2 more Taal evacuees positive for COVID-19

The number of Taal Volcano evacuees who tested positive for COVID-19 has increased.

They were identified as evacuees at Don Leon Martinez Memorial Elementary School (DLMMES) in Balayan, Batangas. One is said to be 23 years pregnant, while the other is her 20 -year -old sister -in -law.

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DLMMES serves as the evacuation site for 93 individuals or 27 families from danger zones in Agoncillo town.

The pregnant woman was taken to San Juan District Hospital while the 20-year-old woman remained in the isolation center.

Other family members have also isolated the two positives while still awaiting the test.

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“Wala naman po siyang sipon pero nag-positive po siya. Asymptomatic,” said Joyce De Castro Piñano, camp manager of DLMMES.

In addition to those who tested positive for COVID-19, 13 other DLMMES residents consulted doctors for cold, fever, cough, and high blood pressure.

Some evacuees admitted that they were also afraid of contracting the disease.

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About 4,515 individuals are now staying in 26 evacuation centers, while 9,011 are living with relatives far from the danger zone.

Previously, there was a positive senior citizen evacuee in Agoncillo even though he had been vaccinated.

2 more Taal evacuees positive for COVID-19

Testing and vaccination are in full swing in Batangas for the Taal refugees.

Alert Level 3 (Magmatic Unrest) now prevails over Taal Volcano. At Alert Level 3, magma extruding from the Main Crater could drive explosive eruption.

The public is reminded that the entire Taal Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and entry into the island and into the high-risk barangays of Agoncillo and Laurel must be prohibited due to the hazards of pyroclastic density currents, and volcanic tsunami should strong eruptions occur.

All activities on Taal Lake should not be allowed at this time. Communities around the Taal Lakeshores are advised to remain vigilant, take precautionary measures against possible airborne ash and vog and calmly prepare for possible evacuation should unrest intensify.

Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying over Taal Volcano Island as airborne ash, and ballistic fragments from sudden explosions and pyroclastic density currents such as base surges may pose hazards to aircraft.

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