DOH: Workers, residents of areas with COVID-19 transmission added in testing protocol

MANILA, Philippines — Teachers, workers in tourism, transportation, and manufacturing sectors as well as residents of areas with confirmed community transmission or clustering of COVID-19 cases are now included in the government’s expanded coronavirus testing guidelines.

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the decision to include more workers in the testing protocols is in line with the government’s move to gradually reopen the pandemic-hit economy.

Vergeire said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has already signed the expanded guidelines.

“Ngayong pumapalo na ang ating capacity in testing, mataas na rin almost 20,000 in a day na so napag desisyunan na ieexpand pa natin further ang testing,” Vergeire said in an online media forum Wednesday.

“Napirmahan na ni Sec. Duque yung ating guidelines na bago iuupload nalang dito sa aming website para magkaroon ng number to make it official,” she added.

Included in the updated testing protocols are the following:

• Subgroup G: vulnerable patients and residents living in areas with clustering of COVID-19 cases or community transmission
• SubGroup H: Fronliners in tourist zones
• Subgroup I: Workers and employees of manufacturing companies and public service providers
• SubGroup J: Economy workers such as drivers, bus conductors, pilots, flight attendants, waiters, teachers, bank tellers, and other non-food retail workers.

JE