Filipinos who went to Malaysia for religious event asked to report to health authorities

COTABATO CITY –– The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has aired an urgent plea for Filipinos from Mindanao, who attended a religious gathering in Malaysia from February 27 to March 1.

The NCMF said it issued the statement on social media after a spike in COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, where Filipinos recently attended a gathering.

“Malaysia had reported a sudden spike in their COVID-19 cases, with most of these patients having links to the cluster who attended the ijtimak tabligh gathering in the Jamek Sri Petaling Mosque,” the NCMF said.

On Sunday, the Malaysian health minister said 77 of the COVID cases were linked to the event that was held in Selangor.

Some 16,000 from different countries attended the gathering. Of these, 215 came from the Philippines, mostly from Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“We are urging everyone who attended the event in Malaysia, or who had contact with those who attended, to coordinate with the DOH or with the BARMM-MOH,” the NCMF said.

“We are asking them to please contact immediately the local health units. Observe self-quarantine, and cooperate for the contact-tracing,” the NCMF said.

A temporary lockdown is in effect in Cotabato City. Nobody is allowed entry and exit, except for health workers from outside the city, who are reporting for work.

Major entry points were closed since 5 a.m. today, including tributaries, where motorboats are used to transport people./lzb