City health authorities said a returning OFW (overseas Filipino worker) who tested negative in Metro Manila, tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Puerto Princesa International Airport on Sunday, Palawan May 31.
The OFW was previously tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction on May 2 and May 13 while she was under quarantine in Metro Manila as part of protocols for Filipinos returning to the country.
Her results then came out negative. Hence, she was granted a travel authority that enabled her to return home in Palawan.
According to Dr. Dean Palanca, the incident commander of Puerto Princesa Task Force for COVID-19, announced late Wednesday, June 3, the patient took a rapid test upon arrival and tested positive. Swab samples were then taken from her for confirmatory test Tuesday.
Ospital ng Palawan’s COVID-19 GenExpert laboratory processed the sample. The City Health Office released the results, which turned out to be positive by late Wednesday.
There are 23 overseas workers, including the patient, arrived on May 31 via Airasia in Puerto Princesa International Airport. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered to send the thousands of stranded OFWs home.
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OFW tests positive for COVID-19 in Palawan
Their flight hopped off on three other routes, including Tagbilaran, Tacloban, and Bacolod before disembarking in Puerto Princesa International Airport at around 7:45 a.m. on Sunday.
All of 23 OFWs, including the COVID-19 patient, are currently isolated in a quarantine facility provided by the city government.
The League of Provinces of the Philippines earlier said repatriated OFWs returning to provinces should undergo quarantine and COVID-19 test even if they were already tested and quarantined before.
Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco, chairman of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), asked the OFWs and their families to understand the situation, noting the residents’ sacrifices to stop the virus from spreading in their communities.
The governor also said most provinces would require the OFWs to undergo quarantine at their homes or in a designated facility. This is even if the OFWs already overstayed in quarantine facilities in Metro Manila while waiting for the results of their COVID-19 test, which is also a requirement for them to go home.