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DOH, Cebu execs to dialogue on 'swab upon arrival' policy


Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and Cebu province will dialogue to settle their differences on testing incoming travelers for COVID-19 upon arrival, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Friday.

Vergeire said the IATF, the government’s inter-agency COVID-19 task force, has agreed that its directives must be strictly enforced.

“Ibig sabihin, kung anuman ‘yung protocols ng IATF ay ‘yun po ang ipapatupad natin sa lahat ng (That means IATF protocols must be implemented in all) borders across the country,” she said at a briefing.

“With regard to the meeting with Cebu officials, yes, we will be going there. Ito po naman ay isang bagay na gusto natin ding gawin para magkaroon ng kalinawan ito pong ating mga discrepancy sa protocols (This is something we want to do to clarify differences in protocols),” she added.

Vergeire did not specify when the meeting will be held.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered Cebu to comply with the COVID-19 protocols for incoming travelers set by the national government.

Under IATF protocols, incoming travelers are subjected to COVID-19 testing seven days from their date of arrival. In Cebu, however, travelers are tested immediately.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia maintained that the province will implement its own protocols until a court says otherwise.

“Everything will be managed through these discussions,” Vergeire said. “We will be hearing them and they will be hearing us and hopefully, by the end of that day, resolved na po yung matter (the matter will be resolved).”

An infectious disease expert and DOH advisor explained that “an individual who is infected with COVID-19 during the travel period, when tested upon arrival... there will be zero chance that the person will test positive because the individual just got infected.” -MDM, GMA News

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