8 unvaccinated Filipinos from China get infected with COVID-19

Travelers walk with their luggage at Beijing Capital International Airport amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Beijing, China, December 27, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

MANILA, Philippines — Eight unvaccinated Filipinos traveling from China tested positive for coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, upon arrival from Dec. 27 to Jan. 2, said the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday.

“Based on the latest reports from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) there were eight (8) unvaccinated Filipinos who arrived in the Philippines from China from December 27, 2022, to January 2, 2023, who tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport via antigen test,” the DOH told reporters.

The travelers are currently isolated after a confirmatory RT-PCR test on Dec. 31 confirmed their infection.

“The individuals are currently under isolation and have undergone confirmatory RT-PCR testing on December 31, 2022 with positive results. The department will continue to monitor developments on the matter,” the DOH said.

According to DOH, the said cases were discovered since non-fully vaccinated individuals who cannot present a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test result are tested upon arrival at the airport.

The DOH then assured the public that the government continues to conduct COVID-19 surveillance measures.

The DOH has not disclosed which COVID-19 subtype infected these Filipinos.

China is currently facing a surge of COVID-19 infections just a month after it lifted COVID-19 restrictions.

The surge prompted several nations to require COVID-19 tests on travelers from China.

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