More than 500 Chinese and Filipino workers may had been inadvertently exposed to COVID-19 as a result of the underground hospital which operated in the Fontana Leisure Parks in the Clark Freeport Zone.
Chinese nationals mostly workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) located inside Fontana were tested for COVID on Thursday afternoon which lasted until midnight. However, the Filipino workers who mingled with the Chinese workers were not subjected to the COVID testing conducted in the Fontana premises.
Joint elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Field Unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region III, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) on Monday shut down an underground hospital inside the Fontana Resorts.
The Fontana villa along Florida St. was converted into a 7-bed capacity hospital where Chinese nationals were treating possible cases of COVID-19 inside a Fontana villa.
A lone patient, allegedly a COVID-19 confirmed case, was being treated at Fontana makeshift medical facility when the government authorities arrived. The patient was reportedly transferred to a DOH-accredited COVID hospital for treatment. The illegal medical facility was immediately closed.
Arrested in the raid were Mr. Ling Hu, 45 years old, alleged owner of the medical facility; and Ms. Seung-Hyun Lee, 38 years old, pharmacist. The two Chinese nationals were taken to PNP Regional Office in Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando, pending filing of appropriate charges.
Other Chinese nationals associated with the makeshift medical facility who were reportedly residing at the Deca Housing outside Clark Freeport were also subjected to COVID rapid testing and turned out negativ for the virus.
The CIDG-Region 3 said the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and swab tests were conducted on Chinese workers.
The Philippine Red Cross laboratory in Manila will test the collected specimen for COVID-19 and results would be available in 2 to 3 weeks.
Around 85 Filipinos are reportedly working in the Chinese-operated Fontana Resorts. Some Filipino workers were reportedly stranded inside Fontana after the state-run CDC put the entire resorts on lockdown.
Some of the workers were reportedly sleeping outside because they have no place to stay inside the resorts.
On Wednesday, a PhilExcel warehouse where the Chinese nationals get their medical supplies and basic necessities was raided by the CIDG, FDA and CDC operatives. The medicines in Chinese markings were confiscated by the FDA.
Chinese nationals descended on Clark Freeport Zone and nearby encompassing communities where they operate Philippines Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs). It is not known whether these Chinese have working permits.