MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health on (DOH) on Tuesday announced that it has updated its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing protocols to include health workers who are at the forefront of the country’s battle against the infectious respiratory illness.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the announcement after the DOH allegedly received complaints from health workers who were not tested for the disease despite experiencing symptoms.
“Kasama na po sila sa ating protocol kung sinu-sino ang mga pwede dapat i-test… Kasama sila sakaling sila ay may sintomas, kasama sila sa ating vulnerable population,” Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing.
“Kahit mild lang po ang symptoms kasama na po sila,” she stressed.
The health department recently drew brickbats for supposedly prioritizing politicians and government officials, including their asymptomatic family members, for the COVID-19 testing over patients under monitoring and investigation for the disease.
But the DOH said that “VIP treatment” for officials is not a policy but admitted that “courtesy” was given to key government officials.
To date, there are 2,084 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country as of Tuesday, 88 of whom have died while 49 recovered.