Rapid test on Marikina evacuee shows he may be Covid-positive

A68-YEAR- OLD man at a Marikina City evacuation center has tested positive for Covid-19 following a simultaneous conduct of rapid testing at temporary shelters in the city to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the patient, before he tested positive, was staying at Barangay Barangka Elementary School, a temporary evacuation site. The mayor described the suspected Covid positive elderly man as symptomatic.

Teodoro said there are currently over 15,000 individuals staying at evacuation sites in the city.

He said that they immediately isolated the patient and was given medical supportive treatment for his fast recovery.

“He is under quarantine there for 14 days until he gets well,” Teodoro said.

The mayor added that a contact tracing team of the city immediately identified 13 evacuees that he had close interaction with.

“Lahat ng mga nakasalamuha niya at nakasama niya sa evacuation center batay dun sa contact tracing na 13 katao ay negative naman [All the persons that he interacted with, and as per our contact tracing, there were 13, they turned out negative],” he said, including his 62-year-old wife and his three children.

According to the mayor, the strategy they are employing the prioritization of immune-compromised evacuees, other vulnerable individuals, such as elderlies, and those with Covid-like symptoms.

“For practical intent and purposes, uunahing i- test ’yung may mga [we will test first those with ] symptoms, Covid-like symptoms,” he added.