As new testing technologies emerge everyday, the Philippines should be quick and ready to adopt these to help in the country's COVID-19 response.
(NTF AGAINST COVID-19 / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Dapat po ang Pilipinas ay handa at mabilis din mag-adopt pero siyempre kailangan natin i-validate 'yung accuracy at 'yung efficiency nung mga test na ito (The country should be ready and quick to adopt but we also need to validate their accuracy and efficiency)," Deputy Chief Implementer and Testing Czar Secretary Vince Dizon said during the National Task Force press briefing Wednesday.
"Meron tayong proseso sa Pilipinas, meron tayong mga eksperto (We have a process here in the Philippines, and we have to experts to validate these)," he added.
Dizon said that they at the NTF believe that the country should be very open to adopting new technologies. This should be an option especially if experts would be quick to analyze and study new tests. He mentioned new ones such as the antigen test to be piloted in Baguio City and the breath test from Israel.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said he is supporting a breath test from an Israel-based tech-company.
“This new testing innovation, on top of the saliva COVID-19 testing that we initially supported, will enhance the country’s testing arsenal, keep the economy open, and help our micro, small, and medium enterprises in different hard-hit sectors who are struggling the most. This will also ensure that we are using all available tools to combat the spread of the disease,” Concepcion said.
He believes that adding the breath test, a technology developed by an Israel-based company, BioSafety Technologies Ltd. (a subsidiary of TeraGroup), on top of the saliva COVID-19 test, will deliver a fast clearance solution for determining if a person is negative for COVID-19. It can detect asymptomatic individuals as early as one to two days after being infected.