Over 200 under observation after Bulusan evacuee gets COVID-19

Residents of ashfall-affected Barangay Puting Sapa in Juban. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SORSOGON PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

LEGAZPI CITY—More than 200 people who returned home from an evacuation center in Juban, Sorsogon, following the eruption of Mt. Bulusan last week were advised to observe themselves and stay at home after an evacuee tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr. Edric Vargas, in charge of the disaster risk reduction and management health section of Juban’s rural health unit, on Thursday said the infection of a 45-year-old woman was confirmed by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test result released on Wednesday morning.

The epileptic patient is a resident of Barangay Puting Sapa who stayed at Juban Evacuation Center in Barangay Tughan and later isolated at Sorsogon Provincial Hospital.

“She had fever and seizure on Sunday. After resuscitation, she was transferred to the hospital for further evaluation. Prior to CT scan, she had a rapid test and turned positive,” Vargas said, noting that the history of the patient’s exposure is still being established.

Vargas said two elderly residents considered as close contacts of the patient had coughs and colds and were quarantined at the evacuation center.

He said when the seniors were admitted at the center, they were isolated in a separate room as they belonged to the vulnerable group.

The lactating mothers, elderly and other people with COVID symptoms were isolated in separate rooms in evacuation centers, Vargas added.

Home quarantine

Of 148 families (489 people) who left their villages following the June 5 and June 12 phreatic eruptions of Mt. Bulusan, 73 families (244 people) were housed in the same evacuation center with the COVID-19 patient.

“Upon contact tracing, only the two relatives had primary contact [with the patient]. Their area was separated with barricade to refrain other people from entering their room,” Vargas said.

Before the evacuees were sent home, they were advised to observe for symptoms while on home quarantine.

“Residents have enough supply for at least a week, distributed by the donors and social welfare office during the evacuation,” Vargas said, adding that nurses and village health workers were tasked to regularly monitor them.

Juban town last recorded a COVID-19 case in March.

Mt. Bulusan’s phreatic eruptions this month blanketed several villages with ash.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Thursday said it detected only three volcanic earthquakes on Bulusan in the last 24 hours of monitoring.

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