55 persons with 'Bora 27' gathering test negative for COVID-19
By Chito Chavez
The test of the 55 individuals who were in close contact with the COVID-19 positive Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel in Boracay came out negative for the virus.
This was based on the June 24 to 25, test results as reported by ABS-CBN News.
The COVID-19 positive BFP personnel was with five other colleagues, hotel personnel, passengers of the boat they rode in and the boatmen.
Earlier, BFP chief Director Jose Embang Jr. said that 27 BFP personnel arrived in Boracay on the afternoon of June 12, after the inspecting team from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases left the island.
Embang said the IATF team was joined by a BFP group that inspected the island in preparation for its reopening.
After the IATF team left, Embang said a second batch of BFP personnel arrived in the afternoon.
He added that a total of 27 BFP personnel referred to as the “Bora 27’’ attended the said gathering.
The BFP chief admitted that it was unclear if the “Bora 27’’ conducted a meeting but reports reaching the BFP headquarters revealed what occurred was a despedida.
Embang emphasized that community quarantine protocols prohibit gatherings and meetings "unless necessary" and with "limited participants."
The BFP employee who was later tested positive for COVID-19 allegedly roamed the island while waiting for the result of her reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test.
Acting Aklan Mayor Frolibar Bautista said the BFP employee stayed in Boracay Island from June 12 to 14.