MAASIN CITY, May 7 (PIA) -- The city government of Maasin is now preparing its quarantine facility for the returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are expected to arrive this Friday, May 8.

As of May 6, the quarantine facility is at 90 percent complete already and is expected to be finished in time for the homecoming of the OFWs coming from different countries.

Four OFWs who are expected to arrive this Friday in Maasin City will be directly proceed to the quarantine facility located in Barangay Combado, at the back of the Liga ng mga Barangay Building in Maasin City, said City Surveillance Nurse Lourdes Aguilar.

They will be monitored by the city health and as per directive by the Department of Health (DOH), each OFW will be taken swab samples for testing, she said.

"If anyone of these OFWs will manifest flu-like symptoms within the 14-day quarantine period, the said individual will be transferred immediately to the city's identified isolation facility," Aguilar added.

LGU-Maasin identified Maasin City Central School and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines as the isolation facilities.

If a person will test positive for COVID-19, he/she will be transferred to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) for treatment for severe cases. "This will be in close coordination with the provincial hospital here," Aguilar said.

City Mayor Nacional V. Mercado, together with the city health doctors, city administrator and city engineer, conducted an ocular inspection at the said quarantine facility in the morning of May 6.

The said quarantine area can accommodate up to seven individuals with each room/cubicle strictly in compliance with the DOH guidelines.

Meanwhile the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) - Southern Leyte Chapter led by Administrator Jonas P. Maco set up two family tents at the front and back areas of the CICL Building which will be used as disinfection and decontamination areas for the health personnel who will serve at the quarantine facility. (ldl/esg/rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)