DOH: 74 percent of COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas are returning OFWs, LSIs

The Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas on Thursday said 510 or 74 percent of the 688 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the region are returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs).

DOH Region 6 infectious diseases chief Dr. Mary Jane Juanico said 123 of the 9,026 returning OFWs and 387 of the 24,207 LSIs in the region tested positive for COVID-19.

“Ang pinakamaraming OFWs na infected ay nanggaling sa probinsya ng Negros Occidental,” she said in a briefing.

Juanico explained that DOH Region 6 still tests LSIs upon arrival despite the government’s requirement for them to test negative for COVID-19 via a rapid test before receiving clearance to go home.

“Hindi po lahat sa kanila ay nakakapag-test din po, so wala po silang ebidensya na negative sila at hindi naman po na-ensure na maganda ang pagkaka-quarantine nila,” she said.

“Mas maigi pa rin po na tumigil po muna sila sa ating mga quarantine facility at mai-test po dito sa Western Visayas bago po natin sila i-reintegrate ulit sa kanilang mga pamilya,” Juanico added.

Testing czar Vince Dizon earlier said polymerase chain reaction-based COVID-19 testing would soon be a requirement for LSIs who wish to return to their provinces. 

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año later clarified that it was not yet an official requirement since it was yet to be approved by the government’s COVID-19 task force. 

As of July 15, Western Visayas had logged 688 confirmed cases with 246 recoveries, 12 deaths, and 430 active cases of COVID-19.

Juanico said 609 of the confirmed cases were asymptomatic contacts of other COVID-19 patients.

She added that the region’s critical care utilization rate was still in the “safe zone” or at 0 to 30 percent. — BM, GMA News