Vice President Leni Robredo responded to the rapid increase in COVID-19 in the country by announcing the return of the Office of the Vice President’s Swab Cab services, where citizens can avail of free mobile antigen testing service.
In a Facebook post, Robredo said that the Swab Cab, in partnership with the local government of Quezon City, OVP’s Angat Buhay, and UBE Express rolled out on Wednesday, January 5, and was stationed at Tandang Sora Avenue corner Visayas Avenue Extension in Quezon City.
The Swab Cab in Quezon City was open from 8am to 5pm. As of 1:20 p.m., 191 out of 410 people tested yielded a positive antigen test result, which is equivalent to a positivity rate of more than 46 percent.
Pre-registration, meanwhile, is required through http://bit.ly/QCfreetest for the Swab Cab rollout on Thursday, January 6, at the QCX site, Quezon Memorial Circle.
“With the continuing increase of COVID-19 cases, let’s keep each other safe from the virus,” Robredo said after the Department of Health reported 5,434 new infections on January 4, the highest daily record in over two months.
Robredo also called for medical, licensed mental health professional and non-medical volunteers for the Bayanihan E-Konsulta, the free teleconsultation service she launched when there was a surge in COVID-19 cases in April last year.
General practitioners and doctors specializing in allergology, pediatrics-endocrinology, general surgery, pediatric surgery, internal medicine, neurology, urology, adult infectious disease, gastroenterology, developmental pediatrics, rehab medicine and other specializations may sign up through https://bit.ly/BEK-doctor-signups.
Psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, licensed psychometricians, counselors, students of MA in Clinical Psychology and other volunteers with mental health training and experience may register at https://bit.ly/BEK-mhprofessionals-reg.
Non-doctors or nurses, non-licensed medical students, call center agents, chat agents, college students, who will be tasked to connect the volunteer doctors with the patients needing e-consultation, may get on board through https://bit.ly/BEK-nondoctor-signups.
Volunteers will work remotely and must have their own gadgets and internet connection.
“Sa OVP, hangad natin ang kaligtasan ng lahat. Sa ating pagtutulungan, makakaya nating labanan ang pandemyang ito,” said Robredo.