EIGHT (8) Filipinos who arrived from China over the holidays have tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) said yesterday.
In a statement released by the Department of Health, the BOQ said the eight arrived from China between December 27, 2022 and January 2, 2023.
“There were eight unvaccinated Filipinos who arrived in the Philippines from China from December 27, 2022 to January 2, 2023, (who) tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at (the) Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), via antigen test,” said the DOH.
“They have undergone confirmatory RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) testing with positive results,” it also said, adding: “The individuals are currently under isolation.”
The DOH said the unvaccinated individuals were tested upon arrival at the NAIA in accordance with existing protocols stating that non-fully vaccinated individuals who are unable to present a negative pre-departure test result are tested upon arrival.
The detection of the eight cases comes on the heels of the directives of the DOH to the BOQ for intensified monitoring and implementation of border control protocols for incoming individuals, especially those from China.
This after China, where the first case of COVID-19 was detected, recently experienced a rapid increase in cases.
The DOH assured the public that it will continue its heightened surveillance of possible COVID-19 cases from China.
“The government shall continue to conduct COVID-19 monitoring and surveillance activities in the country, as well as keeping an eye for global health events that may occur,” it said.
Similarly, it called on the public to help prevent transmission by maintaining adherence to minimum public health standards.
“There are our layers of protection, such as sanitation, masking, distancing, good ventilation, and vaccination in addition to practicing healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle,” said the DOH.
‘UNDER CONTROL’
Philippine Ambassador Jaime Florcruz said the COVID-19 situation in China now appears to be “under control” and “normalizing.”
“Mukha namang under control (it looks under control),” Florcruz told members of the media delegation who were covering the January 3 to 5 state visit of President Marcos Jr. in China.
He could not say if or how many Filipinos are infected with COVID-19 in China but said that based on his observation, more people are now on the streets unlike in the past days.
“Napansin ko kagabi sa traffic along the way mula sa airport, ang daming kotse so mukhang nag-nonormalize na. Parang nag-peak na yung spread at nagbabalikan na yung tao sa labas (I noticed the traffic along the way from airport last night. There are already many vehicles, and it looks like the situation is normalizing. It appears that the spread has already peaked and people are now going out),” he added.
Florcruz said Filipinos in China were disappointed that they could not meet or see the President while he was there but they understood that the situation health protocols have to be observed to avoid spreading the virus.
Among the protocols that are being observed include wearing face masks, staying at home if they have symptoms and avoiding going to the hospitals unless they experienced severe symptoms.
Florcruz said the Philippine Embassy is ready to provide assistance to Filipinos who will be affected by COVID-19.
“Kumakalat pa rin sa buong China kaya maingat pa rin ang mga tao. Advice sa mga tao na mag-mask pa rin, umiwas sa malalaking crowds pero ina-advise na sila to live with Covid (It’s still spreading to other parts of China, that’s why the people here remained to be careful. The advice to the public is to continue wearing mask, avoid large crowds, and live with COVID),” he added.
There are about 14,000 Filipinos in China. Florcruz said the Filipinos in China are respected and their lives, jobs and security are not affected despite the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China.
The President flew to China for a three-day state visit under a “bubble” arrangement to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID- 19.
STRICTER CONTROLS
Sen. Christopher Go, chairperson of the Senate committee on health and demography, called on the Marcos administration to impose stricter border controls and review the country’s health protocols for incoming travelers from China.
Go said the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) should conduct a daily review of the situation and strengthen the country’s COVID-19 guidelines to prevent the Philippines from being adversely affected by the surge of the virus infections which may be carried by travelers coming from China.
“Secure our borders. Paigtingin pa natin ang ating pag-monitor… Review our protocols sa ngayon, lalung- lao na po sa mga incoming travelers mula sa bansang Tsina dahil naiulat na tumataas ang kasi nila, nagkakaroon sila ng lockdown doon (Secure our borders.
Strengthen our monitoring… Review our protocols especially for incoming travelers from China because of the reported surge in COVID cases there where they are also having lockdowns),” Go said.
He said the government should act immediately so that the country’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus will not go to waste, otherwise there could be lockdowns again, which will result to job losses.
