Covid situation in China manageable: Envoy
In an interview with reporters Wednesday, FlorCruz said the heavy traffic seen on the highways and the gradual opening of some establishments in the Beijing district must be an indication that China’s Covid-19 situation is manageable.
While people are advised to strictly wear masks and practice physical distancing in the huge crowd, FlorCruz said the entire Chinese community is also being urged to “live with the coronavirus.”
“I see that the Covid-19 trend here is increasing as experts expect it will spread in the countryside so they are still being cautious,” he added.
The Philippine government is monitoring the situation of an estimated 14,000 Filipinos residing in China amid the increasing surge of Covid-19 cases here.
Some 6,000 Filipinos are staying in Beijing.
‘No lockdown in Beijing’
“As of now, in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, it seems that the situation is normalizing, so far, anecdotally. I see that here in Beijing, there’s no lockdown, people can go outside),” FlorCruz said.
He, however, said the Covid-19 infection is still spreading in other cities in China as pointed out by the experts. Hence, people are urged to follow health and safety protocols against the coronavirus disease.
People are not necessarily advised to go to the hospital unless experiencing severe Covid-19 symptoms.
“But of course, the concern is still there. People are advised to take care and wear a mask and stay home if experiencing symptoms,” he said.
FlorCruz said members of the Filipino community expressed “disappointment” as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not be able to meet them here due to the prevailing threat of Covid-19 resurgence.
“Of course, they are disappointed and they wish they could somehow share part of this state visit but this a special situation. They understood that it is just a short visit. Second, there are a lot of protocols that need to be followed, especially the health protocols, so our community here understands the situation,” he added.
Covid positive
Meanwhile, the Department of Health on Wednesday said a total of eight unvaccinated Filipinos from China tested positive for Covid-19 upon their arrival.
Citing the latest reports from the Bureau of Quarantine, the DoH said the eight Filipinos, who arrived in the country from 27 December to 2 January, tested positive through an antigen test.
Based on current protocols, non-fully vaccinated individuals who are unable to present a negative pre-departure test result are tested upon arrival at the airport.
“The individuals are currently under isolation and have undergone confirmatory RT-PCR testing on 31 December 2022, with positive results, the department will continue to monitor developments on the matter,” the DoH said after it ordered a “heightened alert” for incoming travelers, particularly those who would be coming from China.
China, the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, is currently experiencing a resurgence of fresh infections due to the spread of the more transmissible Omicron BF.7 subvariant.
The DoH assured the public that the government will continue to conduct Covid-19 monitoring and surveillance activities in the country, as well as other global health events that may occur.