Hong Kong has banned Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights from Manila after it was identified that three of its seven imported COVID-19 cases are from PAL Flight PR300.
PAL said in a statement that the three passengers, two Filipinos and a Chinese, “presented negative COVID-19 test results when they checked in for their PR300 flights.”
The Department of Health (DOH) has already been informed of the incident, and said that the matter will be investigated.
The DOH said it believes the negative RT-PCR test results of the passengers are legitimate. This was supported by PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna who said “the testing centers are duly accredited testing centers.”
“When you have your test for example today, bukas negative ka, bukas you get exposed you incubate already with the virus. So maaari po iyun po ang nangyari,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“Ang requirement naman ng ibang bansa at ng ibang carriers pag sumakay ka, pwede ka magpresenta ng 48-72 hours na valid ang iyong test result. So maaari po noong time na nagpatest siya, ‘di pa nakita,” Vergeire added.
PAL said their flights from Hong Kong to the Philippines will push through during Wednesday to Friday.
Passengers bound to Hong Kong may still book flights through other airlines, such as Cebu Pacific which is set to resume operations to Hong Kong on Sept. 1.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong announced that yellow cards issued by the Bureau of Quarantine are now being recognized. – Report from Karen Villanda/AG-rir
