LONG WAIT. People wait to be called for their free relief goods at a community pantry set up by actress Angel Locsin in Don Antonio Heights, Quezon City on April 23. The crowd swelled to more or less 3,000 only to find out that only 300 will be given food packs. A 67-year-old vendor fainted while in the queue and died in a hospital. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Residents and fans of Angel Locsin who went to the community pantry set up by the actress Angel Locsin are invited by the Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) to avail of the city’s free swab testing service.
In a press statement Saturday, CESU chief, Dr. Rolando Cruz, said residents, who are showing Covid-19 symptoms such as flu and cough after going to Friday’s event at the Titanium Bldg., Brgy. Holy Spirit, need to come forward and have themselves checked.
“Hindi natin puwedeng isantabi ang posibilidad na nagkahawahan dahil sa dami ng dumalo. Mabuti nang makasiguro na hindi natin mahawahan ang ating pamilya at mga kasama sa komunidad (We cannot ignore the possibility of transmission due to the huge crowd. It is best to be assured that you have not infected your family and other members of your community),” Cruz said.
Affected residents may book an appointment online via http://bit.ly/QCfreetest.
They may also call any of the following QC Contact Tracing Hotlines: 8703-2759, 8703-4398, 0916-122-8628, 0908-639-8086, 0931-095-7737.
Meanwhile, the CESU also appealed to Locsin and her team to coordinate and work closely with the city should they be aware of any individuals who need to be tested immediately.
“Our office will remain open for support from Ms. Locsin and her camp, considering the effort and cost of doing testing and contact tracing of those who participated in the community pantry. We hope to be furnished with any pertinent information that could aid us in immediately identifying, testing and isolating suspected Covid 19 cases,” Cruz added.
Meanwhile, Mayor Joy Belmonte thanked Locsin for her many philanthropic works in the city and appealed to her to also help in identifying potential cases.
“Nananawagan ako kay Angel na makiisa sa hakbang ng lungsod na matugunan ang posibleng pagkalat ng Covid 19 sa pamamagitan ng maagang pagtukoy sa mga bagong kaso, lalo na sa hanay ng mga nagpunta sa community pantry na kanyang inorganisa (I call on Angel to cooperate with the local government’s efforts to respond to the possible virus transmission through early detection of new cases, especially among those who went to her community pantry),” Belmonte said. (PR)
