The Department of Health is intensifying its contact tracing measures on the two returning Filipinos from the Middle East who tested positive for the Indian COVID-19 variant.
Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said that they already have the flight details of the two passengers.
“Nakita na namin ‘yung manifesto, flight details ng OFWs. ‘Yung unang case, mayroon siyang anim na close contacts—tatlo ay PCR negative, ‘yung tatlo pa ay hinahanap pa namin sa database,” she said.
RELATED STORY: PH bans travel from UAE, Oman until May 31
The first case was the sea-based OFW who returned to the Philippines last month from Oman.
32 close contacts are being monitored for the second case, the sea-based OFW from UAE. Some of them tested positive for the virus.
“Yung 58-year-old male from UAE, merong verified 32 close contacts sa eroplano. Tatlo sa kanila ang positibo,” she said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that individuals who came directly from UAE and Oman, as well as individuals with travel history to these 2 countries within the last 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines, will not be allowed to enter the country effective 0001H of May 15, 2021 until 2359H of May 31.
Both countries are now added to the growing list of countries of the temporary travel ban that the Philippines has implemented recently – which include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. All travelers coming from the aforementioned countries will not be allowed to enter the Philippines until 2359H of May 31.
Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III proposed such stricter border controls for travelers coming from the Middle East in order to prevent a disastrous outbreak of the pandemic due to the Indian variant of COVID-19. (TDT)
