Marikina City fears shortage in supply of COVID-19 test kits

Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro checks out barangays in need of clearing following the massive floods in the city. Image from Marikina PIO Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — As it reels from the effects of the severe floods that inundated the homes of residents during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, Marikina also faces a possible shortage in supply of coronavirus test kits in the coming days.

In an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the city still has enough supply of test kits as of now, but said he sees a shortage in the coming days.

“Ito nga, kinakapos kami. Meron pa naman pero nakikita ko, ilang araw buhat ngayon kakapusin na kami. Meron lang kaming supply na 7,000 ngayon na test kits para sa rapid, meron kami sigurong supply na 5,000 test kits para sa PCR (polymerase chain reaction),” he said when asked about the test kits available in the city.

(As we speak, we are nearing a lack in supply. There are still test kits available, but from what I can see, we may have a shortage in the coming days. We only have 7,000 test kits for rapid tests and maybe 5,000 for PCR tests.)

In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, Teodoro explained that the stock of test kits in the city decreased because of difficulties in purchasing as pharmaceutical companies and establishments were closed during the height of recent typhoons.

The city government is currently conducting rapid tests on evacuees affected by Typhoon Ulysses after a 68-year-old male evacuee who was temporarily sheltered at the Barangay Barangka Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19.

Teodoro earlier said that the 13 close contacts of the patient in the evacuation center have tested negative for the virus.

The mayor said he has already ordered the purchase of 7,000 test kits for COVID-19 to complement the current supply. He said the test kits already arrived on Thursday.

He also thanked a pharmaceutical company for promising to donate to the city government 2,000 kits for rapid test and another 2,000 for PCR test. He, however, did not mention the company that vowed to donate the test kits.

“‘Yung mga ganun pati mga test kits, tinatanggap na rin naming donasyon para sa mga kababayan natin (We are accepting test kits as donation to our constituents),” the mayor said.

EDV