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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Patronize affordable COVID-19 diagnostic tests,' Roque urges public

'Patronize affordable COVID-19 diagnostic tests,' Roque urges public

Published Sep 22, 2020 03:12 pm

At least 15 health facilities are offering affordable diagnostic tests to determine whether a person is infected with the new coronavirus disease, Malacañang announced Tuesday.

(Eloisa Lopez/Reuters / MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the public could avail themselves of the coronavirus tests ranging from P1,750 to P2,000 from these hospitals and laboratories to save costs.

“Doon na tayo magpa-PCR test. Huwag na kayong pumunta sa mga mahal (na) PCR test facilities (Go take the PCR-test in these places. Don’t go anymore to expensive PCR test facilities),” Roque said during a televised press briefing.

In Metro Manila, the PCR testing centers offering cheaper COVID tests are the Philippine Children Medical Center in Quezon City, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan City; Perpetual Help Medical Center in Las Piñas, National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City, and Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City.

The list of also includes Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga; Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City; University of Cebu Medical Center in Mandaue City; Cebu Molecular Laboratory; Baguio General Hospital; Zamboanga City Medical Center; Teresita Jalandoni Provincial General Hospital in Negros Occidental; and Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo.

The Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center and St. Paul’s Hospital both located in Tacloban, Leyte also offer COVID tests within public reach.

According to Roque, these hospitals are equipped to perform individual or pooled testing at reduced cost. Under pooled testing, the cost of diagnostic test can be brought down to P550 to P1,000. The coronavirus test results can be released within 48 hours.

Around 3.2 million individuals have so far taken the coronavirus tests with a positivity rate of 10.4 percent. The country has 99 licensed RT-PCR laboratories and 30 accredited GeneXpert laboratories.

More than 290,000 cases of infections have been reported in the country. The death toll has reached 4,999 as of September 20.

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