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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH identifies 8 close contacts of Omicron cases

DOH identifies 8 close contacts of Omicron cases

Published Dec 16, 2021 03:05 pm

PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN

The Department of Health (DOH) said it already identified eight passengers— who were considered as close contacts of the country’s first two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The 48-year-old returning overseas Filipino who arrived from Japan only had one close contact inside the plane, said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

His close contact tested negative for COVID-19 after five days of quarantine upon arrival in the country, she added.

“So you might be wondering why there is only one close contact for our 48-year-old male from Japan. It’s because he was seated in a business class and it was just one passenger with him in this business class section,” she said.

The DOH, meanwhile, identified the seven close contacts of the 37-year-old Nigerian national.

“As per the Bureau of Quarantine, six out of seven close contacts had negative test results and completed facility quarantine. The last is currently being verified as to the test result,” said Vergeire.

“So again, the reason why there are just seven close contacts is because the foreign national sat at the very end of the plane. So we only counted those in front of him and on his side,” she added.

Vergeire said that the other passengers are not considered as close contacts. However, they pose little risk of having the disease since they all tested negative for COVID-19 before they were allowed to leave their five-day quarantine upon arrival.

The DOH spokesperson urged the other passengers who boarded the Philippine Airlines flight PR 0427 last Dec. 1 and Oman Air flight WY 843 on Nov. 30 to monitor their health status. Should they experience COVID-19 symptoms, immediately contact the DOH or their local government units, said Vergeire.

Status of Omicron cases

The DOH said that the two travelers positive for the Omicron variant remain in isolation.

“Cases remain in isolation and they are closely monitored. Samples for repeat RT-PCR shall be collected today,” she said.

The 48-year-old returning overseas Filipino from Japan is “currently asymptomatic but had symptoms of cold and cough upon arrival,” said Vegeire.

The 37-year-old Nigerian national is “currently asymptomatic,” she added.

Related Tags

close contact Department of Health (DOH) OMICRON VARIANT
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