DOH yet to locate South Korean from virus-stricken Daegu

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is still trying to find the whereabouts of a South Korean, who along with 25 other compatriots arrived last week in Cebu from South Korea’s COVID-19 hotbed Daegu City.

“The other one is for verification. This male South Korean, when he went to Cebu, he gave the detail with our ports that he is staying in this specific hotel. When they went there to look for him, he was not there and still, he is trying to be traced for now,” Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire, DOH Assistant Secretary for public health services, said in a press briefing on Monday.

The 26 South Koreans landed at Mactan Cebu International Airport on the evening of February 25.

According to authorities, 15 of them already left the country while two others are set to return to South Korea within today, March 2.

Vergeire said one of the foreigners went to Angeles City, Pampanga, and was already endorsed to the DOH Central Luzon office while the remaining seven were being quarantined in different hotels in Cebu City.

“‘Yung mga South Koreans na nagpunta doon wala naman nag-exhibit ng kahit na anong (The South Koreans who arrived there did not show any) signs and symptoms,” the health official added, echoing earlier information from the DOH Central Visayas office.

The Bureau of Immigration implemented on February 28 the travel ban to and from South Korea’s novel coronavirus-hit North Gyeongsang Province, Cheongo, and Daegu City, following the recommendation of a government task force.

KGA

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