Galvez: Objective is 10,000 tests a day to stem the spread of virus
By MB Online
The government aims to expand the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing to at least 10,000 tests per day to stop the spread of the disease, Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday.
Galvez, pandemic response chief implementer, stressed that the "testing, the tracing and also the treatment, this is our strategy. We really have to detect, isolate and treat possible COVID-19 cases."
"We really wanted to have an expanding testing of at least 6,000-7,000, even 10,000 here in Metro Manila," he added.
He said that the real challenge is the immediate accreditation of those applying as test laboratories.
Galvez also added that several cities in Metro Manila have already started testing suspected cases in their communities.
"In Quezon City and in Valenzuela they already did the mass testing. I believe also in Manila, they are also preparing," he said.
Also in Marikina, we are still looking for the possibility for the accreditation of its testing labs, I believe the mayor there is very aggresive in conducting testing," Galvez continued.
Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro had announced on Tuesday that they are going to open their COVID-19 testing center even without the approval of the Departmen of Health.
There are so far 16 laboratories that can conduct COVID-19 tests nationwide.
As of Tuesday, the country has recorded 5,223 coronavirus infections. Of those, 335 died and 295 recovered.