MANILA, Philippines – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and locally-stranded individuals (LSI) returning to the city to comply with the mandatory 14-day quarantine and for their families to keep physical distance to avoid getting infected with novel coronavirus disease.
“Mag-remind ta sa atong mga kaigsuonang Dabawenyo nga kung duna moy kauban sa balay or member of your household or silingan nga bag-ong abot nga gikan sa ubang lugar, make sure nga dili mo moduol sa ilaha and make sure nga mag comply sila sa 14-day quarantine,” Duterte said in an interview over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday.
(We are reminding our fellow Dabawenyos if they have a household member or neighbor coming from other areas, make sure you don’t come near them or make sure they comply with the 14-day quarantine.)
Mayor Sara said the reminder is for all families with returning OFWs and LSIs regardless if members are either asymptomatic or experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus disease.
Davao City Health Office Head Dr. Josephine Villafuerte also echoed Mayor Sara’s statement, stressing that the 14-day quarantine for returning residents is required and must be followed.
Davao City has been receiving OFWs and LSIs in the past weeks via sweeper flights facilitated by government agencies.
Before boarding the plane, these OFWs and LSIs undergo rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), and those who turn out positive in the test are not be allowed to board the flight.
Upon arrival in Davao City, returning residents also undergo strict health screening conducted by the CHO. If they fail in the screening, they are referred to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for swabbing.
“They must fill out the health declaration form, undergo thermal scanning and symptom screening if they have a fever, cough, and cold. If they fail the health screening, they will be referred to SPMC for swabbing then for isolation or admission,” Villafuerte said in a statement.
Those who will not be placed in an isolation facility are required to undergo a 14-day home quarantine. They are directed to contact their District Health Office or the SPMC in case symptoms appear within 14 days.
As of June 20, the city government said it has assisted 5,825 inbound Davao City individuals while 4,512 outbound Davao City via land, air, and sea.
Of these numbers, 18 returning OFWs and two LSIs have tested positive for Covid-19.
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