171 repatriated OFWs positive for COVID-19, Galvez says

May 14, 2020

National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said 171 repatriated overseas Filipino workers have tested positive for coronavirus disease.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Galvez, also the presidential adviser on the peace process, said out of some 24,000 OFWs who have been stranded in Metro Manila and nearby areas, 20,569 have undergone swabbing.

Out of those swabbed, 12,000 specimens have  been given to the Philippine National Red Cross for laboratory tests.

"We have gotten the results of the 5,439 (specimens) and (out of this number) 5,268 are negative and we have 171 positive. This is 4.4 percent of the said testing," he said.

Galvez also said there were 4,593 OFWs who have been granted quarantine certificates.

He said the Department of Transportation, Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Coast Guard would facilitate the return of the cleared OFWs to their respective places.

The government has been limiting inbound flights carrying OFWs and returning Filipinos to three flights only a day or equivalent to 400 to 600 passengers.

He said once the authorities have "de-clogged" the COVID-19 test of 24,340 Filipinos, the government could consider increasing the number of inbound flights daily. Celerina Monte/DMS