Filipino worker in Libya cleared of nCoV
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2020 10:25:16 +0000
LIBYAN authorities on Tuesday cleared a returning Filipino worker who was suspected of having been infected with the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus-acute respiratory disease (nCoV-ARD).
Philippine Embassy Charges d’Affaires Elmer Cato deplored the posting by a local online publication of the photograph of the Filipino worker.
In a post on the Embassy’s Facebook page, Cato said the Philippine was “saddened that the publication also posted passport and others details of the said Filipino despite statements by concerned authorities clarifying the matter”.
“This evening, the Embassy was informed by the employer of the Filipino national that based on the medical tests conducted today by Libyan health authorities there are no indications that said Filipino national is carrying the virus,” Cato said.
On Tuesday, the Libyan health office issued a statement clearing the concerned unidentified Filipino of nCoV infection. “In contact with the medical clinic at Mytt Oil and Gas Company, the National Center for Disease Control has followed the case of a member of the company who holds Filipino citizenship.”
“After medical detection and case analysis, it was found that there were no systems of the corona virus,” Libya’s NCDC zaid.
“Also by checking the travel history of the situation, it was found to be coming from the Philippines, in the United Arab Emirates, and Malta, which is considered to be very small,” it added.
Cato, on Twitter, thanked the NCDC “for agreeing to release its findings on tests conducted on newly arrived Filipino oil platform worker earlier reported to have corona virus syndrone. The Filipino tested negative.”
Replying to Cato’s tweet, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., instructed the former to “thank them for us, send results to DoH (Department of Health) through DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) instantly.”
Cato said the Embassy “understands the matter is of public concern not only in Libya but in the rest of the world and would like to request that only accurate information be published so as not to add to the growing hysteria over this new outbreak.”
A netizen had asked Cato to demand a public apology from Libyan authorities for fear that Filipinos may be harassed by people who would believe the fake news.
Cato, however, said, “We understand where they are coming from. The virus is of concern to all of us here. We are thankful that the said post had been removed.” BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO