QC gov’t suspects drivers brought COVID-19 outbreak in convent
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government is looking into the possibility that drivers caused the COVID-19 outbreak at the Religious of the Virgin Mary convent in Cubao.
“Dalawa po ‘yan. Isang driver na nagkaroon ng sintomas nung early part ng September. At meron po kaming na-diskubre na isa pang driver na galing probinsya, late August naman siya nagkaroon ng sintomas,” Dr. Rolando Cruz, chief of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said over Teleradyo on Thursday.
(There are two. One driver had symptoms in early September. We also discovered that one driver came from the province and had symptoms late August.)
“Sunod-sunod din ‘yung nagkaroon sa kanila dun sa mga sa utilities. Kasi lumalabas din na ‘yung mga to, namamalengke, pumupunta sa mga ospital. ‘Yun po ‘yung isang iniimbestigahan po namin,” he added.
(Other staff in the utilities then tested positive because they go out to buy groceries or go to hospitals. We are investigating that.)
Cruz mentioned that two of the patients are in a tertiary hospital while the rest are staying in the convent as it has ample space.
The local government is planning to conduct a retesting to ensure that those who yielded negative results remain free from the virus.
“Ang balak namin ay magkaroon ng retesting para lang make sure na wala talaga pang nahawa sa nag-test negative,” Cruz said.
(We plan to have a retesting to make sure that those who tested negative were not infected.)
Cruz likewise shared that most of the nuns in the convent have not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
“Karamihan sa mga nabakunahan dito ‘yung mga staff. ‘Yung mga madre, karamihan walang bakuna. Inaalam pa po namin kung bakit sila wala. Kasi karamihan sa mga ganitong closed settings, nabakunahan na po namin. Apparently, nagpa-reschedule sila,” he explained.
(Most of the vaccinated individuals in the convent are staffers. Most of the nuns have not received a vaccine. We’re looking into the reason why as most individuals in closed settings were already vaccinated by the city government. Apparently, they rescheduled.)
Cruz said that the number of individuals tested positive for COVID-19 at the Religious of the Virgin Mary convent rose to 115 after one more was confirmed positive for the virus.
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