BY LIZA A. JOCSON
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar here has ordered a manhunt against 17 travelers who reportedly tried to avoid quarantine.
City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite failed to contact the group after the release of test results that showed one of them positive for COVID-19.
The travelers came from Surigao and passed by this city on their way to a mining site in Tawi-Tawi.
It was not immediately known if the travelers had left Zamboanga City. The mayor however said they pose a health risk to residents here.
Climaco ordered City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Dr. Elmeir Apolinario to coordinate with government counterparts in Tawi-Tawi to look for the missing travelers.
The city chief executive also ordered authorities to strengthen border controls to prevent illegal entry of persons to Zamboanga City.
The report of the missing group surfaced amid a surge of COVID-19 cases here.
COVID data tracker here showed 216 COVID cases as of April 6.