The Mandaluyong City local government said on Thursday, Jan. 20, that it will continue to distribute COVID-19 Health Recovery Kits to its residents as the city grapples with the new wave of infections driven by the more transmissible Omicron and Delta variants.
Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos posted on Facebook photos of the distribution program held at Block 32, Block 32 Extension, and Block 6 of Barangay Addition Hills, the most populated area in Mandaluyong.
"The health kits are given to every household regardless of vaccination status or if a family member is negative for COVID-19," Abalos said.
"At least they are prepared if ever they get sick and they don't have to go out of their homes and possibly infect other people," she added.
Each health kit contains essential drugs for cough, colds, and flu, Vitamin C, mentholated rub, alcohol, face mask, and towel.
According to Abalos, their primary focus in distributing the health kits is to give residents adequate medicines after the reported shortage of over-the-counter drugs for cough, colds, and flu in drugstores.
The local government unit (LGU) started the initiative on Jan. 13.
The mayor assured that the LGU will continue to distribute the health kits to other areas in Mandaluyong. She also urged the public to get vaccinated and boosted against the coronavirus.
The City Health Office (CHO) reported that on Jan. 20, Mandaluyong recorded 2,209 active COVID-19 cases, 27,368 recoveries, and 580 deaths.
A total of 1,130,759 COVID-19 vaccines have also been deployed in the city. Of this number, 530,093 residents have received their first dose while 511,945 have been fully vaccinated.