AdvocatesTV • May 4, 2020
Inbound international flights suspended to decongest OFWs in quarantine facilities
Photo Credit: DOH
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has ordered a suspension of inbound flights for one week to decongest quarantine facilities in Metro Manila housing repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said this will allow the facilities to focus on conducting polymerise chain reaction (PCR) tests on around 20,000 OFWs.
“Mayroon tayong 20,000 OFWs na umuwi at required na silang lahat na magkaroon ng PCR, naka-quarantine na sila sa mga hotels na binabayaran ng OWWA. Naubos na ang mga hotels na ‘to (20,000 OFWs came home and are required to undergo PCR tests. They are quarantined in hotels and their stay is paid for by OWWA. But the hotels are getting full),” Roque said.
Around 2,000 OFWs are coming home daily from coronavirus-hit countries around the world. All of them are required to undergo the PCR tests before returning to their respective homes.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said overseas workers who tested negative in the PCR tests will not be required to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine period at a facility.
It also said the massive PCR testing must be allowed to finish as thousands are expected to be repatriated this month.
