Vico Sotto: Pasig City to conduct COVID-19 tests of up to 270 per week

MANILA, Philippines — With The Medical City being granted Stage 5 accreditation by the Department of Health, Pasig City can now conduct coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests of up to 270 per week.

https://www.facebook.com/VicoSotto/posts/2998203276904997

This was according to Pasig City mayor Vico Sotto on Tuesday, saying that previously, the city government was only able to conduct 30 to 60 tests per week under the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City.

“We know that broad-based testing is key to slowing down #covid19,” Sotto said in a Facebook post. “Previously, we’ve only been able to test 30-60 per week (RITM).”

“With our agreement with The Medical City (after it was granted Stage 5 accreditation), we have increased our capacity to up to 270 TESTS PER WEEK,” Sotto added.

Sotto, on Twitter, then clarified that those qualified for COVID-19 testing are “suspected” and “probable” cases, health workers, as well as people who have been monitored through contact tracing.

I've been hesitant to use the term "mass testing" bec ppl might think its for everybody. Given limited resources and backlog–

1st, suspected & probable cases;
2nd, health workers;
3rd, those monitored through our contact tracing.

If unsure, Pasig residents may call 8-6430000

— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) April 14, 2020

According to the Pasig City Public Information Office, the city has 190 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of April 12.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has 5,233 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, of which 295 have recovered while 335 died from the disease.