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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Dizon: Mass testing not recommended by experts

Dizon: Mass testing not recommended by experts

Published Apr 6, 2021 03:28 pm

National Task Force Deputy Chief Implementer and Testing Czar Vince Dizon on Tuesday, April 6, underscored the need to conduct risk-based and targeted testing rather than testing the entire Filipino population.

FREE SWAB TEST – The city government called residents, workers and organization to avail the last day of free swab test today (Sept.19) from 8:a.m to 3:00 p.m at the Centralized Triage Center, Baguio Convention Center, Baguio City. (Photo by Zaldy Comanda / MANILA BULLETIN)
(Photo by Zaldy Comanda / MANILA BULLETIN)

Citing recommendations from medical journals and health experts, Dizon said mass testing does not guarantee low cases and death, noting that mass testing is also "not feasible nor practical."

"Ang mass testing ay hindi inire-rekomenda. Ang importante, ang sinasabi ng mga eksperto, kasama na rin ang mga eksperto sa Pilipinas, kailangan ang testing natin ay risk-based at very targeted (Mass testing is not recommended. What's important, and this is what the experts are saying, including Filipino experts, we need risk-based and very targeted testing)," Dizon said in a Palace briefing.

"Ang pinakaimportante pa rin, na unanimous lahat ng eksperto ay ang pagpapatupad ng minimum health standards, ay pagsusuot ng mask, ang paghuhugas lagi ng kamay, at pagdidistansya. Ang testing kailangan kaakibat nyan ay ang mabilis na pagte-trace at mabilis na isolation (The most important, which all experts are unanimous, is the implementation of minimum health standards. Wearing masks, always washing hands, and maintaining distance. Testing should also be accompanied by contact tracing and isolation)," he added.

Dizon said risk-based and targeted testing means testing of persons recommended by a doctor, close contacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) positive individuals, are those coming from areas with high cases of COVID-19.

The Department of Health defines mass testing as testing those who are persons under investigation, vulnerable populations, healthcare workers, and those who have been exposed to confirmed COVID-19 cases.

As of April 5, the country has already conducted 10,421,636 COVID-19 tests. The average number of tests conducted per day is currently 57,524.

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