The Department of Health (DOH) said that none of the close contacts of the eight unvaccinated Filipinos who came from China had tested positive for Covid-19.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier claimed that only one close contact manifested symptoms.
“As to those close contacts of these eight individuals, wala nang nag-develop further pa ng symptoms. Wala na rin tayong nakuhang positibo na individual,” she said.
The eight Filipino travelers all came from China last December 27, 2022 until January 2, 2023. All of them were given antigen tests when they reached the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They tested positive for Covid-19 and were isolated.
The health department located 89 close contacts from the travelers from four different flights. Among the said number, 46 were foreigners and 43 were Filipinos.
“‘Yung walo na ating na-identify as positive coming from China have finished their isolation periods already. Marami naman sa kanila, walang sintomas. ‘Yung iba, may mild symptoms lang,” she said.
“Based on our current protocols, kapag after seven days, tapos na ang sintomas mo o ‘di kaya hindi ka talaga nilabasan ng sintomas, you can be discharged from isolation and you will just be monitored,” she added.
The health OIC said that the Philippines’ Covid-19 situation remains “manageable” since hospitals are “better prepared than the previous years.”
— Ronald Espartinez