DOH: Evacuees with symptoms priority in COVID-19 testing

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday said not all the displaced residents staying in the evacuation centers will be tested for COVID-19 but those with symptoms will be prioritized.

“Hindi naman po natin sinasabi na mate-test lahat. Ang pinakaimportante ay matest natin ‘yung mga may sintomas sa loob ng evacuation center. Ito po ‘yung ating priority sa ngayon,” Vergeire said in an interview with GMA’s Unang Hirit.

Acknowledging the risk of COVID-19 transmission in evacuation centers, the health official said safety officers should be deployed to monitor symptoms among evacuees so suspected cases would be isolated immediately

“Hindi naman po natin maikakaila na there’s really a risk of this increased transmission kung saka-sakali because of the situation,” Vergeire said.

“Kaya nga po tayo ay nagpapatupad na dapat lahat ng evacuation centers ay merong safety officers  para nade-detect natin agad kung sino ang may sintomas at matanggal natin doon sa kabuuan para hindi po sila makapanghawa,” she added.

In its report, the OCTA Research Team urges authorities to provide COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and isolation facilities to families who fled to evacuation centers due to the recent typhoons.

The experts also urged local government units to improve strategies and conditions at evacuation centers to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

On Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said evacuees will be screened for COVID-19 through antigen test to prevent the spread of the virus in typhoon-hit communities.

However, Roque also noted that there is no assurance that all will be tested.

For Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the appeal for the conduct of COVID-19 testing among families displaced by the previous typhoons could be a challenge.

He suggested only strict monitoring of displaced individuals who are manifesting COVID-19 symptoms. He noted that there is no report about COVID-19 outbreaks in evacuation centers yet.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has earlier warned of a "very strong possibility” of COVID-19 transmission in evacuation centers.—AOL, GMA News