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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Manila to open another drive-thru COVID-19 testing center at Quirino Grandstand

Manila to open another drive-thru COVID-19 testing center at Quirino Grandstand

Published Jul 17, 2020 05:44 pm

Another drive-thru coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) testing center will soon be opened at the Quirino Grandstand.

This developed after National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) Executive Director Cecille Lorenzana-Romero agreed with the proposal of Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso to open another drive-thru testing facility at the grandstand. 

(MANILA PIO/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Domagoso on Friday announced that they will open the new drive-thru testing facility, that can accommodate up to 700 people, for a soft launch on Saturday. 

The Manila mayor bared this after long queue of vehicles started causing heavy traffic near the drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility in front of the Andres Bonifacio Monument near city hall.

"Pipilitin namin lagi magbuti (We will push ourselves to do better), to be better, we will continue to listen to you. We will continue to adapt sensible suggestions," he said during a Facebook live broadcast Thursday.

Domagoso said four-wheeled vehicles, tricycles, pedicabs, and other motorized and non-motorized vehicles will each have a designated lane so people can be accommodated faster. There will be six lanes in total. 

The Manila city government opened its first drive-thru COVID-19 testing center on Wednesday. Both residents and non-residents of the city can get tested for free, regardless of their vehicles. 

Members of the Manila Health Department (MHD) are stationed at the testing center from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday to collect blood samples that will be processed by serology testing machines.

The city government currently has three of these machines, that have an accuracy rate of 99.6 percent, installed at district hospitals in Manila. Domagoso earlier said that they are planning to buy a fourth machine.

The local chief executive said efforts to provide free testing to the public proved that people are willing to get tested for the virus as long as it is affordable and accessible.

"Totoo pala na ang tao, gusto niyang magpa-test but the problem is wala siyang access. Second problem is economic. Walang pera eh, hindi kumita eh.  Oh ngayon nagkaroon ng libre, dumagsa (It's really true that people want to get tested.  But the problem is they don't have access to it. Second problem is economic. They don't have money, they do not earn. Now, there is free testing, so they flocked here),” he said.

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