DOH set to procure COVID-19 test kits good for 3 months

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) will procure test kits for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that could last for three months.

Ma. Rosario Vergeire, Health Undersecretary for public health services, said the incoming kits will be in addition to the test kits currently available, which she said were still “sufficient.”

“Meron pa po tayong pino-procure na galing ‘yung pera sa Bayanihan Act, kung saan magpoprocure po tayo ng estimate natin for the next three months (We are procuring test kits which we estimate will be good for three months. The funds will come from the Bayanihan Act),” she said in an interview with GMA’s Unang Hirit.

National Task Force COVID-19 Response Chief Implementor Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that the government is eyeing to start mass testing on April 14.

READ: Only PUIs, PUMs to be tested in April 14 mass testing, says DOH

The DOH has projected that it will be able to facilitate 3,000 tests for COVID-19 a day starting this date “as a result of its recently expanded testing protocol.” The capacity for testing is then expected to rise to 8,000 to 10,000 daily by the end of the month.

The mass testing will prioritize those most vulnerable to the disease, the seriously ill, and health workers.

Vergeire said that testing may be extended beyond this group once the government reaches its target.

“Meron po tayong target na base po sa target ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) na sinasabing kapag naka-8,000 na tayong test [daily], maaari na nating i-expand ang pagtetest sa iba namang sector ng population like those who have symptoms and merong exposure [to a COVID-19 patient],” she said.

(We have a target at the IATF that once we reach 8,000 tests daily, then we can expand the testing to other sectors of the population like those who have symptoms and exposure to a COVID-19 patient.)

As of Sunday afternoon, a total of 4,648 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country. Of this number, 297 have died while 197 have recovered.