DAVAO CITY — The different local government units in Davao region has placed all passengers of the May 6 sweeper flight from Manila to Davao and vice versa on quarantine, after one of its passengers was found positive for coronavirus-19 (Covid-19).
In a statement released by the City Government of Davao on May 9, it stated that the government adopted a health screening procedure to be undertaken by all individuals arriving in Davao City.
“One of the passengers failed the health screening and was sent to SPMC for swabbing and was later confined in a Covid19 quarantine center,” it added. Based on the RT-PCR test, the person was confirmed positive.
The Health Office is calling on those seated near the person in the plane for further screening. The city government called on passengers of the May 6 flight from Manila that if they develop symptoms within 14 days to go to SPMC for assessment. “We emphasize to the family members of those who recently arrived to avoid direct physical contact with them. Other people can distinguish these new arrival individuals with the indelible ink on their left index finger. If you see anyone with this mark, please do not go near them for the next 14-21 days.”
Meanwhile, the local government of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte immediately placed five returning residents who boarded the May 6 flight, under quarantine, said the Santo Tomas IATF-EID on Saturday,
The City Government shall raise the matter of this incident to the RTF and request the national government to prohibit the boarding of individuals in Manila going to all the local destinations without a confirmed RT-PCR negative result.
As this developed, the Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte IATF is conducting an investigation for what appears to be an apparent breach of COVID-19 protocol. The task force learned that a family member made direct contact with one of the returning residents on May 6 despite the repeated reminders not to breach the protocols.
“They are really challenging the national government’s law and our local protocols on COVID-19. We will not hesitate to pursue and exhaust all legal means for those who keep on insisting and breaching the protocols,” the Santo Tomas IATF-EID stressed.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Davao de Oro also revealed two passengers of the May 6 sweeper flight from Manila to Davao City are from Davao de Oro.
EOC Manager and PHO Dr. Antonio Ybiernas Jr said that the passengers are quarantined in a barangay isolation unit in the municipality.
He said that from the airport, they were directly quarantined in the facility as part of the protocol of the province. He also revealed that the two tested negative in the rapid testing, and as of now, have not shown any symptoms of COVID-19.
The group said that all these COVID-19 protocols are meant “to protect the well-being of the general public and all of these cannot be implemented with complacency. Selective application of these protocols will do more harm than good as the municipality grapples with the containment of the deadly COVID-19.”-NewsLine
