MANILA, Philippines — The Interagency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has directed agencies to draft guidelines on the surveillance of returning Filipinos workers.
“The national task force sub-task group for repatriation of overseas Filipino workers have been directed to come up with protocols for the management and surveillance of repatriated land-based and sea-based OFWs once they return to our country and after the mandated quarantine period,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday in an online press conference.
Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arriving in the country are required to undergo a 14-day facility-based quarantine.
They would also undergo rapid antibody testing for the coronavirus disease.
As of Thursday, DFA said over 17,000 OFWs have been repatriated, most of which are sea-based workers.
Meanwhile, there are 1,114 Filipinos abroad who have been infected with the coronavirus.