MANILA, Philippines — The return of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Eastern Visayas has been suspended for 14 days to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) suspended the issuance of travel permits to LSIs during the same period.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said he approved the request of local chief executives and stakeholders to suspend travel to the region until isolation and healthcare facilities are decongested.
“Ayaw nila na home quarantine kasi baka lumabag sa protocol,” Año said during the Laging Handa briefing yesterday.
He admitted that the increase in COVID-19 cases in Leyte was due to the return of LSIs and OFWs.
At least 200 LSIs tested positive for COVID-19 upon their return to the province.
PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the suspension of the issuance of travel permits would give local chief executives enough time to quarantine those who had arrived earlier in Eastern Visayas.
”The isolation facilities of these LGUS (local government units) are still full. They want to unclog these facilities before they accept new batches of LSIs,” Eleazar said.
Meanwhile, in Basilan, eight LSIs, including a councilor, were infected with the virus, test results released on Wednesday showed.
Three stranded residents who arrived in Baggao, Cagayan from Metro Manila on Sunday also tested positive for the virus.
In Pangasinan, an OFW who returned to Dagupan City is the latest confirmed case.
Two OFWs are also the latest cases in Bacnotan, La Union and Naguilian, Isabela.
A suspected COVID-19 patient on Dinagat Island died while waiting for his test result. Emmanuel Tupas, Eva Visperas, Raymund Catindig, Roel Pareño, Ben Serrano, Artemio Dumlao