He reminded Filipinos to be vigilant as long as COVID-19 is still present, and called on anew eligible individuals to get the COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots, which he said is the key to get back to normalcy once herd immunity is achieved.
“Kapag bakunado, mas protektado (Vaccinated people are more protected [against the virus]),” he added.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin advised the government to think twice about reintroducing mandatory COVID-19 tests for travelers arriving in the country, saying the response to China’s COVID-19 situation should be “science-based.”
The former health secretary said concerned government agencies should not make drastic decisions such as requiring mandatory testing on travelers from China and “first seek some clarification with the World Health Organization and the Chinese Embassy on the real situation.”
“The most that we can request is a PCR test prior to departure. Realistically speaking, we do not have the systems and processes in place, unlike other countries. Even our vaccination certificates and its corresponding IT system is chaotic,” she said.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista last week raised the possibility of requiring testing for travelers from China, saying the IATF would prepare the travel guidelines.
Garin said reports of rising death toll in China should be verified. “Deaths are not easy to hide because every person has family, friends and neighbors. There will always be somebody who can speak up knowing a friend, a relative has died but the independent projections of those sowing fear does not seem to be happening on the ground because (the) deaths being attributed are not directly caused by COVID,” she said.
If and when the country decides on imposing restrictions, Garin said the decision “should be based on science and not because we heed the clamor of other nations, insisting that closing the doors for China will turn away tourists and investors at a time when the country’s tourism is just recovering.”
Garin expressed concern over the confusion brought about by unverified information particularly the fear that an increased number of cases could result in the development of variants of concern (VOC).
Garin, a vaccinology expert, said the development of a new variant of concern is unlikely to happen in China, which is reportedly hiding its true infection figures, given its 95 percent vaccination coverage.
The deputy majority leader said the government should focus more on how to increase the country’s vaccination and booster coverage “so as to sustain the initial gains we have.”
Garin reiterated that vaccination prevents deaths, reduce the severity of illness, reduce hospitalization and prevent mutations. She pointed out that VOCs happen among the unvaccinated, immunocompromised patients.
She said the government needs to reassess how to manage and address the problem of low booster vaccination rate, which is just around 30 percent of the target as of January 2.
She also said the executive should also not lose sight on the current basis for COVID protocols and guidelines, pointing out that it has already shifted to deaths and ICU utilization from the number of positives.
“Let’s see if hospital and ICU admissions are increasing because if it is, then that’s a red flag but if many are infected but are only having minor symptoms like fever and colds, that’s not alarming. We have more deaths from non-COVID ailments and other problems because many don’t consult doctors anymore and are not taking maintenance medicines,” Garin said.
The Iloilo lawmaker called on the DOH to brief other government agencies, citing the lack of scientific basis of the Bautista’s recommendation.
“We need to focus on the bigger COVID-related problems the country is facing. Making testing free for those who need it, free antivirals for moderate and severe COVID and realistic Philhealth packages. We have a low vaccination coverage. Mutations are likely to happen here,” she warned. “Let’s not reach a point that we get too concerned with China while forgetting that we still have many cases here.”
SUPER SPREADER
The DOH yesterday said it is not ruling out the possibility that the forthcoming feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila may turn out to be a COVID-19 “superspreader” event.
In an interview, DOH – National Capital Region (NCR) Director Gloria Balboa said there is a possibility that the annual feast in Quiapo, Manila will result to massive transmission of the COVID-19.
“Any event that is a mass gathering, it can be a superspreader event. It can be. But we are not saying that it will definitely be a superspreader,” said Balboa.
The health official said the possibility hinges on the faithful and the devotees of the Black Nazarene, especially since Quiapo Church officials have already laid down adequate health protocols in a bid to reduce transmission during the festivities.
“The health protocols are in place based on their plans. It is just a matter of implementing them, and the public has a big role to play in terms of adhering to the health protocols,” she said.
“If these are properly implemented and adhered to, the chances of the disease spreading will be lessened,” she also said.
On Tuesday, Quiapo Church officials urged the public to wear their face masks and observe MPHS in attending the fiesta activities on January 9.
On the other hand, those with COVID-19 symptoms, such as body temperature of 37.5 degrees and above, sore throat, continuous coughing, colds, and loose bowel movement are encouraged to just skip the event. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Raymond Africa and Wendell Vigilia
