32 quarantined OFWS cleared of virus, allowed to go home

MANILA: A total of 32 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWS) and 17 others were allowed to go home following a 14-day quarantine in which they showed no signs of symptoms like cough and fever of the dreaded novel coronavirus (COVID-19), top official of the Department of Health reported on Saturday.

“All the quarantined individuals have not shown signs and symptoms of fever, cough or sore throat during their 14-day quarantine period. They will now be allowed to go back to their homes and places,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told media.

Vergeire was referring to the 32 OFWS and 17 personnel from the health department, foreign office and crew of a chartered plane who volunteered and helped bring them home to the Philippines from Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province in China which has been tagged as the epicenter of the disease.

But Vergeire also pointed out that although they have been found negative of the virus, health personnel would continue to monitor them to ensure they have been freed of the dreaded ailment.

The 49 people underwent the 14-day quarantine at the Athletes” Village located in the town of Capas, Tarlac province in Central Luzon, which had been been used by those who participated in the recent Southeast Asian Games hosted by the Philippines.

Vergeire said the same facility would be used to quarantine the estimated 500 OFWS deployed as crew of the luxury liner Diamond Princess also quarantined off Japan following discovery that several of the more than 3,000 people on board were infected by COVID-19.

The quarantine period for the cruise ship ended on Wednesday with the announcement from Japanese officials that the crew and passengers would be allowed to leave for their home countries, except those infected who will be hospitalized.

As such, the Philippines announced that the 500 OFWS would be brought home on Sunday on board two chartered planes but on Saturday, officials said their departure was deferred because the OFWS and passengers would undergo more tests.