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Marikina conducts COVID-19 mass testing on at least 6,000 tricycle drivers


Marikina City Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro on Tuesday said mass testing for COVID-19 is being conducted on at least 6,000 tricycle drivers who have resumed plying the city's roads amid the modified enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region. 

"'Yung mga driver natin—hindi naman mandatory at ‘di rin naman kondisyon para makabiyahe—sila ay sina-subject natin, as a matter of precaution, sa rapid testing na ginagawa ng Marikina ngayon," Teodoro said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

The mayor said the rapid testing is being conducted until Friday. 

Teodoro said more than 1,000 tricycle drivers were already tested on Monday. Of this number, three have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the mayor. 

"Kahapon 1,084 ang na-test natin. Doon sa 1,084, may tatlong nag-positive at noong nag-positive sila, nag-quarantine agad sila at subject sila ngayon sa confirmatory tests," Teodoro said. 

"Kung papatunayan na positive sila ngayong araw, eh sisimulan na 'yung medical treatment na kailangang ibigay sa kanila. Kailangan ma-isolate para maiwasan 'yung local transmission," he added. 

He further said contact tracing would be done to determine who had direct contact with the infected tricycle drivers. 

Aside from tricycle drivers, workers from markets and groceries as well as employees from the city's shoe industry will also be subjected to COVID-19 testing, Teodoro said. 

Meanwhile, the mayor also vowed to continue providing assistance to these workers, especially those who got infected with the illness. 

"Mayroon talaga kaming binibigay sa mga drivers, sa mga manggagawa sa sapatusan at saka sa displaced mall workers... Bago pa man dumating 'yung Social Amelioration Program ng national [government], mayroon na talaga kaming local program," Teodoro said. 

The local government has assured the public that tricycle and pedicab drivers and operators will observe safety guidelines and social distancing measures amid the resumption of their operations. 

Their tricycle or pedicab units will be disinfected and only one passenger is allowed to ride in each unit, Teodoro said.

As of Monday, May 18, at 3 p.m., 149 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been recorded in Marikina City.

Of this number, 59 recovered while 20 have died.

 —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News

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