May 9, 2020 - Following the detection of COVID-19 in a passenger of a sweeper flight from Manila, the city government of Davao wants stricter measures to prevent the entry of infected individuals.
The city government in a statement on Saturday said it will 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."
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR tests are considered “the gold standard” for coronavirus testing because it can detect the actual presence of the virus, even when the patient is asymptomatic or not showing any symptoms. It is deemed more accurate than a rapid test, which detects the presence of antibodies that a person’s body may not be able to produce during the early stages of infection.
Earlier this month, Cebu City reported that 17 overseas Filipino workers who arrived there were diagnosed with the coronavirus disease, after testing negative from a rapid test in Manila.
The Davao City government encounters a similar case. It said an individual who was on board a sweeper flight from Manila on May 6 recently tested positive for COVID-19 through an RT-PCR test. The individual was asked to undergo swabbing at the Southern Philippines Medical Center after failing the city's health screening. The patient is now under quarantine.
"We remind all the passengers of the May 6 flight from Manila if they develop symptoms within 14 days to go to SPMC for assessment," the city government said, stressing that they should avoid contact with other people, including their family members.
"Other people can distinguish these [newly arrived] 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," the city government added.
It also said it will raise the incident to the regional task force. According to the Department of Health, there are 57 active coronavirus disease cases in Davao City. Sixty-seven people earlier recovered from the viral illness, while 19 died.
Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 10,463 on Friday, with 696 deaths and 1,734 recoveries. The entire country is under general community quarantine, while Metro Manila and several provinces with the most infections are under stricter measures to prevent further spread of the virus. OFWs are allowed to return to the country, but they can only go home after completing a 14-day quarantine period where they will be observed for coronavirus symptoms.
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