By Carla Dena
LAGUNA - The Department of Health (DOH) released on Monday, June 29, the licenses to operate and certification of two coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing laboratories in the province.
(UPLB website)
The University of the Philippines-Los Baños COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (UPLB-CMDL) and the San Pablo City District Hospital - Laguna Molecular Laboratory were given the green light to perform independent testing using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
The two testing facilities will operate until December 31, 2020.
UPLB previously announced that the six laboratory analysts of their molecular laboratory garnered a perfect score in the Proficiency Test for SARS-CoV-2 Detection, which is the final stage of the assessment process.
The Laguna Molecular Laboratory, on the other hand, was inaugurated Thursday, June 25, along with the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Laguna Provincial Hospital - San Pablo City District Hospital (LPH-SPCDH).
During the inauguration, Governor Ramil Hernandez thanked Laguna's frontliners for their sacrifice and dedication throughout the pandemic. He also assured the public that the provincial government is doing all it can to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Data from the DOH Center for Health Development (CHD) Region 4A shows that Laguna currently has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Calabarzon.
As of June 29, the provincial government has recorded 775 total confirmed cases, with 513 recoveries and 51 deaths.
The cities of San Pedro, Biñan, and Santa Rosa have recorded more than a hundred confirmed cases each.