THE Quezon City’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (QCESU) is now conducting an extensive contact tracing on the close contacts of a returning Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who had tested positive for the COVID-19 Delta variant.

CESU Head Dr. Rolly Cruz said that though the OFW who is a QC resident is considered a recovered patient, he and his family has undergone another swab test as part of the city’s protocol while extensive contact tracing on his close contacts will be done.

The 34-year old male OFW arrived from Saudi Arabia on June 24, and stayed in a hotel in Makati for 10 days before transferring to another hotel in Manila from July 4 to 11.

Reports disclosed that he experienced a slightly itchy throat on June 28, and was swabbed on June 30. He was considered recovered and was allowed to go home to his family on July 11.

Cruz disclosed that the result of his sequenced sample was relayed to them Sunday evening, and they immediately made arrangement for another round of swab tests for him and his close family contacts yesterday.

He and his family are under strict home quarantine since last night.

Mayor Joy Belmonte, meanwhile, expressed confidence that CESU and the entire city government is capable of handling the case.

“We have put in place measures in preparation for the Delta variant and we continue to exert all effort to contain its possible spread. What is important is that we are our doing extensive testing and aggressive contact tracing,” Belmonte said.

Last July 14, the city government formed Task Force Delta Variant, which identified key areas to concentrate on, including revisiting the city’s disease surveillance, active case finding and contact tracing capacity; its testing capability and the efficiency of its molecular laboratory in processing specimens; reviewing its isolation and quarantine protocols and the status and bed capacity of its HOPE facilities; and assessing equipment and manpower resources of hospitals handling moderate to severe cases.

Task Force Disiplina was also ordered to intensify its monitoring and inspection, to ensure that minimum health protocols are followed in all public places.

The QCESU is also closely coordinating with another local government unit regarding a possible local transmission of the Delta variant.

CESU learned that another male who resides in another city but works in a factory in QC contacted the Covid-19 variant. His pregnant wife also tested positive for Covid-19.

CESU has conducted contact tracing and swabbing at his place of work since Saturday.

“There are no reported case yet at his place of work but we are doing this as a preventive measure to make sure we contain its transmission this early,” Dr. Cruz said.

Based on available information, the factory worker experienced shortness of breathing, colds, fever and sore throat on July 4 and tested positive the day after.

He was confined at Philippine General Hospital since July 5 and was discharged on July 18. His wife, who was asymptomatic, was tested on July 8 and turned out positive the next day. She tested positive again on July 17.

They are staying at a quarantine facility in another city until the end of the month.