While concern over the number of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) testing positive of COVID-19 is understandable, Cagayan de Oro City residents should not be paralyzed by fear and call for a moratorium on their arrivals.

“Of the 2,777 Kagay-anon LSIs and ROFs [who] arrived in Cagayan de Oro City for the period of April 30 to July 7, 2020, about two percent or 53 of them tested positive,” CDO Mayor Oscar Moreno said during Wednesday noon’s (July 8 ) press briefing.

“If we agreed to a moratorium (and their flights and trips are delayed for months and they stayed longer) mosamot ang atong problema (our problem will only get worse).”

Of the 53 recorded positive cases of LSI/ROFs for the April-July period, about seven recovered while 46 remain under quarantine. The first recorded COVID-19 positive case involving an LSI/ROF was in late May, Mayor Moreno said.

“But if we didn’t isolate the 2,777 LSIs and ROFs at our facilities immediately upon their arrival to the city (and instead turned them away), where would they be now?” Moreno said.

City Health Office (CHO) resident epidemiologist Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya earlier said there is no guarantee that imposing a moratorium on Kagay-anon LSIs and ROFs arrivals would reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.

City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery said the risk of infection for LSIs and ROFs remain high due to their delayed trips which force them to stay in crowded holding areas in Manila and Cebu.

“From April to July the city managed to keep the number of COVID-19 positive LSI/ROF cases down despite the 2,777 arrivals from April to July. Basta ato ni silang atimanon (So long as we care for them), they will either test negative after two weeks or eventually recover after two weeks of quarantine,” Moreno said.