People line up to avail of the free COVID-19 test at the OVP’s Swab Cab project on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Tandang Sora Avenue corner Visayas Avenue Extension in Quezon City. OVP Photo
(Editor’s note: The headline and text of this article were updated to reflect the latest information on the OVP’s Swab Cab operation at Tandang Sora, Quezon City, as reported by Vice President Leni Robredo at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 5, 2022.)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo reported that nearly 46 percent of the people who availed of her office’s free COVID-19 test were found positive for the virus during the resumption of their Swab Cab project at Tandang Sora, Quezon City, on Wednesday.
In a Facebook livestream on Wednesday evening, Robredo said 373 of the 813 people who underwent the free antigen exam at Tandang Sora tested positive for COVID-19.
“‘Yong atin pong Swab Cab kanina ay 373 ‘yong nagpositive out of 813 na na-swab natin,” she said.
The Swab Cab’s operation was held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At mid-day, Robredo said 191 of 410 people who were tested yielded positive results.
“As of 1:20 p.m today, out of 410 people swabbed, 191 tested positive. That’s more than 46% positivity rate so far!” Robredo said in a post on Facebook earlier.
Robredo said the Office of the Vice President (OVP) decided to resume the operation of Swab Cab, a free mobile coronavirus testing service that the OVP launched in 2021, as the country was seeing another rapid increase in new COVID-19 cases following the holidays.
Experts believe the quick rise in fresh infections could be due to the more transmissible Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the latest coronavirus strain that causes the severe respiratory illness COVID-19.
“With the continuing increase of COVID-19 cases, patuloy po sana tayong sumunod sa mga health protocol. Magsuot ng mask, at kung hindi kailangang lumabas, manatili sa loob ng bahay. Magpabakuna at magpa-booster shot na rin kung qualified na. Let’s keep each other safe from the virus,” Robredo appealed to the public in an earlier statement.
A medical technician takes a sample at the OVP’s Swab Cab project, which offers a free COVID-19 test to the public, on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Tandang Sora Avenue corner Visayas Avenue Extension in Quezon City. OVP Photo
On Thursday, January 6, the OVP said Swab Cab will be rolling at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Robredo, however, reminded people to first pre-register through https://bit.ly/QCfreetest in order to avail of the free COVID-19 test being conducted through the joint effort of the OVP and their private sector partners.
Apart from Swab Cab, the OVP also launched in 2021 the telemedicine portal Bayanihan e-Konsulta that gives possible COVID-19 patients access to medical professionals without having to leave their homes. Bayanihan e-Konsulta is also operating continuously, according to Robredo.
But the Vice President said that they are in need of volunteers, particularly medical, licensed mental health professionals, and non-medical volunteers for the Bayanihan e-Konsulta project.
“General practitioners and doctors specializing in allergology, pediatrics-endocrinology, general surgery, pediatric surgery, internal medicine, neurology, urology, adult infectious disease, gastroenterology, developmental pediatrics, rehab medicine, and other specializations may sign up through https://bit.ly/BEK-doctor-signups,” she said.
“Psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, licensed psychometricians, counselors, students of MA in Clinical Psychology and other volunteers with mental health training and experience may register at https://bit.ly/BEK-mhprofessionals-reg,” she also said.
Other volunteers who have no medical background can get on board, as well, Robredo said. They may sign up through https://bit.ly/BEK-nondoctor-signups.
People line up to avail of the free COVID-19 test at the OVP’s Swab Cab project on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Tandang Sora Avenue corner Visayas Avenue Extension in Quezon City. OVP Photo
The OVP, however, reiterated its reminder that since volunteers would have to work from home, they should have their own gadget and make sure internet connectivity.
On Wednesday, the country’s active COVID-19 cases soared to 39,974, after the Department of Health reported 10,775 new infections — almost double the reported new cases on Tuesday, January 4, which was at 5,434.
The 10,775 increase in COVID-19 cases on January 5 is the highest since October 12, 2021, when 12,159 fresh infections were logged.
From January 3-15, Metro Manila would be under Alert Level 3 amid an uptick in coronavirus cases. Nearby provinces such as Bulacan, Rizal, and Cavite were also placed under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 due to rising new cases.