Subic Bay Freeport records 1st coronavirus cases

Two residents inside the Subic Bay Freeport have tested positive for the coronavirus – the first cases ever recorded in this economic zone since the pandemic started.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma said aside from the two residents, 6 more cases were recorded as results were released by the SBMA-Philippine Red Cross testing laboratory.

“While there has been no recorded local transmission of COVID-19 in the Freeport, we have now two residents who have tested positive of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the infection,” Eisma said in the statement.

She disclosed that the first patient, a 22-year-old female, had a visitor from Manila recently, while the second patient, a 42-year-old male, works in Laguna and simply comes back to Subic on weekends.

“Both are asymptomatic and in self-quarantine pending their transfer to an isolation and care facility,” she added.

On the other hand, Eisma said the 6 other cases “are just visitors in the Freeport, who were tested at the SBMA-PRC testing facility.” Two had reportedly left the Freeport before their swab test results came out, while the other 4 are being quarantined in Subic.

According to records, the 6 new cases are all female. The first two, aged 40 and 45, are residents of one address in Quezon City; the third is a 67-year-old from Palauig, Zambales; while the rest, aged 46, 17, and 14, are all residents of one address in Subic, Zambales.

In the same statement, Eisma said that she had also gone into voluntary quarantine as a precautionary measure after attending the commissioning ceremony of BRP Jose Rizal, the country’s first missile frigate, here at the Alava Pier last Friday, July 10.

Eisma said she was informed that one of the Philippine Navy officials present in the ceremony had recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Eisma noted that all the reported positive cases in Subic seemed to be imported, as 6 of them involved visitors to the Freeport, while the first resident had a visitor from Manila and the other had history of travel to Laguna.

“So we’re confident that there is still no community transmission here in Subic and we want to keep it that way,” she added.

She said that the SBMA is doing all necessary contact tracing and other safety procedures like disinfection of public facilities and offices “to ensure the continued safety of all.”

“While this may be the price of economic revival when we have to open our gates to help heal the economy, it becomes clearer that our only road out of this crisis is eternal vigilance and mutual responsibility,” Eisma said in her statement.

“I reiterate my call for vigilance and strict adherence to established health and safety protocols,” Eisma also told Subic stakeholders. “We need your support now, more than ever, as we can overcome this pandemic only if we are stronger together.”

As of Wednesday, July 15, the Philippines has 58,850 coronavirus cases, with 1,614 deaths and 20,976 recoveries. – Rappler.com