Tracing and testing in communities will be intensified under the two-week Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), testing czar Vince Dizon said on Thursday.
At the launch of the COVID-19 Command Center in Makati City, Dizon maintained they are visiting various Local Government Units (LGUs) daily to test, trace and isolate those infected by the coronavirus disease (COVID 19).
He said it is the best way possible if the country wants to reopen businesses.
"Hindi naman tayo pwedeng hindi na magbukas ng ekonomiya lalong-lalo na marami sa mga kababayan natin ay kailangan tuloy tuloy na magtrabaho (We cannot keep the economy closed since many of our citizens need to work continously)," he added.
Meanwhile, Dizon said there are currently 1,700 rooms used as isolation facilities under Oplan kalinga, but 1,400 of this is now occupied.
The government is aiming to add 3,000 rooms by next week.
"Ang ginagawa din natin ngayon ay ang DPWH sa pamumuno ng ating isolation czar Secretary Mark Villar ay magbubukas ng dagdag na 3,000 additional beds sa ating mga We Heal as One centers dito sa Metro Manila at sa Region IV-A. Sa kasalukuyan meron tayong 3,000 pero magdadagdag pa tayo ng 3,000 beds at magbubukas yan lahat ngayong Agosto (What we are doing now is that with DPWH under isolation czar Mark Villar, we will open 3,000 additional beds in our We heal as One Centers here in Metro Manila and Region IV-A. Curently we have 3,000 but we will have an additional 3,000 more beds this month)," Dizon said.
Around 500 new beds were also added to the East Avenue Medical Center and the Quirino Hospital this month.
They will also be inspecting the ongoing construction of the new We heal as One Centers in the National Capital Region, Region III and Region IV.