The Manila city government received an award from the Department of Health (DOH)-Metro Manila Center for Health Development on Friday, October 16 for its response to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
"The Department of Health-Metro Manila Center for Health Development recognizes the city of Manila for its relentless implementation of COVID-19 response and ensuring the provision of quality health services in the community," the plaque read.
In a Facebook post, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso thanked the Manila Health Department and the city's six district hospitals for their service amid the pandemic.
"Makakaasa po kayong hindi tayo titigil hangga't nananatili ang pagkalat ng makapaminsalang sakit na ito (You may rest assured that we will not stop as long as this harmful disease is spreading)," his post read.
"Nawa'y sa pagtutulungan ng ating mga opisina sa Pamahalaang Lungsod at ng mga Batang Maynila ay mapabuti natin ang kalagayan ng kalusugan ng lahat (We hope that through the cooperation of the different offices in the city government and the Manileños, we will be able to improve the state of everyone's health)," he added.
Manila has two molecular laboratories where patients can get free swab tests at Sta. Ana Hospital.
The city also has two drive-thru testing facilities in front of the Andres Bonifacio Monument and at the Quirino Grandstand, and five walk-in testing centers at Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, Ospital ng Maynila, and Ospital ng Tondo.
Two mobile testing clinics also make rounds at two barangays per day.
Blood samples collected at the drive-thru and walk-in centers, and mobile testing clinics, are processed using a serology testing machine that has an accuracy rate of 99.6 percent.
The capital city has a capacity of 1,000 swab tests per day and 100,000 serology tests per month.
The city government has also opened at least 13 quarantine facilities all over Manila for suspect and probable COVID-19 patients.
It has also acquired medical equipment and medicines, such as remdesivir, and hired additional health workers to strengthen the city's health sector.
The city government hired tailors, seamstresses, and master cutters to create a million face masks for the city's residents.
Health workers from the city's district hospitals are also ensured hazard pay and an endowment benefit of P1 million should they fall to the deadly disease.
As of Sunday noon, Manila has a total of 18,790 cases, data from the city government showed. Of this figure, 624 are active cases, 17,609 have recovered, and 557 have died.