DOH: 15 foreign tourists in Palawan test positive for COVID-19

There were fifteen fully vaccinated foreign travelers in Palawan who have tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health confirmed on Tuesday.

In a statement, DOH said 13 of these travelers were asymptomatic while the two others started showing mild symptoms on April 27 and 28.

“14 were isolated in facilities while one was admitted at a hospital. They were tested in RT-PCR on April 29-30, of which all resulted as positive,” the Health department added.

Cagayancillo, Palawan is under Alert Level 1 from May 1 to 15. Meanwhile, the rest of the province is placed under the stricter Alert Level 2 for the same period.

DOH further noted that its Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESUs) and City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) are currently verifying the situation on the ground and will provide more information once available.

The Philippines has been open to business and leisure travelers from 157 visa-free countries since February 10. Meanwhile, foreign tourists, including from visa countries, have been welcomed in the country since April 1.

Only fully vaccinated foreign tourists are allowed entry in the country. They are required to present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result taken 48 hours prior to their trip or a negative laboratory-based antigen result taken 24 hours before departure.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has said the Philippines cannot repeatedly open and close its borders from other countries amid the threat of other COVID-19 variants and sublineages as safety nets remain in place against them.—AOL, GMA News