A SECOND resident of Albay province, who is among some 20,000 individuals displaced due to the continuing unrest of Mayon Volcano, has tested positive for COVID-19.
The resident is one of the close contacts of an evacuee from Daraga town, the first to test positive for COVID-19, the Albay provincial government said.
“The second COVID-positive evacuee was confirmed to be unrelated by blood to the first patient but is a close contact,” it said, citing a report from the Department of Health (DOH).
“Though asymptomatic, the patient was immediately transferred and is now being treated at the Daraga infirmary,” it added.
The first patient underwent COVID-19 test after exhibiting symptoms like fever, cough and colds since June 14. The patient’s 30 close contacts were isolated and subjected tests, and one was found to have also contracted. The 29 others tested negative.
The Albay government said the local epidemiology and surveillance unit, in coordination with the DOH, is searching for “probable close contacts” of the second COVID-positive evacuee.
It also said the provincial health office, also in partnership with DOH, has launched an information campaign in evacuation centers to remind the public to follow health protocols like wearing face mask, sanitizing hands with alcohol, and observing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“DOH also encouraged the evacuees to immediately consult doctors in the medical clinics the moment they feel even just one of the symptoms of COVID and get vaccinated and take booster shots,” it added.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded no volcanic earthquake from Mayon Volcano, the third time since the volcano was placed under Alert Level 3 two weeks ago.
Phivolcs said Alert Level 3 means Mayon is “in a relatively high level of unrest as magma is at the crater and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days is possible.”
In a bulletin, Phivolcs also reported just eight pyroclastic density current events and 299 rockfall events from 5 a.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. yesterday.
The latest pyroclastic event was one higher than in the previous 24-hour monitoring period. The rockfall events were similar to the previous period.
Phivolcs said Mayon’s sulfur dioxide emission was measured at 574 tons, higher than the previous 507 tons.
This is the third time Phivolcs recorded zero volcanic earthquake at Mayon since June 8 when it placed the volcano under Alert Level 3. The two others were from 5 a.m. of August 18 to 5 a.m. of August 19; and 5 a.m. of August 8 to 5 a.m. to 5 a.m. of August 9.
About 20,000 individuals living inside the six-kilometer danger zone (PDZ) have been evacuated after Phivolcs put Mayon under Alert Level 3.
“Increased vigilance against pyroclastic density currents, lahars and sediment-laden stream flows along channels draining the edifice is also advised,” said Phivolcs.
Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman said around 1,800 of the evacuees from Sto Domingo town are due to return to their homes.
The 1,800 individuals were found to be living seven to eight km from Mayon. Only residents inside (PDZ) are supposed to be evacuated under Alert Level 3.
“Mayor Jun Aguas (of Sto Domingo) has ordered the decampment of at least 30 percent of his total number of evacuees. So we can safely say that in the next few days, we will see a decline in the number of our evacuees,” said Lagman.
Lagman said there are 20,000 individuals who have been evacuated due to activities of Mayon. Thirty percent of the number, or around 6,000, are from Sto Domingo, he said.
“If we go by the data provided by Mayor Jun Aguas, at least 1,800 individuals would be subtracted from this number,” he said.
Lagman has asked Aguas and Guinobatan Mayor Paul Chino Garcia to explain why they evacuated residents who are living seven and eight kilometers from Mayon.
Aguas has said residents outside the PDZ were evacuated because that has been the practice when Mayon becomes restive.
Garcia said he ordered the evacuation of residents of two barangays outside the danger zone because they are sandwiched by two Mayon gullies.
Lagman said the reason given by Garcia was “justified.”
