local government resident who works in a factory in the city and tested positive for the Delta variant.

His pregnant wife likewise tested positive twice for Covid-19.

Contact tracing and swab testing were being conducted by CESU at his place of work since Saturday.

“There are no reported cases yet at his place of work but we are doing this as a preventive measure to make sure we contain its transmission this early,” Cruz said.

Based on available information, the factory worker experienced shortness of breath, cold, fever, and sore throat on July 4.

He tested positive on July 5 and was immediately admitted to the Philippine General Hospital until he was discharged on July 18.

His wife, who was asymptomatic, was tested on July 8 and yielded a positive result on July 9. She tested positive again on July 17.

The couple is staying at a QC quarantine facility until the end of the month.

TF Delta

Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city government is capable of handling the case.

“We have put in place measures in preparation for the Delta variant and we continue to exert all efforts to contain its possible spread. What is important is that we are our doing extensive testing and aggressive contact tracing,” Belmonte said in another statement.

The city government formed the Task Force Delta Variant even before the first case was confirmed.

The task force was directed to identify key areas to concentrate on, revisit the city’s disease surveillance, enhance active case finding and contact tracing capacity, and improve testing capability and the efficiency of molecular laboratories that are processing specimens.

The TF will also review isolation and quarantine protocols and the status and bed capacity of its HOPE facilities, and assess the equipment and manpower resources of hospitals handling moderate to severe Covid-19 cases.

Moreover, the city government ordered its Task Force Disiplina to intensify monitoring and inspection, and ensure that minimum health and safety protocols are followed in public places. (PNA)

 

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