DOH still tracing 7 travelers from South Africa —Vergeire

Authorities have yet to trace the locations of the seven of eight travelers who recently arrived from South Africa, the Department of Health announced Wednesday.

“There are 7 remaining unlocated travelers from South  Africa and all were returning overseas Filipinos,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a message to reporters.

Vergeire said the traced traveler tested negative for COVID-19 in their RT-PCR test.

"The located ROF [returning overseas Filipino] is currently in home quarantine, with a negative RT-PCR test, and no symptoms," Vergeire said.

Earlier, Vergeire reported that eight out of 253 travelers from South Arica who arrived in the country from November 15 to November 29 remain untraced.

According to Veregire, three provided their agency number, one provided an incorrect number, one an incomplete number, and two are unaccounted for.

“We are continuously getting in touch with our local government units and other partners to be able to contact these individuals,” she said.

At the Laging Handa briefing, Bureau of Quarantine Director III Dr. Roberto Salvador Jr. said the eight travelers were cleared by the agency.

“Kailangan lang po talaga i-contact para masigurado na wala silang sintomas na naramdaman nung naka home quarantine sila,” Salvador said.

(We need to contact them to ensure that they did not have any symptoms when they were undergoing home quarantine.)

Salvador said the BOQ has coordinated with the Philippine National Police to locate the travelers.

“Humihingi tayo ng tulong sa PNP para malocate ‘yung address na binigay nila. Kung hindi man po ma-contact sa number nila, meron tayong address na puwedeng puntahan,” he said.

(We are asking the PNP for help to locate their addresses. If they cannot be contacted, we can go to their address.) —LBG, GMA News