Vergeire: DOH still bolstering capacity for mass testing

---

The Department of Health said Wednesday that it is now looking into boosting the capacity of the country to perform mass testing amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases which is now at near 650.

This is after the National Economic Development Authority advised to carry out widespread testing to minimize the effects of COVID-19 in the nation’s economy.

Maria Rosario Vergeire, Health Undersecretary said that the conduct of widespread testing is imperative to trace patients who are positive, but clarified that the testing will not be available for everyone for the department will be prioritizing patients who are showing symptoms, high-risk individuals and frontline workers who are exposed to the virus.

“Kailangan ng sapat na test kits, kailangan ng mga laboratoryo at mga taong may training sa pagsasagawa ng COVID testing,” she added.

Translation: “We need enough test kits, we need laboratories and people who are trained in COVID-19 testing.”

She also stated that preparing additional test kits, and the activation of sub-national laboratories from public and private sectors can assist in reinforcing testing capacity.

She, however, said that the number of cases will still continue to multiply due to the ampler testing capability.

The country’s number of cases for COVID-19 is now at 636, 38 of which have died and 26 already recovered.