‘Some returning residents presented expired COVID test results’

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City- Some residents who returned to Negros Occidental presented expired or fake RT-PCR test results for COVID-19.

Provincial Incident Management Team head, Dr. Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian said some local government units discovered the expired or spurious documents presented by inbound travelers.

Caelian said he cannot blame the returnees for the expiration of their RT-PCR negative test results after the 72-hour prescribed period.

“What they are doing is to avail of voluntary swabs,” Caelian said.

Caelian also said he has no idea if the LGUs pursued legal action against those who presented fake documents.

PIMT records revealed that Negros Occidental has 263 COVID-19 active cases, as of March 22, 2021.

Caelian also reported that the EB Magalona quarantine facility is now occupied by 110 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, and 10 others who had direct contacts with the infected persons.

The spike in COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental – from 58 on February 23 to 263 as of March 22 – was attributed by the Provincial Health Office to uniform travel protocols, with majority of the infected individuals returning residents.

Before the imposition of uniform travel protocols, inbound travelers to Negros Occidental were required to undergo swab testing and quarantine upon arrival.