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Cebu man found with UK variant in QC already tested negative for COVID-19 —Belmonte


The Liloan, Cebu resident who was found to have the UK variant of the novel coronavirus while staying in an Quezon City apartment has now tested negative for the virus, according to Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Belmonte said the man, a 35-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) awaitingnew deployment, tested negative after re-swabbing at the city's Hope Facility.

"Nilipat namin siya sa Hope Facility namin agad-agad at as of now, he tested negative already," Belmonte said of the patient, who has worked in South Korea before.

Belmonte said the patient was transferred to an apartment in Barangay Commonwealth from a hotel in Manila by his manning agency to undergo quarantine after he tested positive for COVID-19. The mayor said the manning agency violated health protocols in handling the patient.

"Noong January 21, allegedly the manning agency picked him through a ride-hailing app and brought him directly to an apartment in Barangay Commonwealth," she said.

"That is against protocols. Dapat pag-positive, ang susundo ay Barangay Health Emergency Response Team kung saan siya nakatira."

Belmonte also said the manning agency did not coordinate with the Manila City government regarding the patient -- another violation of existing protocols.

"Yung ginawa nila could've endangered our entire community in Barangay Commonwealth," she said, adding they are set to file a complaint against the manning agency.

Belmonte said they have already traced about 300 close contacts of the patient, with 105 of them already tested. She said a lockdown may be imposed depending on the results of the tests.

"We have already swabbed about 105 of these individuals and hopefully within today itong 105 lalabas na po ang kanilang mga resulta," she said.

"And kung makita natin na may positives diyan, may clustering, may community transmission na, ipapa-lockdown ko na po ang area," Belmonte added. --KBK, GMA News

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