THE THREE Chinese nationals quarantined after showing signs of high body temperature upon arrival at the Kalibo International Airport in Aklan have all been cleared and released. Nonetheless, Western Visayas Regional Epidemiologist Jessie Glen L. Alonsabe of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development said blood samples and swabs from the three, who arrived on different dates, have been sent to the headquarters in Manila for testing. “They were showing signs of fever as detected by the thermal scanner of the airport. It is part of the standard operating procedures,” he said. Cornelio V. Cuachon Jr., head of the Aklan Provincial Health Office, said the first quarantined passenger was a 29-year-old female who arrived Jan. 17, and discharged from hospital the next day as she no longer had a fever. “She has no fever and so we just discharged her from the hospital and we allowed her to go to Boracay,” he said. The two others, a three-year-old girl who arrived Jan. 18 and a 65-year-old male on Jan. 20, showed signs of fever and colds. The child was discharged after being diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection, while the senior male was treated as an outpatient after observations indicated that he has already recovered from fever. “They undergone thorough examination and their medical history were reviewed,” Mr. Alonsabe said as he assured the public that authorities have tightened monitoring and response measures amid the spread of the new strain of coronavirus in China. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo