PH on track for 1 million COVID-19 tests this month
The government will likely achieve its target of conducting one million tests for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) before the month ends as it further improved its maximum testing capacity, the country's testing czar bared on Monday.
In a virtual press briefing in Malacanang, testing czar Vince Dizon said there were 978,651 tests conducted nationwide as of Saturday, July 11.
He said the number of testing laboratories increased to 85 which helped raise the maximum testing capacity to 25,000 -- close to their target of 30,000 tests before the month-end.
"Sa mga susunod na araw, lalampas na tayo sa one million tests. Kung maaalala niyo po, ito ang target na sinet natin noong nakaraang buwan na by end of July isang milyong tests na po ang test natin (In the coming days, we will surpass one million tests. If you remember, this was the target we set last month that by the end of July, we would be able to conduct one million tests)," said Dizon, who is also the deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), the average daily test is at 16,000 which saw a big improvement compared to the 2,500 daily tests in April.
With the improving testing capacity, Dizon expressed optimism that the government will be able to hit the target set by NTF COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. to conduct 10 million tests by next year.
"Papunta na po tayo sa nasabing target ng ating chief implementer (We are on our way to achieving the target set by our chief implementer)," Dizon said.
Dizon thanked the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector in taking initiatives to improve the capacity to test their constituents by acquiring and building medical equipment and supplies.
"Kailangan paigtingin pa natin ang pagtetest dahil 'yun lang ang paraan para mahanap natin ang mga maysakit sa ating mga komunidad at ma-isolate natin sila at mapabagal ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 (We need to intensify our testing because that is the only way to find those who are infected in the communities, isolate them, and slow down the spread of COVID-19)," he said.
"Tuluy-tuloy lang po tayo sa tulong ng ating LGUs at private sector (We will carry on with the help of our LGUs and the private sector)," he added.