COVID-infected OFW is pregnant, DOH says

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

A repatriated Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from Janiuay, Iloilo who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is five months pregnant.

Dr. Jessie Glenn Alonsabe, regional epidemiologist of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6), confirmed Thursday that the 33-year-old female patient (WV Patient No. 117) is under monitoring by the local government of Janiuay.

“The patient is five months pregnant. Before and after the patient’s delivery, we will subject her to confirmatory testing. Hopefully, the patient will turn out negative after the delivery,” Alonsabe said in an online press conference on Thursday.

The patient was employed as a factory worker in Taiwan. She arrived in Manila on May 19 and returned home to Iloilo on May 28. She underwent testing upon arrival and was positive.

In a video press briefing on Wednesday, Janiuay Mayor Ben Margarico said the patient is now in an isolation facility of their town.

“Adlaw-adlaw ginamonitor siya sang aton Rural Health Unit (RHU) and Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT). Nakaseparate man siya sa iban nga mga OFWs nga naga-arabot,” he said.

Margarico said the patient has not manifested any signs and symptoms in the past five days.

“Asymptomatic siya sa gihapon mga five days pa lang until such time matapos niya ang 14 days i-subject naton siya liwat sa testing,” he said.

Margarico appealed to Janiuay residents to avoid panic as the patient had no exposure since her arrival in Iloilo.

“Indi ron kita mag-panic. Wala siya exposure diri kay gin-isolate dayon naton siya. Gapangabay kita sa pumuluyo nga indi sanda magpanic kag magdiscriminate sa aton mga health personnel,” he added.