The Department of Health (DOH) said it is set to include in the daily tally of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases the positive results from rapid antigen tests by next week.
“Unti-unti na po nating ipapasok itong mga positive result ng antigen test after we validate ito pong mga nairerereport sa atin (We will gradually include positive antigen test results after we validate those reported to us),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday, Sept. 25.
“So simula next week, unti-unti na nating ipapasok yan at magkakaroon naman tayo ng qualifier kung ilang ang RT-PCR, ilan ang antigen test doon sa mga kasong irereport natin sa ating public (So starting next week, we will gradually include that and we will have a qualifier on how many results were from RT-PCR and antigen tests on the reports that we are going to give to the public),” she added.
Vergeire said that they will coordinate with other government agencies in reporting positive results from antigen tests.
“Kami ay nakipag coordinate na with the MMDA and the National Task Force para matulungan tayo na mobilize natin...so we can have this registration process for clinics or local governments na gumagamit (We have coordinated with the MMDA and the National Task Force against COVID-19 to help us mobilize... so we can have this registration process for clinics or local governments that are using antigen tests),” she said.
“May specific na tayo na reporting system for that na ibabahagi sa kanila so we can make this official at maging mandato ng bawat gumagamit ng antigen na maireport ito sa ating gobyerno (We have a specific reporting system for that which will be shared with them so we can make this official and a mandate that all who use antigen tests should report the results to the government),” she added.