2 returnees about to finish quarantine test positive for COVID-19 in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Two returning locally stranded individuals (LSI) in Roxas town of Palawan province were about to end their mandatory 14-day quarantine when they tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Dr. Leo Salvino, chief of Roxas health office, said in a phone interview on Thursday that the two patients, a 19-year-old female student and a 23-year-old male, remained asymptomatic and were set to be transferred to the Roxas Medicare Hospital for isolation and monitoring.

The female student arrived from Metro Manila on July 5 aboard an AirAsia flight. The male patient, who also came from Manila, disembarked at the Puerto Princesa International Airport on July 4 aboard a Philippine Airlines flight.

“They (tested) negative on a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) upon arrival. Upon completing their quarantine, they underwent RDT again, which later turned out to be positive, so we ordered for a swab test (on July 21) that confirmed (the) COVID-19 positive result today (Thursday, July 23),” Salvino said.

The municipality of Roxas also reported one COVID-19 recovery, with the patient now discharged from the isolation facility.

Salvino added that the quarantine facilities of Roxas were starting to be strained, with the continued arrivals of returning LSI. The national government has required all local governments to accept returning residents.

“We asked the local Department of Interior and Local Government to help in making sure that the barangays comply with providing quarantine facilities,” Salvino said.

He added, however, that home quarantine is still a viable option if the standards were compliant with the Department of Health guidelines that include a separate room with a lavatory.

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, Palawan recorded 69 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 20 active cases, 48 recoveries, and one death.

LZB