OFW is Macau's 15th COVID-19 case, region bans foreign workers
MANILA, Philippines — Macau recorded its 15th COVID-19 case in a Filipino worker who returned to the region after a vacation in the Philippines.
Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre said the case involves a 31-year-old Filipino male worker at a restaurant in a casino.
The worker was in the Philippines from January 27 to March 15 and arrived in Macau on March 16.
He went to the hospital a day later, March 17, complaining of toothache, fever and a rash.
He was then categorized as “a person with moderate risk of COVID-19 infection” and underwent a diagnosis test for the novel coronavirus disease, the center said in a statement posted on the government website.
On the afternoon of March 18, the results showed the male worker is positive for infection.
He is currently in isolation at Conde S. Januario Hospital.
The government also directed disinfection of the patient’s details. “Further details of the 15th patient’s travel history, and of those people that might be identified as having had close contact with him since his arrival in Macao, will be disclosed in a timely manner,” it added.
FOLLOW: LIVE updates: COVID-19 in the Philippines and the Luzon quarantine
Macau closes borders to foreign workers
Following the confirmation of its 15th COVID-19 case, Macau also said it is prohibiting “non-resident workers from overseas countries” from entering the region starting midnight of March 19.
“The latest measure seeks to prevent further infection being imported to Macau and to protect the health of the Macau public,” the statement on the government portal read.
Earlier on Wednesday, March 18, Macau also recorded two other COVID-19 cases.
The 14th case involves 42-year-old female Indonesian, a relative of a non-worker registered with the Macao authorities. The 13th patient is a 20-year-old female resident of Macau who has been studying in the United Kingdom.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has allowed OFWs and balikbayans to leave the country amid the month-long enhanced quarantine period in Luzon.
The Philippines recorded 202 COVID-19 infections in the country and 17 fatalities, as of March 18. Latest data from the Department of Health also showed that at least 121 overseas Filipinos have been infected by the virus. — Kristine Joy Patag
Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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