Eastern Visayas hospital helps test swab samples from Bicol for COVID-19

TACLOBAN CITY –– Swab samples from Bicol have been sent to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) here starting Tuesday for testing.

Dr. Minerva Molon, director of the Department of Health in Eastern Visayas, said a surge in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bicol prompted health officials to tap the services of the EVRMC.

“This is called bayanihan. We have to help other regions,” Molon said.

EVRMC, a COVID-19 testing center in Eastern Visayas, started operating last May.

Molon said at least 600 swab samples from Bicol were examined last August 18.

She said EVRMC could still accommodate swab samples from Bicol as it could handle at least 700 samples for testing a day.

Since March, EVRMC has examined 20,374 swab samples from the region.

Molon said Eastern Visayas has enough test kits after they received 10,000 more kits from their central office.

LZB