SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – There is no coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Omicron variant yet in this province amid the attendance of some of Gwyneth Anne Chua’s close contacts in a charity concert in San Juan town.
Chua is the returning overseas Filipino woman who went home right after checking in at the Berjaya Makati Hotel quarantine facility on December 22, went to a nearby bar the next day, and tested positive for Covid-19 four days later.
In a phone interview, La Union provincial information officer Camille Bumatay said the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed that one of Chua’s two close contacts who attended a benefit concert for the victims of Typhoon Odette at a bar-restaurant on December 29 also tested positive for the virus.
“However, there is no confirmed case of Omicron variant yet,” Bumatay said.
Employees of the bar-restaurant are already in isolation and will undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests.
“The provincial government of La Union is also closely coordinating with the DOT and the local government unit of San Juan on the situation and the contact tracing procedures,” she said.
“For everybody and our staff’s safety, we’ll be closed today until further notice. We’ve been contact traced for a possible Covid exposure last two days. We are now all home-quarantined as protocol and we will be tested in a few days to be sure. Anybody who came to our fundraising for Siargao on the 29th and yesterday, we suggest to quarantine, self monitor, and test yourself in four to five days,” the management of the bar-restaurant posted on Facebook on December 31.
Bumatay said the provincial government, DOT Ilocos regional office, and the Philippine National Police conducted a site inspection on December 31 and are still assessing if there was a breach of protocols.
“Locals and other persons who have been in the area at Kermit La Union Dec. 29 to 30, 2021 are also advised to monitor themselves and approach any health facility or contact the Provincial Health Office for proper coordination,” she advised. (PNA)
