REPORT ON THE TWO CASES OF VACCINATED OFWs IN CEBU CITY
Press Release | February 18, 2021
The Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH CVCHD) issues this statement on the two Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who had their COVID-19 vaccinations from their countries of origin.
He arrived in Mactan, Cebu on 5 January 2021 from United Arab Emirates (UAE). He received two doses of vaccines on 12 December 2020 and on 2 January 2021. Upon arrival in Mactan, Cebu on 5 January 2021, and underwent mandatory quarantine. He was subsequently released on January 20, 2021. The said OFW underwent rt-PCR testing on 8 February 2021 as a requirement for his travel back to his workplace. The result came out positive the following day. He has remained asymptomatic throughout.
The second case, a 25-year-old, female, from Canada had her first dose of vaccine on 13 January 2021. She arrived in Mactan, Cebu on 9 February 2021, and was placed on quarantine. Swabbing for rt-PCR was done on day 5, 14 February 2021 and which turned out to be positive for SARS-CoV-2. She remains asymptomatic.
Both cases stress the importance of vaccines in preventing severe and clinical disease.
Additionally, as early as 8 February 2021, CVCHD has drafted guidelines on protocols for the acceptance of Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs), OFWs, and travelers arriving in Central Visayas from countries with vaccinations. The implementation of these protocols has facilitated the recovery of these two OFWs.
As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to unfold, we remain to be proactive.
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