MANILA – The government will conduct rapid antigen tests for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in all evacuation centers following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, Malacañang said.
According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the COVID-19 tests will be made available to families displaced by the typhoon to prevent possible outbreak.
Roque also noted that local government units have done their part in enforcing social distancing in evacuation centers, but overcrowding cannot be prevented following the impact of “Ulysses.”
“Bago pa dumating ang series ng bagyo, napagdesisyunan na ng gobyerno na magbigay ng COVID test at gagamitin ay antigen test sa evacuation centers,” Roque said in his virtual presser from Cagayan on Tuesday.
“Ina-assure ko kayo na in place na ang polisiya na gobyerno na magbigay ng COVID testing sa mga evacuation centers,” he added. “Ang gagamitin po natin para mas marami at mas mabilis ay ang antigen test sa lahat ng ating mga evacuation centers.”
An antigen test is a type of diagnostic test designed for rapid detection of the virus that causes COVID-19. The tests are cheaper compared to the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test and can provide results in minutes.
“Bibigyan muna ng antigen tests ang mga nasa evacuation centers. Kung merong PCR, hindi ko masisiguro na lahat ay mabibigyan pero magkakaroon po,” the Palace spokesperson said./PN
