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PH Red Cross to test 7K specimens a day in Cordillera Autonomous Region

Philippines | National

PH Red Cross to test 7K specimens a day in Cordillera Autonomous Region

By Merlina Hernando-Malipot

Answering the call of the national government, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) gave its commitment to test thousands of specimens in a day in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).

(Philippine Red Cross / MANILA BULLETIN)

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard Gordon said that PRC will be supporting the national government’s Aggressive Community Testing (ACT) from Aug. 24 to 28.

The ACT targets several vulnerable and high-risk barangays that are severely affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within the region - specifically in the Province of Apayao.

The continued and full-blown implementation of the ACT Program, together with Oplan Kalinga (OK), and the Mega Swabbing Facilities (MSFs) is part of the government's efforts in strengthening the country's capacity in testing to contain the spread of the virus.

In a letter addressed to Gordon, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon appealed to the PH Red Cross for help as 7,000 specimens a day are needed to be tested from CAR.

Gordon said that PRC Isabela Chapter has a molecular laboratory that can assist the government's ACT program. “I already instructed the PRC to boost up the Isabela molecular laboratory's capacity so it can provide 7,000 specimens a day,” he added.

This move, Gordon said, is a proof that the PH Red Cross is the government’s partner in its programs. “The Philippine Red Cross is always first, always ready, and always there,” he added.

The PRC molecular laboratory in Isabela opened in November 2020. Currently, it has a testing capacity of 2,000 specimens a day.

Since it started last year, PRC noted that its Isabela testing center has swabbed 43,776 and saliva tests at 30,881.

Related Tags

Philippine Red Cross covid-19 richard gordon COVID-19 TESTING

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