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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Nearly 10 M Filipinos can be tested for COVID-19 when test kits arrive — Galvez

Nearly 10 M Filipinos can be tested for COVID-19 when test kits arrive — Galvez

Published Jun 19, 2020 12:00 am
By Martin Sadongdong Nearly 10 million Filipinos are expected to be tested for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as the government looks forward to the arrival of test kits procured by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. (OPAPP / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr.
(OPAPP / MANILA BULLETIN) In a virtual presser on Friday night, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19, said the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM-PS) has bought 230,857 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test kits which can approximately test 8,544,282 individuals. The test kits are set to arrive "soon," he added. Further, the DBM-PS will procure an additional 15,700 RT-PCR test kits which can test 1,293,750 individuals, he noted. "Having all these test kits, we will now be able to test 9,838,032 in total. Meaning, halos 10 million po ang mate-test natin ngayon (we can now test nearly 10 million individuals)," Galvez said. The government's capacity to test individuals for COVID-19 is being challenged by the limited supply of test kits. A total of 869,044 test kits were available for use as of May 25, according to a situational report released by the NTF COVID-19 on Friday. Meanwhile, a total of 509,519 individuals have already been tested as of Wednesday, June 17, according to the latest available data from the Department of Health (DOH). The maximum testing capacity was pegged at 50,000 but there were only 12,000 actual daily tests being conducted due to the limited supply of test kits. Galvez, however, noted that a total of 15,000 tests were conducted on June 16, the highest so far. "We are looking forward to increase this dramatically once our supply will be solved by next week," Galvez said. At present, there are already 62 testing laboratories nationwide -- 27 of which are in the National Capital Region (NCR) where majority of the cases were found. Galvez said all 17 regions have at least one COVID-19 testing laboratory except for Caraga. "We are waiting for the accreditation of three laboratories there," he said.
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