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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gov't hopes to roll out antigen test, a faster testing technology for COVID-19 soon

Gov't hopes to roll out antigen test, a faster testing technology for COVID-19 soon

Published Sep 18, 2020 04:00 pm

The government hopes to introduce the antigen test, a faster testing technology for COVID-19 soon, said government COVID-19 testing czar Vince Dizon Friday.

Testing czar Vince Dizon (NTF AGAINST COVID-19 / MANILA BULLETIN)

“Ang bago ngayong testing na pinag-aaralan na hopefully na magkaroon na ng final guidelines ang ating Department of Health ay 'yung antigen test (The new technology being studied with the DoH hopefully coming out with the guidelines is the antigen test),” he said during Malacanang’s virtual presser

Dizon said he tried the antigen test Thursday in General Santos City along with government COVID-19 response chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Baguio City Mayor and contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong.

“Kami pong lahat ay nagulat sa bilis ng resulta (We were surprised at the speed the results came out),” he recounted.

Dizon said the results came out after 15 minutes along with text message, e-mail, and certificate.

“Sana po ay makakuha na tayo ng guidelines sa susunod ng mga araw o susunod na linggo para po talaga maximize natin itong bagong teknolohiya na ito (We hope that the guidelines will be released in the following days or weeks so we can maximize the use of this technology),” the testing czar said.

Dizon believes that the antigen testing will be beneficial to the country’s COVID-19 response.

“Kaya po sana magamit na natin ito hindi lamang sa border crossings or sa pagbubukas ng turismo kundi magamit natin ito sa ating mga communities (We hope we can use this not only border crossing and the opening of tourism),” he said.

“Dahil po ang bilis ng pagte-test ay kritikal sa bilis ng pagte-trace, kritikal din sa bilis ng pag-i-isolate, at kritikal rin sa bilis ng pagte-treat (The speed of testing is critical in the speed of contact tracing, isolation, and treatment for COVID-19),” Dizon added.

Dizon also revealed that the number of persons who have been tested for COVID-19 will reach four million by next month.

“Mahigit tatlong milyon na at siguro pagdating ng Oktubre ay lalampas na tayo ng apat na milyon (We already reached three million tests and by October we might reach over four million),” said Dizon,

Dizon assured the public that the government will not relent in conducting tests for COVID-19.

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