MANILA – Some repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who later turned positive for coronavirus disease 2019 have escaped from quarantine facilities, the Philippine Coast Guard bared yesterday.
PCG spokesperson Armand Balilo said some OFWs escaped from their quarantine facilities even before the release of their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test results.
“Noong mga unang araw, may nakatakas eh, na hindi ino-honor ‘yung quarantine procedure. Na-test siya, pero wala pang resulta at biglang tumakas,” Balilo said in an interview with DZMM.
Balilo added that some of the OFWs who escaped turned out to be positive from COVID-19 and the Coast Guard is tracing these OFWs and are making the necessary steps to mitigate the situation.
“Problema ngayon, positive siya. So nakahalubilo na niya ngayon yung mga tao sa community, ‘yung pamilya niya. At ya’n ang nagiging problema natin ngayon,” Balilo said. “Merong mga nag-positive dun sa mga tumakas.”
OFWs who have tested negative from the virus and have finished their 14-day quarantine were urged to avail of free rides to their home provinces.
Balilo said the return of cleared OFWs to their respective home provinces is already coordinated with local officials to spare them from such inconveniences as being refused entry or being forced to undergo another 14-day quarantine.
Meanwhile, some 7,100 out of more than 8,000 OFWs quarantined in ships docked in Manila Bay have been tested for the coronavirus and are awaiting their clearances, added Balilo./PN
