COVID-19 TEST. National Policy Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon discusses the country’s testing capacity during a virtual presser in Davao City on Thursday (June 4, 2020). Dizon said more asymptomatic individuals may undergo testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) by boosting community-based testing in densely populated areas. (Screenshot)
MANILA – With the public and private sector reaching a nearly 42,000 testing capacity, a government official on Thursday said more asymptomatic (no symptoms) individuals may undergo testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
National Policy Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Vivencio “Vince” Dizon said the government will do this by boosting community-based testing in densely populated areas.
“Kailangan nating palawakin ang ating testing sa ating mga komunidad, lalung-lalo na po sa mga densely-populated o mataong lugar tulad ng (We need to expand testing in communities, especially in densely-populated areas such as) NCR [National Capital Region], Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cebu, Davao at iba pang mga malalaking siyudad (and other big cities),” he said in a virtual presser from Davao City.
Dizon, also chief of the Test, Trace, Treat (T3) Program, said it is also important to test all front-liners including healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, guards and the like, regardless if they show symptoms.
The government previously prioritized testing for those with Covid-19 symptoms, travel history in coronavirus-hit countries, and exposure to positive cases.
Currently, Dizon said there are a total of 52 laboratories, including 33 operated by government, nationwide that can conduct 41,990 Covid-19 tests per day.
The largest private sector facility is run by the Philippine Red Cross, which has the capacity to conduct 12,000 tests per day.
He said the government is looking to increase the testing capacity to 50,000 tests per day by June.
Testing for OFWs
Meanwhile, Dizon said recruitment and manning agencies may now tap their own laboratories for testing returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This new guideline, he said, is meant to facilitate the quick testing and release of Covid-19 results so that OFWs who tested negative may be allowed to return to their respective hometowns in two to three days.
“I-expand na po natin dahil dumadami na nga po ang ating mga laboratoryo. Puwede na po silang kumontrata ng iba’t ibang mga laboratoryo para po hindi na lang sa isa o dalawang laboratoryo lang ang ating magiging testing (We will expand testing efforts because we now have more laboratories. They can tap different laboratories so that it’s not only one or two laboratories conducting the testing),” he said.
Overseas Filipinos (OFs), he said, may also avail of tests in private sector-run hospitals.
“Para naman po sa mga umuuwing Pilipino galing sa abroad. Yung pong tinatawag na overseas Filipinos, at hindi mga overseas Filipino workers, puwede din po sila magpa-test sa mga laboratoryo na available lalo na sa private sector hospitals (For Filipinos coming from abroad. Those we call overseas Filipinos, not overseas Filipino workers, they can also get tested in laboratories available in private sector hospitals),” he said.
Dizon said they are also working on decentralizing the arrivals of returning OFWs by accepting passengers from Clark International Airport and opening other international gateways in the country.
Under government guidelines, all returning OFWs are required to undergo facility-based quarantine and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
Over 24,000 OFWs have been sent home to their respective hometowns after testing negative for Covid-19. (PNA)
