San Juan, La Union Mayor Arturo Valdriz confirmed that at least 18 of the 20 people exposed to close contact with Gwyneth Chua tested positive for COVID-19.
The said individuals attended a benefit concert for victims of Typhoon “Odette” (Rai) at Kermit La Union on December 29, 2021, said the mayor.
Gwyneth Chua became famous as “Poblacion Girl” after she skipped quarantine and escaped to attend a party in Poblacion, Makati City, on December 22.
On December 26, Chua underwent a swab test, and the next day she tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, she was transferred to the quarantine facility on Dec. 29.
According to Doctor Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person of the DOH in the Ilocos Region, the “majority” of the 20 close contacts were asymptomatic.
The incident forced the local government to temporarily close all establishments and restaurants in San Juan, La Union. It started on January 8 and would last for 15 days.
Valdriz said the temporary closure would give way to “contact tracing and give ample time for thorough disinfection of the business establishments.”
The Department of Health said the genome sequencing results of Gwyneth Chua’s swab sample already came out, but it could not be disclosed if she has Omicron variant due to data privacy.
Close contact of Gwyneth Chua infects 18 people in La Union
According to Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire, DOH, could not reveal the results due to Republic Act 11332 disclosing notifiable diseases and the Data Privacy Act.
During the temporary closure, all employees of the businesses in the surfing area would need to undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing and strict home quarantine. The testing would also include tricycle drivers working at Urbiztondo terminals.
“All confirmed cases shall be isolated at any available isolation facility in the town,” said Valdriz.
Only authorized persons and private individuals such as local fishermen and joggers can stay at the surfing area. The mayor also prohibited all public and private events in the entire town.
As of January 3, La Union has not detected the Omicron variant’s presence in the province.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.