DOH: 8 Filipinos who came from China test positive for COVID-19

Eight unvaccinated Filipinos who arrived in the Philippines from China over the holidays have tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

Citing reports from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the DOH said the travelers arrived in the Philippines from December 27, 2022, to January 2, 2023.

They tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport via antigen test, and are currently undergoing isolation.

“The individuals are currently under isolation and have undergone confirmatory RT-PCR testing on December 31, 2022, with positive results, the department will continue to monitor developments on the matter,” DOH said in a message to reporters.

It was BOQ deputy director Roberto Salvador Jr. who announced on Tuesday that some travelers who came to the Philippines from COVID-hit China have tested positive for the virus.

He said that samples from the COVID-positive travelers would be brought to the Philippine Genome Center to determine which variant they are carrying.

This came after the DOH recently directed the BOQ to intensify quarantine protocols in handling travelers from China amid the surge of COVID-19 cases there.

Based on current protocols, foreign travelers who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to present a negative pre-departure antigen or RT-PCR test results before travel or upon arrival in the Philippines.

DOH said those who are unable to present a negative test result are tested upon arrival at the airport.

In February 2022, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases relaxed the travel restrictions in the Philippines, allowing the entry of foreigners for business and tourism purposes under certain conditions.

Among the requirements for foreign nationals before entering the country is full vaccination against COVID-19, except for minors below 12 years old traveling with their fully vaccinated foreign parents.

The agency also said that the Philippine government continues to conduct COVID-19 monitoring and surveillance activities, and is keeping an eye on global health events that may occur.

“The DOH continues to remind our kababayans to help prevent transmission through our layers of protection such as sanitation, masking, distancing, good ventilation, and vaccination in addition to practicing healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle,” it added. —NB, GMA Integrated News