People refusing COVID-19 test to face arrest

CEBU, Philippines —  Individuals who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, but refused to be swabbed will be arrested.

Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, who also sits as deputy chief of the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), made the stern warning yesterday following the alleged refusal of two firemen.

He said he already ordered the arrest of two volunteer firefighters who reportedly refused to undergo swab testing.

“I already relay to the barangay captain and ordered Station 7 (Pardo Police Station) chief commander (John Kareen) Escober to arrest the said individuals if they will not submit to the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) swab test,” said Garganera yesterday.

“The said two fire volunteers were approached by our swab and contact tracing team twice and both refused. That’s a waste of our team’s time, effort and government resources,” he added.

The firemen were the ones who brought a patient from Barangay Cogon Pardo to a government hospital. But the patient died on August 29 and was later found out to be COVID-positive.

The EOC traced 56 individuals who had close contact with the patient and who attended the wake. Majority of them are from Cogon Pardo and others are relatives of the deceased from Barangays Pasil and Mabolo.

All of them except the two fire volunteers underwent COVID-19 testing over the weekend. They are now isolated in their respective homes until the release of the test results.

Moreover, the councilor said the arrest will serve as a lesson for erring individuals.

“This will serve as a lesson to those who will refuse to submit themselves to the said protocols. The concern of the government to the health and safety of its citizens is always primordial.”

“Next time, there will be no more second chance. Urgency is very vital in this pandemic. We will not be hesitant to order the immediate arrest of the said individuals. COVID has a face and the face is death and it should be dealt accordingly,” he said.

In July, Department of Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Alexander Macario and Department of Health Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire also made the same warning.

Refusal to undergo swab test is covered by Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, which prohibits non-cooperation of individuals.

On the other hand, to avoid gathering of people especially in densely-populated areas, wakes will be disallowed.

Garganera said EOC will no longer allow wakes without COVID-free certification. — KQD (FREEMAN)