DOH, PNP to fast-track tracing of passengers on flights with COVID-19 cases

The Department of Health (DOH) is coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to expedite contact tracing of passengers on flights with individuals confirmed to have the novel coronavirus.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed his urgency for the task to be completed within 48 hours, suggesting coordination with the PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Philippine Airlines (PAL) spokesperson Cielo Villaluna stated that the airline has been cooperating with the DOH and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) regarding passenger details and has not invoked the Data Privacy Act to withhold information.

Villaluna appealed for clarity to Secretary Duque, implying that some DOH officials may not be relaying the correct information to him.

She mentioned that PAL has already contacted 75 out of 132 passengers from flight PR 2542, including those seated near the infected Chinese nationals, and is facing challenges with contact details and unreturned calls for the remaining passengers.

The infected Chinese couple arrived from Wuhan, China, via Hong Kong on January 21, with the 44-year-old man later dying from severe pneumonia, marking the first novel coronavirus death outside China.

The couple later flew from Dumaguete to Manila on January 25 aboard PAL flight PR 2542.