2 men collapse in Zambo, triggers ‘Covid’ panic

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two men were rushed to hospital after they collapsed one after the other in downtown Zamboanga on Monday and panicking people near them amid the rising number of coronavirus cases here.

Policemen and civilians were spotted trying to revive one man - as he was gasping for air - and unaware whether he was stricken with the deadly respiratory disease, also known as Covid-19.

Ambulance workers clad in protective suit quickly removed the two men on stretchers and both remain unidentified. It was not immediately known why the two collapsed or if they are carrying the virus that had killed at least 8 people here with the latest fatality recorded only on Saturday.

Monday’s scene was reminiscent of what had happened in the Chinese city of Wuhan where the virus originated in December last year. People were collapsing on the streets due to Covid-19.

Zamboanga has at least 55 active Covid cases, according to Mayor Beng Climaco, who heads the local task force on coronavirus. The city is placed under the more relaxed Moderate General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) status since the start of this month after 3 months of strict Enhance Community Quarantine.

The number of Covid-19 cases spiked in Zamboanga after the national government allowed the return of thousands of stranded persons and overseas Filipino workers, and even deportees from Sabah, to their places of origin as part of the program introduced by Senator Bong Go.

Climaco renewed her appeal to residents to maintain cleanliness and avoid holding their face, nose, mouth and eyes and frequently wash hands with soap and water, and always wear face mask and observe physical distancing – at least a meter apart from each other in public places.

“We continue to appeal to the public to remain vigilant, strictly comply with MGCQ guidelines and continuously practice minimum health standards - wear face mask, frequently wash hands, observe physical distancing and avoid non-essential movement or activities,” she said.

Just over the weekend, at least 97 deportees arrived by boat in Zamboanga and 300 more who are natives of the southern Tawi-Tawi province disembarked in Bongao town.

Out of the 97 deportees, only a dozen are residents here and the rest were from the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and other regions which had been fetched by representatives of their local government.

The local deportees were immediately brought to a quarantine facility as part of the strict health protocols before they are sent home.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said the first batch of deportees – all 395 of them – had undergone Covid-19 rapid testing in Sabah prior to their departure, but they still need to undertake coronavirus testing again when they reach the country as part of the government’s health protocols.

Sabah is set to deport some 5,300 Filipinos illegally staying in the rich Malaysian state just several hours by boat from Tawi-Tawi. They are now being held at four congested jails after it temporarily suspended the repatriation since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Zamboanga Post)

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