Mayon evacuees tested for COVID-19

The Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday that COVID-19 testing and contact tracing are being conducted among evacuees of Mayon Volcano’s intensified unrest to prevent the spread of the virus in evacuation centers.

This came after a resident of Barangay Matnog in Daraga, Albay who was evacuated to Gabawan Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19.

In a message to GMA News Online, DOH said that the Bicol Region Center for Health Development is “actively working” with local government units (LGUs) to protect affected individuals against the still prevalent COVID-19.

“Disease surveillance is being undertaken with testing and contact tracing even in evacuation centers. Isolation rooms are made available within evacuation centers and identified facilities by the LGUs,” the agency said.

DOH also said that administration of COVID-19 vaccines is currently underway at evacuation centers using Sinovac jabs.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier said he wants some bivalent vaccines be brought to Albay evacuation centers to help protect the vulnerable populations against COVID-19.

Mayon Volcano is currently under Alert Level 3 due to its “intensified unrest” or magmatic unrest.

A total of 18,904 people or 5,466 families were staying in 28 evacuation centers in the Bicol Region, while 1,305 people or 373 families were seeking temporary shelters outside of evacuation centers, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday.—LDF, GMA Integrated News