A total of 255 tricycle drivers in Mandaluyong City were put under isolation after testing positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rapid test.
According to Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita ‘Menchi’ Abalos, of the total 8,000 tricycle drivers in the city, 4,000 of them have undergone rapid testing. Based on the results, 255 of them tested positive for COVID-19.
The Mayor said the infected tricycle drivers were already in the isolation area, pending the results of their confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
The Mandaluyong City government recently approved a limited tricycle operation following a two-month ban because of the existing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
As part of the resumption of the operation, the local government required that all tricycle drivers must undergo a rapid antibody test.
If the tricycle driver tested negative for COVID-19, the Mandaluyong government would give them an ID indicating that he or she is negative for the disease. The measure is part of the new normal in Mandaluyong.
“Nakapaskil ito sa loob ng sasakyan nila [it is posted on their vehicle],” said Isidro.
According to the guidelines of the City government of Mandaluyong, only one passenger can board, and back riding is prohibited.
A plastic barrier between the driver and the passenger must also be placed, and the tricycle driver should wear face masks and gloves.
The City Council approved a fixed P20 fare per passenger.
The rapid tests in the city are not limited to tricycle drivers, as the local government would also test vendors and jeepney drivers.
There are about 1,000 jeepney drivers in the city, while 2,500 are vendors, according to the Mandaluyong Mayor’s Office.
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Pasig to provide learning devices for students
The Pasig City government will provide personal learning devices to public school students in the city so that they can use them when classes resume on August 24.
In his Facebook post yesterday, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said there are two possibilities for opening the class and whether it is face-to-face or virtual class.
Regardless of the outcome, they are still seeking funding for the purchase of such personal learning devices for students. The Mayor further said that no matter what happens, they will not allow their students in public schools to be left behind.
They are also planning to have more reliable internet connections at the barangay level so that students can download modules faster in case the class goes virtual, as a precaution against COVID-19.