“Kailangan lahat ng papasok mula sa ibang bansa kahit galing green or red countries ay dapat mag quarantine at magpatest upang masiguradong madedetect natin agad ang bagong variant kapag nakapasok sa bansa,” Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.
PRC’s COVID-19 response team already began its preparation once the Omicron variant, a new variant of concern, enters the country. Chairman Gordon also pushes to ramp up the testing to ensure the viral spread is accurate and real-time low.
PRC recently surpassed the 5 million mark for COVID-19 RT-PCR tests, accounting for 20% of the country’s national testing output. According to Sen. Gordon, we must not stop and encourage everyone to get tested regularly, because it is through the RT-PCR that we detect the virus.
PRC also participated in the National Vaccination days to support the local government unit in vaccinating more people as soon as possible. Through the 3-day vaccination drive. PRC vaccinated more than 54,559 individuals through its 17 Bakuna Buses and 25 Bakuna Centers nationwide.
“We must get vaccinated to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Sa papalapit na pasko siguraduhin natin na tayo ay mag practice ng health protocols, tayo ay bakunado at nagpatest upang maiwasan ang hawaan at maprotektahan ang mahal natin sa buhay,” Gordon said.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon encouraged everyone, especially the unvaccinated, to get their Jabs at the nearest Bakuna Centers as soon as possible due to the threat of Omicron Variant in the country.
Omicron Variant also known as B.1.1.529 is a new heavily mutated corona variant that was first detected on November 11, 2021 in Botswana. With over 30 mutations on its spike protein, it is now designated as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization.
PRC, through the directives of Sen. Dick Gordon, continues to vaccinate individuals in support of the National Vaccine Days from November 29, 2021 – December 01, 2021. PRC already vaccinated 32,638 through the 25 Bakuna Centers, 17 Bakuna Buses, and Bakuna Team Augmentation to support the local government units.
“We need to vaccinate more! Dapat lahat ng qualified magpabakuna ay magpabakuna na. Mayroong bagong variant na mabilis na kumakalat sa ibang bansa. Dapat handa tayo kung sakaling makapasok ito sa ating Bansa. Get vaccinated and protect yourselves and your loved ones,” Sen. Dick Gordon said.
Chairman Gordon also prepares PRC for possible new cases due to the threat of the Omicron variant. PRC already prepares its Emergency Field Hospital, Isolation Facilities, Oxygen tanks, Negative Pressure Ambulance, and Food Trucks that are ready for deployment to combat COVID-19.
PRC started its COVID-19 initiatives since the start of the pandemic and has been continuing in alleviating human suffering and uplifts the dignity of the most vulnerable who are greatly affected by the pandemic.
