Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez said on Friday (April 23) that local government units (LGUs) were allowed to use antigen tests for quick detection and tracing of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
Olivarez said the result of the antigen test will be known instantly and the local government can immediately isolate suspecedt and probable persons who contracted the virus.
He said the gold standard for COVID-19 testing is still the reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
The mayor added that antigen tests may be less accurate but they are more useful in checking current infections.
Olivarez said antigen testsare also cheaper and quicker to use than the RT-PCR tests.
He said the City Health Office recorded a total of 1,269 active cases with 211 new cases.
Among the 16 barangays in the city, five barangays are still being closely watched for recording high numbers of COVID-19 cases. These are barangays Don Bosco with 154 cases, Moonwalk with 151, BF Homes with 145, San Antonio with 121, and San Dionisio with 101.