DOLE confirms nine Pinoy seafarers in Western Australia positive for COVID-19

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has confirmed that nine Filipino seafarers are infected with COVID-19 in Western Australia.

In a television interview, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the nine Filipino seafarers of Patricia Oldendorff vessel are already receiving medical attention while the 12 other Filipino seamen working aboard the said ship are under observation.

“‘Yung siyam na kababayan natin na nag-positive, nasa ospital na sila rito sa Western Australia,” Bello told GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

“Mild case of COVID-19 naman sila,” Bello added.

Likewise, Bello said it is unlikely that the Filipinos were infected with COVID-19 in the Philippines even before they boarded the vessel, which came from the Philippines.

“Hindi siguro [nakuha sa Pilipinas] kasi required ang RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing sa OFWs. It is very possible na pagdating nila sa barko kasi hindi naman natin alam kung sino ang mga nakasalamuha nila roon,” Bello pointed out.

“What is important is that they are now being treated in a hospital at iyong 12 naman na iba pa ay under observation,” Belo added.

It was the Department of Health Western Australia (WA) which first reported that the nine Filipino seafarers were infected with COVID-19. — RSJ, GMA News