MANILA, Philippines – "About 15" people may have infected with COVID-19 after a woman skipped the mandatory quarantine in a Makati hotel, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday, December 30.
Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed that a certain Gwyneth Chua, a traveler from the United States, went out of her hotel while under mandatory quarantine. She had dinner in a restaurant and went to a bar after, reportedly in Poblacion Makati.
US is currently facing a surge of COVID-19 due to omicron variant.
"Yung problema, yung mga nakasama niya sa dinner and sa bar, ay mga nagpa-positive na rin... Ang sabi lang about 15 yung nagpa-positive. We need to confirm that," said Año in a Teleradyo interview.
v Chua had a swab taken on December 26 and later tested positive for COVID-19.
“I hope it is not an Omicron case because the variant is really transmissible. We are still waiting for her genome sequence results. All those who got into close contact with her must get tested,” Año added.
He said Berjaya Makati Hotel can be held liable for failing to prevent their guest from leaving their premises.
“Was she allowed to leave? Is there a personnel at the hotel who was on the take to allow her to leave or did she leave on her own? I have heard several stories of guests cutting quarantine and returning only when it is their turn to be tested,” the Cabinet official added.
The investigation is still ongoing with the help of CCTV footages.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said skipping quarantine protocols set by the IATF upon arrival in the country is punishable by law – individuals may face penalties and imprisonment.
It is a violation of the Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act of 2018.
The health department earlier logged over 1,600 new COVID-19 cases, an alarming spike after the Christmas festivities.
— The Summit Express
Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed that a certain Gwyneth Chua, a traveler from the United States, went out of her hotel while under mandatory quarantine. She had dinner in a restaurant and went to a bar after, reportedly in Poblacion Makati.
US is currently facing a surge of COVID-19 due to omicron variant.
"Yung problema, yung mga nakasama niya sa dinner and sa bar, ay mga nagpa-positive na rin... Ang sabi lang about 15 yung nagpa-positive. We need to confirm that," said Año in a Teleradyo interview.
v Chua had a swab taken on December 26 and later tested positive for COVID-19.
“I hope it is not an Omicron case because the variant is really transmissible. We are still waiting for her genome sequence results. All those who got into close contact with her must get tested,” Año added.
He said Berjaya Makati Hotel can be held liable for failing to prevent their guest from leaving their premises.
“Was she allowed to leave? Is there a personnel at the hotel who was on the take to allow her to leave or did she leave on her own? I have heard several stories of guests cutting quarantine and returning only when it is their turn to be tested,” the Cabinet official added.
The investigation is still ongoing with the help of CCTV footages.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said skipping quarantine protocols set by the IATF upon arrival in the country is punishable by law – individuals may face penalties and imprisonment.
It is a violation of the Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act of 2018.
The health department earlier logged over 1,600 new COVID-19 cases, an alarming spike after the Christmas festivities.
— The Summit Express
