QC starts tests on 150 residents for COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — About 150 residents of Quezon City will take part in the local government unit’s community-based testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Monday.

Project Director Joseph Juico said those who will be tested were recommended by the Quezon City Health Department in coordination with barangay officials. He added the tests will be conducted at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

“These people are identified by the district health officers and are suspected COVID-19 patients with symptoms,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Dr. Rolando Cruz, head of the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the QC Health Department (QCHD), said samples will then be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Results are expected to be released in three to five days.

He said those who will yield negative results will be allowed to go home but will still be required to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days.

Meanwhile, patients who will test positive for the illness will be referred to the city’s quarantine facilities.

According to Cruz, those who will conduct the tests will utilize swab booths during the testing to lessen exposure to patients and minimize the use of personal protective equipment.

He added that the local government is currently procuring 10,000 swabs and universal transport media (UTM) kits, and that the Philippine Red Cross will also provide additional 1,500 testing and extraction kits in the coming days.

The city government is also finalizing partnership with St. Luke’s Medical Center and the Lung Center of the Philippines for faster release of test results.

“We are actively talking with other hospitals that are now accredited or soon to be accredited for the use of their laboratories,” said Cruz.

The local government’s health department chief, Dr. Esperenza Arias, earlier said they are looking to start with an initial 1,300 tests in select areas in the city with the highest concentration of COVID-19 cases.

Quezon City has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the entire country, with 799 confirmed cases as of 4pm, Sunday. Of that number, 48 have died, 23 have recovered,  while 577 are hospitalized.

EDV