About 171 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who arrived in the country tested positive of the coronavirus but are still confined inside quarantine centers.
According to the COVID-19 response chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., the authorities already received the 5,439 test results from the 12,000 specimens that were sent to the Philippine Red Cross testing laboratories.
Galvez added that there are an additional 20,569 OFWs in quarantine centers who are awaiting their results after their swabs were taken.
It was earlier said that the 25,000 OFWs who recently arrived in the country this month were priorities for the COVID-19 testing. Those who will test negative will be allowed to leave the facility and will be sent to their respective residence as soon as possible.
Galvez also said that 5,268 cases tested negative while 4.4% from the overall tally tested positive. 4,593 OFWs acquired the quarantine certificate upon their completion of the 14-day quarantine inside a facility in greater Manila area.
“Ito ngayon ay pinaplano na ng MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) at saka ng DOTr (Department of Transportation) at ng Philippine Coast Guard para po makauwi na sila,” says Galvez.
It can be recalled that authorities didn’t allow all inbound international flights carrying passengers from May 3 to 8 to manage the number of Filipinos returning to the country who will go to quarantine centers.
However, it was recently announced that they will be implementing “controlled inbound flights” where they will receive three flights every day carrying 400-600 Filipinos.
The travel restriction will also loosen up once the government finishes the testing of more than 24,000 OFWs who arrived in the country in the past week.
Source BOMBORADYO
