Davao City: Provincial and City Task Forces on COVID 19 in Davao Region reiterated that protocols are in place as they received returning residents from other parts of the region and from Manila.
This after the City Government of Davao released a statement last Saturday about a passenger aboard the May 6, 2020 sweeper flight from Manila to Davao who later turned out COVID19 positive in an RT-PCR test done at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
That led the Davao City Government to call all those who were seated in the plane near the said individual for further screening. The City Government also asked the public to avoid individuals with the indelible ink on their left index finger as they are subjected to a strict 14-day quarantine upon their arrival.
The Davao del Norte Provincial Government said that 18 of those passengers were residents of the province and were fetched by the provincial government, brought to a quarantine facility based in Tagum City, and tested thru a Rapid Diagnostic Test. All tested negative, however, they were subjected to complete the 14-day quarantine to closely observe manifestation of COVID 19 symptoms.
The Davao de Oro Provincial Government also bared that two of the passengers of the May 6 sweepers flight from Manila to Davao City are Davao de Oro residents. EOC Manager and PHO Dr. Antonio Ybiernas Jr said that
“The passengers are quarantined in a barangay isolation unit in the municipality. From the airport, they were directly quarantined in the facility as part of the procotol of the province. The two tested negative in the rapid testing, and as of now, have not shown any symptoms of COVID-19,” said EOC Manager and PHO Dr. Antonio Ybiernas Jr.
The Davao Oriental Provincial IATF said two residents of the Municipality of Baganga were among those onboard the May 6 sweeper flight to Davao City. They were fetched from Davao City and taken directly by the Municipal Government to the town’s Isolation Center for the mandatory quarantine.
Digos City, Davao del Sur Mayor Josef Cagas issued a statement, saying that the seven Digosenos who boarded the sweeper flight on May 6 from Manila, were “immediately isolated from the time they arrived in Digos.
“At no instance that these passengers were given the opportunity to expose themselves in public especially in Digos City. From the airport to isolation, the seven were closely guarded and monitored,” Cagas stated.
He said that they are constantly being monitored for any manifestation of symptoms of COVID19. As of now, no one has manifested any symptom. Cagas also belied reports that the seven passengers are COVID-19 positive. “Please do not spread fake news. Please wait for the official announcement or update from appropriate government agencies,” he said.
Two female residents of Magsaysay town, Davao del Sur were also among the passengers of the sweeper flight from Manila on May 6, 2020.
This was confirmed by Magsaysay LGU information officer Anthony Allada who said that the resident from Barangay San Isidro is currently staying at the LGU’s border quarantine center. The other one is actually on a strict home quarantine at her farmhouse in Barangay Barayong where she is living alone.
Allada said that they have already coordinated everything before the two residents arrived in Magsaysay, for safety purposes. “We should not be complacent,” he stated. He said that the LGU has established a border quarantine center to accommodate returning residents, especially those coming from Davao City, who must undergo a 14-day quarantine before they can be reintegrated back to their respective communities.
As of now, Allada bared that there are 19 residents who are staying at the border quarantine center located near the Barayong checkpoint. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)