PNP: Health measures missed in evacuation centers amid typhoon

The Philippine National Police said Sunday that  implementing COVID-19 health measures, including social distancing, was a challenge in some evacuation centers during the onslaught of Typhoon Ambo.

In a statement, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac cited the experiences of some police frontliners saying that face masks got wet, or blown away due to rains and strong winds.

He added that social distancing was not observed inside evacuation areas housing evacuees.

But, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mark Timbal said health measures were observed during evacuation.

According to Timbal, most of the evacuees wore face masks while government personnel who assisted them were clad in personal protective equipment (PPE).

More than 70,000 people evacuated from their homes due to the threat of Ambo, NDRRMC said. —Joviland Rita