In Misamis town, disbelief turns to anger for parents of OFW from Hong Kong taken to isolation for coronavirus check

NAAWAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL–The joy of homecoming for an overseas Filipino worker from Hong Kong turned into worry for her parents after health authorities took the returning OFW to isolation for novel coronavirus (nCoV) tests.

“She is in good shape. She showed no sign that she was sick,” said the OFW’s mother, who is 66 years old, of her 29-year-old daughter who arrived here last Feb. 3.

“I was surprised why she had to be taken to the hospital,” the mother said, apparently unaware of precautions being taken to prevent the spread of the virus, which has already killed 500 people mostly in China.

The mother complained that her daughter, who had worked in Hong Kong for years, was sent to a hospital barely 24 hours after she arrived. Hong Kong is one of the places where nCoV has made its presence felt.

The mother said her daughter “underwent several tests before she boarded the plane and she passed them all.” She could be referring to thermal scanning for fever, one of the known symptoms of nCoV.

“She passed them all. That’s why she was able to come home,” said the mother.

Although the OFW showed no flu symptoms, she had to be taken to isolation because it was the process, according to Mayor Dennis Roa, of Naawan, the OFW’s hometown.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) had directed all local government units to isolate for at least 14 days, the estimated maximum incubation period of nCoV, all OFWs arriving from countries with confirmed cases of nCoV.

Respiratory fluids had to be taken from the OFWs for tests.

After the regional Department of Health (DOH) office swabbed the OFW last Feb. 4 for tests, she would have to wait for results expected on Friday, Feb. 7, the mayor said.

If the OFW tested negative, a second swabbing would be made and results would be available in 48 hours.

Dr. Gwendelyn Labastilla, rural health unit officer of Naawan, said at a briefing for village officials, health workers and nutrition scholars on Wednesday, that the OFW has not shown any symptom of nCoV.

The OFW’s father was angry, according to a relative who had informed the local government of the OFW’s arrival.

“She complained only of pains on her shoulder after a whole day of cleaning our house,” said the father, who is 76-years-old. “Other than that, she has no ailment,” the man said.

Edited by TSB