BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) molecular laboratory in Silay City, Negros Occidental is set to release within the week the test results of individuals covered by the mass testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the Aug. 30 “Timeout Weekend”.
A total of 315 residents of Silay City and 725 residents of Talisay City participated in the mass testing, according to Provincial Board member Ryan Gamboa, also the chapter president of the Philippine Councilors League-Negros Occidental.
They were followed yesterday by an estimated 800 residents from Bago City and 600 from Murcia town.
According to Gamboa, the TLJPH molecular laboratory could release the test results in six to seven days.
TLJHPH has been certified by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to perform independent testing for COVID-19 by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
In this city, meanwhile, over 4,300 residents from 61 barangays submitted themselves to free COVID-19 testing during the two-day “O-Plan: One-Time Big-Time Mass Testing” program of the city government.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the initiative on Aug. 28 to Aug. 29 was still successful despite falling short of the targeted 5,000 individuals.
The proactive measure will help authorities determine how widespread the viral disease has become, said Leonardia./PN
