Manila mayor offers free COVID-19 swab tests for med students attending face-to-face classes

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City government can offer free Covid-19 swab tests for students who would be attending face-to-face classes in medical schools in the locality, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said Friday.

Moreno said he would prefer that students be subjected to swab testing as they attend physical classes for their peace of mind.

“The City of Manila, we have three machines and two laboratories. We can offer [swab test] regularly. Para magkaroon sila ng peace of mind (for their peace of mind), we can submit them to swab testing, and it can be available for free so that it would not add cost to the students,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

The mayor said this following the approval of the Manila City government for the University of Santo Tomas to resume limited face-to-face classes for its medical and allied health programs.

Moreno said the local government unit (LGU) will also welcome applications from other universities and schools offering medical programs in the city to conduct face-to-face classes.

The Manila LGU’s approval of UST’s proposal comes after President Rodrigo Duterte allowed the resumption of limited face-to-face classes for medical and allied health programs in institutions located in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ areas.

The move was meant to ensure that the country will have enough doctors amid the pandemic, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

EDV

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