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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Garin urges pool testing as cases of local COVID-19 transmission increase in Iloilo

Garin urges pool testing as cases of local COVID-19 transmission increase in Iloilo

Published Aug 11, 2020 05:54 pm

ILOILO CITY — With the surge in locally transmitted cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Iloilo first district Rep. Janette L. Garin is pushing for pooled testing in the city and province of Iloilo.

Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette L. Garin (Tara Yap/Manila Bulletin)
Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette L. Garin (Tara Yap/Manila Bulletin)

“Our authorities are looking for the 10 percent, but it is the 90 percent who are the ones aggressively transmitting COVID-19,” Garin told The Manila Bulletin in an interview Tuesday, August 11.

Her observation came after more than 300 new local cases were recorded in Iloilo City for a one-week period that were traced to the Iloilo Fish Port and several call centers, which have been linked to some new cases in towns of Iloilo province.

Pooled testing is the practice of combining swab samples of several individuals from a particular area or industry to be tested by using less materials, and is designed to find out if there are positives or not. If a positive came back, it means there will be a need to conduct individual testing.

Garin said Iloilo City, the 42 towns of Iloilo province and component city of Passi can replicate the Project ARK initiative that was launched in Makati City last week.

Garin, a former secretary of health, said it was imperative to be proactive than reactive, and not wait for more COVID-19 positives.

On the other hand, Garin also urged the 44 local governments in Iloilo to have closer coordination as travel between the city and towns are part of the Ilonggos daily routine.

“We need to have a direction and not do things on our own because it does not help when COVID-19 is spreading and other officials are not informed or involved until it is too late,” Garin warned.

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