DOH: No current active COVID-19 cases among Mayon evacuees

The Department of Health (DOH) said Monday that there are no COVID-19 infections currently active among those who evacuated due to Mayon Volcano’s unrest.

At a press conference, DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Enrique Tayag said that there were four reported COVID-19 cases in Albay evacuation centers on July 14, but all of them have already yielded negative results and have been released from isolation.

“There are no active cases nor confirmed COVID cases reported in evacuation camps,” he said.

The DOH earlier said that COVID-19 testing and contact tracing are being conducted among evacuees of Mayon Volcano to prevent the spread of the virus in evacuation centers.

“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.

Tayag also said that Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines are currently being administered in the Bicol Region, with the bivalent jabs soon to be brought to evacuation camps.

So far, only adults belonging to A1 (healthcare workers) and A2 (senior citizens) categories are allowed to receive the bivalent vaccine as a third booster dose. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News