COVID test kits airlifted to Visayas, Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has airlifted COVID-19 testing kits to the Visayas and Mindanao as efforts to contain the pandemic continues.

Aside from flying testing kits, the PAF planes are also being used to airlift to Manila the laboratory specimens of persons under investigation (PUI) so the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine could determine if these are positive for the virus.

At least 78 sealed laboratory specimens were already flown to Manila from Tacloban, Cebu and Iloilo cities. In addition, 11 boxes of personal protective equipment (PPE) were flown to the Department of Heath (DOH) in Lanao.

“Another objective of the mission was to transport and deliver PPEs and universal transport medium (UTM) and other tools to be used to transport specimens,” the Office of the Civil Defense said.

Meanwhile, the Army in Southern Tagalog resorted to installing loud speakers on their military vehicles to broadcast the appeal for residents to stay home and follow all the DOH guidelines in containing the spread of COVID-19 in their respective communities.

“The bottom line of this old school loud speaker approach is to encourage people to heed the government’s call to stay at home as well as educate (them on community quarantine) and how it benefits the individual and their respective families,” said Maj. Gen. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., commander of the Tanay, Rizal-based 2nd Infantry Division.

Initially launched in the towns and villages in Sampaloc and Tanay towns yesterday, Burgos said that all units under the operational control of his command have been directed to launch the same campaign.

“Our units on the ground are directed to do the same to cover the entire Southern Tagalog so as to discourage people from coming out of their houses, except during emergencies,” Burgos said.