Passengers crowd NAIA in exodus ahead of Christmas

Long lines of passengers crowded the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Wednesday as Filipinos rushed to be with their families for the holidays.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s “24 Oras” report, social distancing was not observed both inside and outside the airport due to the volume of passengers waiting to board their flights.

Other passengers were also not wearing government-mandated face shields. 

For some travelers, however, their excitement to be reunited with their families was bigger than their fear of catching the coronavirus.

“At least makakauwi na rin, makakahabol sa pasko. Ang importante, magkakasama,” said Wilhelm, who recently returned from Papua New Guinea.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) earlier showed that nearly 430,000 Filipinos have gotten swab tests for COVID-19 in December alone in preparation for their trips back home. 

The government earlier reminded the public that family reunions are also considered mass gatherings, which were banned amid the pandemic to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

The DOH also said it was monitoring 12 cities in Metro Manila where the daily attack rate and reproduction number of the dreaded disease have breached 1, indicating continued transmission. 

The Philippines has tallied 452,998 confirmed infections as of Wednesday afternoon.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News