A health worker takes a nasal swab sample from a resident as they conduct mass testing for COVID-19 in Manila, Philippines on Friday, May 8, 2020. The whole of metropolitan Manila is still under enhanced community quarantine to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has hit its goal of conducting one million coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests, the government’s testing czar said Tuesday.
In a press conference, deputy chief implementer of the government’s COVID-19 response Vince Dizon attributed this to the increasing number of COVID-19 laboratories in the country.
“Yes, I think as of today, we already hit 1 million. As of today, we hit 1 million. Pero it’s still not enough, it’s not enough. It’s just the start,” Dizon said.
“Tandaan natin, noong Pebrero iisa lang ang laboratoryo natin, RITM [Research Institute for Topical Medicine] lang. Ngayon, nasa 85 na tayo nationwide,” he added.
(Remember we only had one laboratory in February which is the RITM. Now we have 85 laboratories nationwide.)
Dizon earlier set the goal of conducting one million tests by July after the government received a million COVID-19 testing kits.
Dizon also attributed the increase of tests conducted to Metro Manila local government units which ramped up testing in their respective jurisdictions.
“Doon sa 25,000 daily tests natin per day which we hit in the last few days, 15,000 or 16,000 tests came from NCR [National Capital Region] alone. Modelo talaga yung ating mga mayors lalo na dito sa NCR,” Dizon said.
(The 25,000 daily tests per day which we hit in the last few days, 15,000 or 16,000 came from NCR alone. The mayors in NCR are good role models.)