Symptomatic evacuees to be subjected to antigen tests

MANILA, Philippines — The government will provide antigen tests for typhoon evacuees manifesting symptoms of coronavirus disease, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a virtual briefing that the antigen test can detect positive patients based on viral load.

“This means a patient with symptoms will have a more accurate result within the first five days because of that viral load,” Vergeire said.

The DOH is adopting the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council on the use of antigen test.

The antigen testing, Vergeire said, need not be done in a biosafety laboratory.

“Testing can be done in the evacuation centers as long as health workers comply with the protocol on proper collection of specimen and correct process of antigen testing,” Vergeire said.

Meanwhile, the DOH yesterday conducted swab testing and distributed health kits in evacuation centers in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

“We need to ensure that everyone in these evacuation centers are well managed and secure and, most important of all, we must ensure their health and safety from the threat of COVID,” Calabarzon health chief Eduardo Janairo said.

He encouraged evacuees experiencing symptoms to proceed immediately to the swab testing booths.

Janairo said they visited evacuation centers in the villages of Lingga and Palingon, both in Calamba, Laguna.

He reminded the evacuees to always wash their hands with soap and water.

Reports from the DOH Emergency Management Bureau show none of the typhoon-affected individuals staying in evacuation centers tested positive for COVID-19.

Vergeire said the DOH is continuously monitoring the situation in evacuation centers and reminding evacuees to observe minimum health standards to avoid catching COVID and other infectious diseases.

Vergeire said there are over 223,000 people or more than 55,000 families staying in various evacuation centers in Bicol, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Central Luzon and National Capital Region.

The DOH is enforcing the Milk Code in evacuation centers. Donation and distribution of commercial milk, baby food and feeding bottles are prohibited. – Ed Amoroso