MEMBERS of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and local chief executives of Cebu and Mandaue cities on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, expressed support for the so-called One-Island policy to swab returning Filipinos upon arrival.
However, Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7) spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said this policy should exclude transit passengers and those who are not from Cebu.
She said returning overseas Filipinos (ROF) transiting through Cebu should comply with the national rule of facility-based quarantine for 10 days, swab test on the seventh day, and additional four days of home quarantine, in case of negative result.
Those found positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will be referred to a quarantine facility for isolation.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, for his part, said he supports the policy, but said the test result must be released immediately.
“That’s also good... I will agree on that as long as the result will be released sooner,” Labella told SunStar Cebu.
Labella also said ROFs with symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) must undergo isolation.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes also expressed support for the policy initiated by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
“We have a similar stand. Being a local chief executive, our main purpose is to avoid inconvenience to Cebuanos,” Cortes said.