34 Marikina evacuees may have COVID, awaiting test results —mayor

Marikina City is awaiting the RT-PCR test results of 34 evacuees who had undergone rapid tests for COVID-19, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said Friday.

Rapid testing was conducted at evacuation centers where several residents have been staying after fleeing their homes due flooding resulting from Typhoon Ulysses' heavy rains last week.

"Nag-rapid test kami sa iba't-ibang evacuation center. Sa ngayon mayroon kaming hinihintay na mga resulta ng PCR then [naging] reactive sila. Una nating sinukat 'yung antibody. Ibig sabihin, tiningnan natin kung reactive sila, kung may infection," Teodoro told "Unang Balita."

"Mayroon tayong nakitang 34 sa iba't ibang evacuation center na may infection sila at sumailalim sila kahapon din sa PCR testing, hinihintay natin 'yung resulta," he added.

On Thursday, Teodoro disclosed that a 68-year-old man tested positive for the disease. The patient, who was symptomatic, is already in isolation.

Earlier, the mayor said a contact-tracing team immediately identified 13 evacuees that the COVID-19 patient had interaction with.

Aside from COVID-19, Teodoro is also monitoring other illnesses Marikina residents could get infected with. He ordered the purchase of medicines, including doxycycline capsules to prevent the spread of leptospirosis.

"Hindi lang COVID, may mga kaso tayo ng cholera, tetanus... marami eh. Ako'y nagpabili ng gamot para sa mga kababayan natin," he said.

"May mga doxycyclin tayo na ipinapamigay sa mga health center, sa mga barangay, sa mga samahan ng komunidad. Kailangan makainom tayo nito," he added.

Meanwhile, clearing operations are ongoing around the city to collect trash brought by Ulysses' flood.

"Napakahirap ng kalagayan namin, 'yung hinahakot  naming basura 980,000 cubic meters [na] debris. 'Yung street na hinahakutan namin ay 2,452 na kalsada, sabay-sabay na 'yun... 450 kilometers ang haba nito, both major and minor streets," Teodoro said.

Relief operations are also ongoing for typhoon victims, according to Teodoro. —LBG, GMA News