Passenger that tested positive for UK variant of COVID-19 in HK presented negative results in Manila —PAL

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday said its passenger who was reported to have tested positive for the UK variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong presented a negative test result before taking the flight.

In an advisory, PAL said the passenger — whose identity the airline declined to disclose — showed a negative COVID-19 test before taking the Manila-Hong Kong flight on December 22 as part of the requirements of the Hong Kong government.

PAL said it is now working with the government to conduct contact tracing efforts.

"Philippine Airlines has turned over to the Philippine Bureau of Quarantine the necessary information that will enable them to carry out the contact tracing procedures on passengers of the said PAL flight," the airline said.

"PAL is fully cooperating with health authorities and strictly adheres to vital health & safety protocols to help ensure that air travel is safe even during the pandemic," it added.

The statement was released after Hong Kong Center for Health Protection Communicable Disease Branch head Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan said the traveler from Philippines arrived in Hong Kong on board PAL flight PR300 on December 22.

"[Patient] 9003 took PR300 and arrived in Hong Kong on the 22nd of December from Philippines," said Chuang, noting that other patients monitored from December 22 to January 4 that tested positive for the UK variant came from the United Kingdom and France.

Contact tracing efforts

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they have received the name and address of the passenger and have started the contact tracing procedures.

“Nakuha na natin ang pangalan at address. Pinaumpisahan na natin ang contact tracing para within 24 hours sana lahat ng na-expose ay pwede nang ma-quarantine,” he said in an interview on SuperRadyo dzBB.

He said the crew and flight attendants will also be included in the contact tracing.

“Yes, isasama ‘yan sa contact tracing na isasagawa ng DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) at LGU (local government unit) dahil sila ang lead agency, kasama ng regional DOH,” he added.

At a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they have obtained the flight manifest and zeroed in on two of 40 passengers who matched the profile provided by Hong Kong.

She said one was tested on December 20 and the other on December 22, and that both had negative results prior to departure. 

She said they are contacting the two passengers and their families. Contact tracing has also started for the 38 other passengers, she said.

Earlier in the day, the DOH and Philippine Genome Center (PGC) said the UK variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 disease, identified as B.1.1.7, has not been detected in the country just yet.

"Based on the lineage analysis through whole genome sequencing done by the PGC, the UK variant was not detected in any of the 305 positive samples submitted to them from nine institutions,” the DOH said in a statement.—AOL, GMA News