Makati, Pasig start testing of medical frontliners for COVID-19
MANILA, Philippines — The local city governments of Pasig and Makati on Wednesday started testing their respective medical frontliners to ensure that they are safe from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto announced that six out of 309 frontliners, mostly medical workers, have tested positive for the new coronavirus, which causes the coronavirus disease.
“Rapid testing of our frontliners has commenced. As of 1:30pm, 309 people have been tested today– mostly health care workers. Six positives, for a confirmatory test,” Sotto wrote on Twitter.
#atm. Rapid testing of our frontliners bas commenced. As of 1:30pm, 309 people have been tested today– mostly health care workers.
303 negative.
6 positive, for confirmatory test. pic.twitter.com/ayRvJTtJJO— Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) April 22, 2020
The Pasig City government previously signed a memorandum of agreement with The Medical City to formally start the mass testing of its frontliners and address the backlogs of testing persons checked for the disease.
Meanwhile, Makati Mayor Abby Binay announced that over 110 frontliners at the Ospital ng Makati, Rizal Health Center, and the Pembo Health Center were tested for the coronavirus.
“The city’s priority is testing the frontliners and residents who are PUIs (persons under investigation) and PUMs (persons under monitoring). Our frontliners are vulnerable to contracting the disease since they have direct contact with patients,” Binay said in a statement.
Dr. Bernard Sese, head of Makati Health Department, said specimens taken from health workers were sent to Philippine Red Cross National Headquarters in Mandaluyong City. Sese added that the test results are expected to be released after two days.
To recall, the Makati City government inked an agreement with the Philippine Red Cross for the mass testing of over 2,000 frontliners and possible carriers of the coronavirus disease.
