By The SUN
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| Filipinos in Macau line up to get tested for Covid-19 (Photo by TDM) |
The Philippine Consulate General in Macau has rejected accusations that the order issued by the Macau government for all Filipinos to undergo daily nucleic acid test (NAT) for Covid-19 was discriminatory.
In a statement issued Saturday, the Consulate said it
was “taking the directive as purely a health issue” and decried people “who
remain focused on politicizing this.”
“This is the
same directive that in the past has asked specific nationals from neighboring
countries to undergo the same emergency health measure,” said the statement.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Macau’s order which took effect on Friday, was widely met with criticism by Filipinos in the enclave.
One Filipino resident said in a Facebook
post, "Apparently, you are more susceptible to the virus if you hold a Philippine Passport. What’s there to stop the Macau Government to have the same claim and quarantine Filipinos. Ridiculously offensive."
The directive was also reported in various media outlets, including those in Hong Kong and the Philippines, as it was seen to target a particular ethnic group.
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All other people living in Macau who do not belong to any of the designated high-risk groups are mandated to only undergo daily rapid antigen tests.
In Hong Kong, a one-time PCR testing directive last
year that targeted only foreign domestic helpers also triggered the same
accusation of discrimination and racism.
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However, Macau PCG said it agreed with the findings of the SAR’s Health Bureau that necessitated the issuance of the decree.
It called on Filipinos to remain calm and extend
support for the move which it said was necessary “for the safety of the entire
society of Macau that we belong to.”
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| Press for details |
On Friday, Macau Health Bureau's head of the centre
for disease prevention, Dr Leong Iek Hou, announced the mandatory daily NAT
testing of all Philippine nationals, regardless of visa status.
She backed the announcement with figures showing that
of the 1,795 confirmed cases in Macau, 171 involved Filipinos, representing
9.5% of the overall tally.
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But in the past two weeks, the Filipinos’ infection rate reportedly rose to 24.5% of all community transmissions. “In other words, in every four cases in the community, one is a Filipino,” she said.
Dr Leong also denied accusations of discrimination,
saying the targeted testing was only aimed at detecting as early as possible,
any transmission chain.
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