STRANDED passengers who arrived through the Davao City Government-initiated sweeper flights last May 4 and 6 could not entirely be deemed as negative for the novel coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2), Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview.
Duterte-Carpio's statement is in reaction to an online news article published on May 6, which was forwarded to her, wherein all passengers from Clark to Davao tested negative for Sars-CoV-2.
The article cited the Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) assistant director Lenny Joy Rivera as its news source.
However, the mayor said it is not an "accurate generalization".
"Because the only way nga makasulti ta nga negative is after 14 days pa, kung wala sila nagdevelop og other symptoms (Because we can only determine that the passenger is negative from Covid-19 is only after 14 days, in case they would not manifest any Covid-symptoms)," she said in a radio interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
Duterte-Carpio said that returning passengers would be placed under 14-day strict home quarantine when they are "asymptomatic". They tested negative for the Sars-CoV-2, the virus causing the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The mayor recently said in a previous radio interview that rapid test kits are inaccurate and that a 14-day quarantine is still needed to determine the patient's Covid-situation.
Based on the protocols set, some will be sent to the hospital and quarantine facilities, while some will be sent home — depending on the results of the health screening that they will go through upon arrival at Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao Airport).
She said those who will be sent home shall undergo a strict 14-day home quarantine. While on home quarantine, all household members must stay away from them and strictly observe social distancing.
The city government launched the two sweeper flights to bring home stranded passengers in Clark and Manila since the region-wide lockdown was imposed last March 19.
A total of 150 passengers availed the Clark to Davao flight on May 4, while 275 passengers availed the Manila to Davao flight on May 6.
The mayor bared that there is one passenger from the May 6 flight that was brought to the city's quarantine facility and is currently being monitored.
Meanwhile, the mayor said there is still no new schedule for a sweeper flight.
