BACOLOD CITY –– The Negros Occidental provincial government’s Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) molecular laboratory in Silay City is about to breach the 100,000 mark in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests conducted since June.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the laboratory has conducted 95,248 COVID-19 tests from June 1 to Nov. 18 with a positivity rate of 3.6 percent.
The TLJPH laboratory conducts an average of 744 COVID-19 tests a day but has a capacity of 1,300 per day.
Another molecular laboratory at the Valladolid District Hospital in Valladolid town is set to open soon and will be able to conduct an additional 1,000 COVID-19 tests per day.
Diaz said this would enable molecular laboratories in Negros Occidental to conduct COVID-19 tests for the entire Negros Island.
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday approved a P10,003,288 supplemental budget for various COVID-19-related priority programs and activities, SP secretary Maki Ascalon said.