A RETURNING overseas Filipino worker from Africa has been placed under quarantine by the Health department amid Omicron variant fears in the country.
The male Filipino migrant worker is in quarantine in Bacolod City and is so far not exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, according to Bureau of Quarantine Deputy Director Roberto Salvador Jr.
“Just to be clear, no detection yet of Omicron, we are still processing (the) next batch of whole genome sequences,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
The passenger arrived when South Africa was still on the green list, Salvador said.
“Wala naman pong sign and symptoms na namo-monitor sa OFW,” he said.
“So inutusan po tayo ng IATF, ng government na makipag-work sa DILG para i-trace po ‘yung mga nakauwi ay galing sa affected country bago po lumabas ‘yung protocol sa Omicron,” he added.
The government imposed a temporary ban on travelers from South Africa and 6 other countries surrounding it on Nov. 26 amid the threat of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, which is supposedly more transmissible and contains several mutations of the virus.
“During that time wala pang South Africa, nasa green list pa… Home quarantine po ang protocol natin do’n pero nung dumating ang IATF resolution po na about Omicron, wala na po ang South Africa, nasa red list na po natin ‘yan,” Salvador said.
He also assured the public that no other traveler from other countries with banned flights has arrived in the country.
