At least 251 Quezon City residents, who evacuated amid the onslaught of Typhoon "Ulysses," and showed symptoms of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were given swab tests by the city government.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte ordered the immediate testing and isolation of the 251 evacuees of 1,648 families taking shelter in evacuation sites to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak.
“Disaster response in the midst of this pandemic is extra challenging, but we assure our citizens that the city is prepared with our health protocols in place and on top of our priorities,” she said in a statement issued Sunday.
Dr. Rolando Cruz, Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, said the evacuees showing symptoms of the disease were taken to barangay quarantine facilities for treatment and isolation as they wait for their swab test results.
“We will be on alert until next week to keep a close watch on all our evacuees especially since they are in a crowded setting, and are more susceptible to highly contagious COVID-19,” he said in a statement.
Cruz said they will continue monitoring the evacuees and health workers for possible symptoms not only for COVID-19, but also other diseases such as leptospirosis and diarrhea.