Año says some stranded persons return to their provinces without undergoing quarantine

June 24, 2020

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año admitted some locally stranded individuals were able to return to their provinces without  undergoing quarantine.

"While the locally stranded individuals are being organized ( to leave), some were able to elude quarantine protocols. One or two persons were not subjected to quarantine that is why we will also be strict with the locally stranded individuals," Año said a radio interview.

Año said the locally stranded individuals escaped quarantine by boarding cargo ships.

"For example, he ( stranded individual) was able to secure travel pass and medical clearance certificate. Then there is a cargo ship going to an island and he was able to board after giving some money to its crew members," he said.

"When he arrived at their his destination, the LGU (local government unit) is not aware that he is in the cargo ship. He will be able to elude the quarantine protocol and go home where he will do the quarantine, hut if he is positive he will infect others," he added.

Año said after visiting Cebu City, he and Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of National Task Force against COVID-19 will proceed to Tacloban to check the situation in Leyte where the cases of COVID are also going up.

According to the COVID-19 tracker of the Department of Health, Eastern Visayas reported 241 new cases in the last 14 days.

Año said the arrival of locally stranded individuals and Overseas Filipino Workers were pointed as the causes behind the Covid-19 cases spike in Leyte province.

"We will talk with the LGU officials there and we will check the actual  situation on the ground and the possible assistance that we can provide to Leyte province," he said.

''There are protocols that needs to be done for example when the locally stranded individuals and OFWs arrive you have to subject them under strict 14 days quarantine. If you were able to do that even if that person is positive (or)  those asymptomatic their virus will be disappear in 14 days," he added. Robina Asido/DMS