The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the importance of releasing the test results for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a fast manner---so as not to delay the needed response in controlling the deadly illness.
WHO Country Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said that this is important to be able to perform contact tracing initiatives and expedite treatment of those infected.
“To get speedy contact tracing and make quarantining and isolation possible---you need to be able to get testing results very early,” said Abeyasinghe during a media forum on Tuesday.
“The shorter the period is, the earlier the contact tracing and suppression measures can happen,” he added.
Abeyasinghe urged the Philippines to also speed up the release of COVID-19 test results, adding that the “ideal” turnaround time would be “less than 24 hours.”
“It is apparent that the Philippines is making progress and we urge that window to be narrowed further and also share that information to public health authorities--- so that information can be used for rapid contact tracing and suppression of further transmission,” he said.
“Early on in the outbreak, we had significant backlog in testing. WHO is happy to note that now that the backlog has been reduced to, I believe, less than 48 hours in getting testing results,” he added.
In a press briefing last July 10, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the current average turnaround time for the test results is between 24 to 50 hours.
Meanwhile, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that several countries are “heading in the wrong direction” in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked if the Philippines is included here, Abeyasinghe replied: “I think the Philippines continues to improve its response.”
“I wouldn't say that the Philippines does not have a good response because you have had coordinated response right from the beginning--through the Interagency Task Force and the National Task Force leading effort---this has been a whole of government and society response,” he said.
Balance between health and economy
In a related development, Abeysinghe said that there should be a balance between managing the economy and controlling the spread of COVID-19.
Abeyasinghe said that they are aware of increasing transmission in the National Capital Region but this is “not something unique to the Philippines,” as most countries that relaxed their restrictions also “see an upsurge of cases.”
“What is important is that we recognize that relaxation of the stringent measures is necessary because a stringent lockdown comes with a huge socio-economic cost which countries need to manage,” he said.
“We are aware that the Philippines needs to open up its economy and so as I mentioned right at the beginning--- it's about how we manage the pandemic, how we manage the rising number of cases while getting the economy open,” he added.
The WHO official reminded the public to follow the minimum health standards “because if we don't do this, we are going to contribute to further increasing of transmission.”
“The response of the government has been very welcomed but this also needs to be supported by each and everyone of us who have a responsibility because physical distancing as I mentioned, practicing cough etiquette, frequent hand washing are key--- needs to continually follow if we want to get the economy moving,” said Abeyasinghe.