COVID-19 testing output in NCR drops; counts in Visayas, Mindanao rise

FILE – As of now, Metro Manila averages 189,000 COVID-19 tests per week, down from 232,000 tests per week. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines—Metro Manila has a lower COVID-19 testing output, but the number of tests has been on the rise in the Visayas and Mindanao amid the rising cases, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday.

Health Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said Metro Manila used to record about 232,000 COVID-19 tests per week, but that’s down now to only around 189,000 a week.

“Part of this would be maybe the reduction in the number of cases. Second, it may be that we are using another testing methodology kasi for this NCR Plus bubble,” she told an online media briefing.

READ: COVID-19 tally to now include positive antigen test results in NCR Plus – DOH

Meanwhile, both Visayas and Mindanao have seen a rise in COVID-19 testing output. The DOH earlier noticed an increase in COVID-19 cases in the regions.

The Visayas, for instance, was conducting 46,000 tests per week, which now increased to 50,000 tests. On the other hand, Mindanao was conducting 29,000 tests per week, which has increased to 42,000 tests.

“Nakikita natin ‘yung pagtaas ng testing outputs sa mga lugar na naaapektuhan ngayon ng pagtaas ng kaso, at dito sa NCR, nakikita natin ang kaunting pagbaba [ng testing],” she added.

(We are seeing an increase in testing output in areas affected by the increase in cases. In NCR, we are seeing a slight decrease in testing.)

DOH earlier said that cases continue to decline but at a slower pace in Manila and most of Luzon, while case spikes were seen outside the NCR Plus.

READ: New COVID-19 cases now just half of April’s peak, but cases outside NCR Plus increase

The country currently has 53,757 active COVID-19 cases, including the 7,058 new cases reported on Sunday.

abc