Terrified residents find used COVID-19 tests outside their homes in the Philippines

Terrified residents find used COVID-19 tests outside their homes in the Philippines

Terrified residents found hundreds of used Covid-19 rapid test kits scattered outside their homes in the Philippines.

Roy Gonza was riding his motorbike in the area when he noticed his neighbours gathering in the street in Sampaloc District of Manila.

He stopped to check what caused the commotion and saw the medical waste scattered along on the road.

Roy said that the small plastic cassettes can easily be mistaken as pregnancy test kits but they had blood on them so people became worried.

He said: "At first they looked like pregnancy kits but after walking closer, I saw that they looked like the kits used for Covid-19 testing." After receiving reports, the Manila Department of Public Services personnel in hazmat suits arrived later to carefully pick up the rapid test kits.

The rapid test kits were put in plastic bags before they were taken with them to be disposed of properly.

Village officials also cleaned and disinfected the area with the help of some workers and locals in the area that time.

Upon checking the security cameras in the area, the officials found that the waste fell from a garbage bag loaded on tuktuk.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso said that they will conduct an investigation to find out where the test kits came from as those responsible may be sued for improper waste disposal.