FOUR migratory workers or "sacadas" from Antique who recently arrived in Negros Occidental to work in sugarcane farms have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, head of the Provincial Incident Command Team, said the four are part of the first batch of the 300 laborers who arrived on Friday, October 9.
Caelian said the four have been transported to an isolation facility in Silay City in order to be monitored, while the remaining batch who tested negative have been cleared to work in Kabankalan City.
He said another batch of sacadas who arrived in Bacolod City have already been swabbed and are now awaiting their results in their quarantine quarters.
The second batch, consisting of 110 individuals, arrived early Monday morning and are expected to work in sugar farms located in the towns of Binalbagan, Isabela, La Castellana and in the City of La Carlota.
A total of 5,000 sacadas from Antique are expected to arrive in Negros Occidental as the sugar milling season opens
The sacadas work mostly as cane cutters in the vast sugar plantations in Negros Occidental, the Sugar Capital of the Philippines.