WHEN Davao Region and other local government units around the country implemented border lockdowns, several Davao residents were left stranded in the place they were in when the lockdowns were implemented.
For weeks, residents from Davao City have called on Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to help them return home. The city and other local government units in the region also provided other forms of assistance to the stranded passengers while they waited for a sweeper flight to be arranged.
On May 4 and 6, sweeper flights were organized to assist Dabawenyos stranded in Metro Manila and Clark. Some P3.8 million was spent on the two sweeper flights that benefited over 400 stranded Davao Region residents. When they arrived, they were tested at the airport; some were allowed to return home while others were sent to the city’s isolation centers.
While the sweeper flight looks good on paper, it is actually quite risky for the city to organize one. Not only is it expensive, but there is also the risk that the passengers may be carriers of the Sars-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Many of these returning residents have stayed in Metro Manila for quite some time, which increases their risk of getting infected with the virus. Considering that some could be asymptomatic, the sweeper flights are like a trojan horse entering Davao Region.
On May 9, what we feared happened. A passenger on the May 6 sweeper flight tested positive for the virus.
“One of the passengers failed the health screening and was sent to Southern Philippines Medical Center for swabbing and was later confined in a Covid-19 quarantine center. The RT-PCR test of this individual is confirmed positive,” the statement of the city reads.
What makes this worrisome is some 270 passengers were on that May 6 sweeper flight. This is a big possibility that the Covid-19 patient may have already passed on the virus to other passengers, flight crew, ground staff, and those who attended to him or her. Those who were allowed to return home may have already passed the virus to others already.
It is good to note, however, that after the city announced, other local government units in the region were quick to track and isolate those who were part of the flight. Based on the city’s statement, it simply recommended that Dabawenyos avoid those who were in the sweeper flight. It said you will identify them because of the indelible ink on their left index finger.
Clearly, there were some lapses on how the health procedures were implemented for the sweeper flight. However, it is also puzzling to think as to why the passengers were not tested prior to boarding? Maybe there was not enough time to conduct mandatory testing for the returning stranded passengers?
Also, should the city also track down these passengers who were part of the flight? Based on their statement, it did not directly tell the residents of the city if it is tracing the other passengers or not. It did, however, recommend tests be conducted before passengers board the flight.
The New Davao Matina Gallera was a ground zero for Covid-19 cases in March and April. With the recent developments, the May 6 sweeper flight could also be a ground zero for another wave of Covid-19 cases in the city.