MANILA, Philippines — Caloocan government is set to build another molecular laboratory in the city to expand swab testing as well as trace residents infected with coronavirus disease.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan said the testing laboratory will be put up in Caloocan City North Medical Center (CCNMC) to offer services for residents of North and South Caloocan.
“Kapag may sarili na tayong molecular laboratory, mas maraming mamamayan ang maaari nating ma-swab test at kaagad nating malalaman kung sino ang mga positibo sa COVID-19 at kinakailangang dalhin sa ating mga isolation facility,” Malapitan said.
(If we have our own laboratory, more people will undergo swab tests and we will trace positive patients who will be brought to isolation facilities.)
The first COVID-19 laboratory in Caloocan is located at Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.
Members of the Caloocan government and the Department of Health-National Capital Region already inspected the location of the new laboratory at CCNMC as part of the accreditation process.
As of Wednesday, the city has 3,324 total cases of COVID-19 with 138 fatalities and 1,706 survivors of the disease.