By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

All three expatriates from South Africa who have recently entered Negros Occidental have tested negative for COVID-19 during re-swabbing.

Based on information released by Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) head, Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, yesterday morning, one South African expat who had tested negative was confined at a quarantine facility in La Carlota City.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the remaining two, who are currently confined in Calatrava town’s quarantine facility, have undergone re-swabbing yesterday and they have also tested negative for COVID-19.

“Waay man sila symptoms nga gina-exhibit and they are feeling well based on feedback from the company nga ila gina-obrahan,” Diaz said.

The three South African expats are visiting consultants from a biopower firm located in northern Negros.

Meanwhile, Diaz said the returning overseas Filipino (ROF) who also originated from South Africa and currently confined at a quarantine facility in the town of Pontevedra has also tested negative for COVID-19.

Earlier this week, South Africa was placed under a “Red List” by the national government following the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

The Omicron variant was first discovered in South Africa last November 24 and was declared a variant of concern last November 26 by the World Health Organization.

The newly-discovered variant is described to be “heavily mutated” and studies are still being carried out on how it behaves compared to other variants./DGB, WDJ