MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) intends to conduct around 8,000 to 10,000 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests per day by the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual press conference the recent approval of the test kits developed by the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health would increase the “testing capacity” of the country.
“Sa katapusan naman po ng Abril, ay ang aming goal ay umabot po tayo ng 8,000 hanggang 10,000 tests kada araw,” Vergeire said.”Ngayon po sa tulong ng ibang laboratories umaabot na po sa 900 hanggang 1,200 ang ating na ite-test sa isang araw.”
Vergeire said the department agrees with the government’s idea to test more people.
The DOH will soon release guidelines expounding on the qualifications for testing, what kits will be used and who will interpret the data.
However, she clarified that only a targeted population namely persons under investigation and monitoring for possible infection with symptoms and high-risk patients such as health workers, pregnant women and those with other medical conditions, such as cancer and diabetes, will be included in the government’s plan to conduct “mass testing.”
“Hindi po ibig sabihin nito na lahat ng Pilipino ay itetest natin. Ang mass testing po na ating sinasabi ay isang malawakang testing ng mga taong at risk sa COVID-19,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire stressed that only certified laboratories can use the new tests, since they are PCR-based and not the rapid kind. PCR-based kits can directly detect the novel coronavirus in the patient’s body while the rapid tests can find the antibodies that fight the infection./PN
