Mandaluyong City has confirmed that 255 tricycle drivers have tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid test. So far, around 4,000 tricycle drivers have been tested while the local government unit is looking to test a total of about 8,000 drivers.
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Mayor Menchie Abalos said on Wednesday that they are not yet able to determine how the tricycle drivers contracted the virus.
“Hindi mo ma-trace kung sasabihin mo na nahawa kung kanino kasi nga random ‘yung aming ano eh. Iba-ibang barangays itong mga drivers na ‘to eh kaya di namin masabi kung nahawa kung kanino.” Abalos said.
She continued: “Kapag nagpositive sila sa rapid test, automatic ‘yan ipapa-swab natin, ‘yung PCR. Then, automatic din na i-isolate na namin sila and then of course, ‘yung kayang magpa-isolate sa bahay, home quarantine, o hindi kaya nilalagay namin sa isang gym or sa isang school namin.”
Abalos assured that the tricycle drivers who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be resuming their operations yet.
“Hindi pa naman sila bumibiyahe talaga, actually ang sabi ko kasi hangga’t walang rapid test, hindi sila puwedeng bumiyahe.” she said.
Abalos also clarified that tricycle drivers would be given certification to show that they are COVID-free and allowed to operate.
“Ilalagay natin sa tricycle, sa harap mismo, ‘yung kanilang certificate na talagang dumaan sila ng rapid test. Hangga’t wala silang nakukuhang clearance from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [machine], hindi natin sila patatakbuhin,” she said.
However, Mandaluyong’s LGU is expecting this number to continue rising as they have not yet completed testing all of their returning tricycle drivers.
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