Some 672 street dwellers rescued by the city government of Manila will undergo Covid-19 rapid antibody tests, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said Wednesday.
“Pati po mga homeless, isinasailalim po natin sa mass testing sa (even the homeless will be subjected to mass testing at the) Manila Boystown Complex. Ito po ang mga indibidwal na ni-rescue ng ating (These are the individuals rescued by the) Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW). Thank you po Manila Health Department for conducting rapid tests,” Domagoso said on his Twitter account.
The Manila Public Information Office said these individuals were rounded up at the corner of Taft and Quirino Avenues, T. M. Kalaw Street, Quirino Avenue corner Adriatico Street, Quirino Ave corner Angel Linao Street, along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard to Road 10, Quirino Avenue service road, Taft Avenue corner T. M. Kalaw Street, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, M. H. del Pilar Street and Legarda Street.
In the meantime, they were temporarily brought to the Boystown for rapid testing, while 170 were brought to Canonigo Gym on Wednesday.
Manila City health officer Dr. Arnold Pangan said they have tested about 100 individuals on Tuesday, July 7.
The Manila Health Department is targeting to test all 672 individuals for rapid testing.
“Naka-100 sila kahapon, tapos ngayon ulit. So far, walang nag-positive sa mga na-rapid test natin (100 were tested yesterday and then another batch today. So far nobody tested positive from among those tested),” he said.
MDSW Director Re Fugoso, meanwhile, thanked the MHD for the rapid testing.
“Asahan ng ating mga kababayan na kakalingain natin ang lahat ng kayang kalingain, kahit hindi Manilenyo, basta sila ay nasa loob ng Maynila (Our constituents can expect that we will take care of them as much as we can, even if they are not from Manila as long as they are inside the city),” he said.
Fugoso added that those who will test positive in the rapid test will be immediately placed in a quarantine facility while waiting for the swab test. (PNA)
