MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it is currently tracing the 41 individuals who were onboard the same flights as the two overseas Filipino workers who were found with the B.1.617 coronavirus variant that was first detected in India.
In an online press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the first case, a 37-year old male who arrived from Oman, had six close contacts on his flight.
The second case, a 58-year old male who traveled from the United Arab Emirates, had 35 close contacts.
Citing protocols in a plane setting, Vergeire explained that close contacts refer to persons located four sets on the front, at the back, and the sides of a COVID-19 case.
“We are tracing all of them and trying to check all of their statuses,” Vergeire said.
The health official assured the public that all these passengers underwent protocols, such as quarantine and testing upon their arrival in the country.
“Ito pong lahat ng taong ito ay na-subject sa ating protocols pagdating dito, so they were either tested on the fifth or the sixth day and they have completed yung quarantine nila at the national and at the local government level,” she said.
“The protocols were followed and hopefully hindi naman po tayo nagkaroon ng breaches in protocols para masabi natin na merong danger para sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.
The DOH earlier said that the two cases with B.1.617 variant have already been tagged as recovered.
There were no listed other close contacts aside from their co-travellers as they were immediately subjected to quarantine when they arrived in the country.
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