Wary of ‘second wave’ of COVID-19 infections, PH boosting facilities for influx of returning OFWs
Posted at May 22 2020 03:07 PM
MANILA – The Philippines is working to avoid a second wave or another spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, the chief implementer of the country’s pandemic response said Friday as he expressed worries that this would likely be triggered by the influx of returning overseas Filipino workers.
National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said there is a chance that the next spike in COVID-19 cases might be imported from other countries.
He said the government is working on establishing swabbing booths at airports for the expected influx of OFWs. Quarantine facilities are also being prepared, he added.
“Nakikita natin dito is ‘yung magkaroon ng spike ang mga lugar at isa rito na nakikita natin is ‘yung importation ng transmission through malaking influx ng ating OFWs,” Galvez said in a virtual press briefing.
(We are preparing for a spike in certain areas and this can be caused by the importation of the transmission of the disease by an influx of OFWs.)
Galvez added that there are many OFWs in countries badly hit by the pandemic such as the United States, Italy, Spain, and countries in the Middle East.
“Yun ‘yung tinitignan natin, doon tayo magkakaroon ng possible second wave,” he said.
(That’s what we’re looking at, that might cause a second wave.)
The Philippines is on the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Thursday following confusion over the health chief’s remarks that the country is already seeing a second wave of infections.
Some 43,000 more overseas Filipino workers are expected to come home between May and June as the coronavirus pandemic slashed jobs all over the world, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.
Around 27,000 OFWs were earlier repatriated, and 16,000 of them are expected to complete a 14-day quarantine and swab test for the coronavirus this week, he added.
