Gov’t eyes 2M COVID-19 tests by August, outpacing S Korea

MANILA, Philippines — The government is targeting to conduct two million tests by August, testing czar Vince Dizon said Thursday, adding that he expects the Philippines to outpace South Korea in terms of COVID-19 testing in the coming weeks.

The country is on track to meet its target after surpassing its goal of conducting 33,000 tests a day in July, Dizon said in an online Palace briefing.

“Ngayon po as of July 26, halos 1.4 million tests na ang nagawa natin. Kampante din po tayo na ngayong buwan ng Agosto ay itong 1.4 million na to ay hihigit na sa 2 million,” Dizon said.

(As of July 26, we already conducted 1.4 million tests. We are confident that in August, we will be able to increase the number to 2 million.)

“Pangalawa na po ang Pilipinas sa South Korea. South Korea, as of July 25 ay nakapagtest ng 1.5 million. Ang Pilipinas po ay halos 1.4 million. Ang tingin po natin sa loob ng ilang linggo ay malalagpasan na po natin ang South Korea sa dami ng na-conduct na test,” he added.

(The Philippines is already second to South Korea. South Korea, as of July 25, conducted 1.5 million tests. The Philippines, on the other hand, has 1.4 million. We think that in a matter of weeks, we will be able to surpass South Korea in terms of the number of tests conducted.)

South Korea, which has an estimate of over 51 million population, has so far performed 1,556,215 COVID-19 tests according to its Ministry of Health and Welfare website. It has recorded 14,269 cases with 13,132 recoveries and 300 deaths.

The Philippines, which has an estimate of over 106 million population, has recorded 85,486 cases, 1,962 deaths, and 26,996 recoveries.

EDV