Manila, Philippines (UPDATED, CORRECT) – The Orchard Golf & Country Club and Alabang Country Club are searching for contacts after a member has played golf for several days during their courses, despite having taken a swab test for COVID-19 which has subsequently found positive for the disease.
The Orchard, located in the town of Dasmarinas in Cavite, has announced that it will remain closed for two days, starting on Monday, to disinfect its facilities.
According to an Orchard statement, the member was tested with a buffer on 13 July and scored positively on Sunday 19 July.
The unidentified golf player played in both clubs throughout the week.
Orchard said the member played their course on July 14 and 18 with three other members.
The president of the COVID committee of the Alabang Country Club, dr. Marc Reyes said in a letter to their members that the same golfer also played there on July 15th, 16th and 19th.
Undersecretary for Health Maria Rosario Vergiere told ABS-CBN News that when people are “swabbed and waiting for results, they should be isolated until the results are published.”
“A person is swabbed because he is considered at risk of COVID 19, possibly because of exposure, or his condition has a greater risk of becoming infected with the disease,” he said.
In his letter, Reyes pleaded with members of the Alabang Country Club to “act responsibly and be more candid about our health claim.”
“If you suspect that you have had exposure and / or have taken the COVID-19 test and are awaiting results, please self-quarantine already,” he said.
“It is always better to err on the side of caution rather than endanger yourself and others.”
Reyes advised those who met the golfer to quarantine and undergo a swab test.
The club reiterated its minimum health safety protocols, including the requirement for a health declaration, on July 13 through its website.
According to a source, the Alabang Country Club has also been disinfected, but remains open.
Orchard, for its part, is searching for contacts between members, guests, employees and employees who have come into close contact with the member.
It will resume operations on Wednesday after the sanitation of its facilities.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has allowed golf in the quarantine areas of the general community since June 3. The National Golf Association of the Philippines has formulated sport implementation rules and regulations, which includes the use of masks for all involved as mandatory temperature controls.
Caddies have also been given reduced roles, as they are prohibited from interacting with players and cannot clean their clubs and balls.
As of Monday afternoon, the Philippines has 68,898 registered cases of COVID-19, with 1,835 deaths.
(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Dr. Marc Reyes as chairman of the COVID committee of the Orchard Golf & Country Club. Sorry for the mistake.)
For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.
golf, coronavirus, Orchard Golf & Country Club, Alabang Country Club, COVID-19, golf course
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