OWWA says no COVID-positive Filipino reported in Shanghai, China

A man stands on a bank of the Huangpu river in Pudong, amid the lockdown in the Pudong area, to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Shanghai, China March 28, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song

MANILA, Philippines — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said Tuesday that it has not received a report of Filipinos testing positive for COVID-19 in Shanghai, China amid the surge of coronavirus cases there.

“Nagkaroon nga talaga ng surge doon dahil nagkaroon ng mga ilang asymptomatic cases nitong March 21. Mayroong mga naramdaman na lockdown at minabuti ng Shanghai government na magkaroon ng contact tracing at mass testing para matunton ‘yung positive cases,” OWWA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(There was really a surge there because some asymptomatic cases were detected last March 12. There were lockdowns and the Shanghai government opted to conduct contact tracing and mass testing to detect the positive cases.)

“Sa ngayon wala namang nabalitaan na Pilipino na nagpositive, at kung meron man mapapagamot sila ng lokal na pamahalaan nang libre,” he added.

(As of now, we have not received a report on Filipinos testing positive and if there’s any, they will be treated by the local government there for free.)

Cacdac assured that the OWWA is “working hand in hand” with the Philippine authorities in China to ensure the welfare of Filipinos in Shanghai.

“We are working hand in hand with our consulate. Ang pinakamalapit kasing POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) dito ay ‘yung [sa] Hong Kong, working closely with the consulate in Shanghai. Tayo naman ay naka-antabay na tumulong kung mayroon tayong kailangan tulungan,” he said.

(We are working hand in hand with our consulate. The nearest POLO is the one in Hong Kong that is working closely with the consulate in Shanghai. We are on standby to help if we need to help someone.)

According to Cacdac, Filipino musicians have also been affected by the temporary loss of jobs due to lockdowns in Shanghai.

“Handa naman tayong tumulong sa kanila, ay kung mayroong gustong umuwi ay handa tayong tumulong sa kanilang pag-uwi,” he assured.

(We are ready to help them, and if anyone wants to go home, we are also ready to help them in the repatriation.)

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EDV