Parañaque city starts mass testing
Published Apr 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Jean Fernando
The Parañaque City government launched on April 20 its mass testing against COVID-19. The first batch that was tested were the city’s frontline workers.
(Mayor Edwin Olivarez / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Parañaque’s healthcare workers were tested to ensure that they remain healthy and coronavirus-free while performing their duties at the testing centers.
Olivarez said police and traffic enforcers will be tested next, followed by individuals identified with probable cases and are being monitored by the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the city health office.
He said mass testing is for free and those who wanted to be tested must register to be given a schedule, a procedure necessary to avoid long lines at testing centers, which would be detrimental to stemming the spread of the disease.
The mayor also told city residents to be patient with the testing because the local health office can only test by groups.
Olivarez also said the city government will do its best to help residents who want to be tested.
Dr. Olga Virtusio, Parañaque city health officer, said that after testing probable and suspected cases, they will conduct mass testing for those who have had contact with individuals positive with COVID-19 even when they don’t exhibit any symptoms. These include overseas Filipino workers and those who have had trips to other countries.
Virtusio said that the city’s testing centers are located at Parañaque National High School (main campus) in Bgy. San Dionisio, San Antonio High School in Bgy. San Antonio, Ospital ng Parañaque (main) in Bgy. La Huerta, and Ospital ng Parañaque 2 located at Bgy. Don Bosco.
The testing centers, Virtusio said, are open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.
The city health officer said these testing center will be disinfected and sanitized on Saturdays and Sundays.
Meanwhile, Mar Jiminez, chief of the Parañaque’s Public Information Office, said that the city government aims to test at least 300 residents per day.
(Mayor Edwin Olivarez / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Mayor Edwin Olivarez, Parañaque’s healthcare workers were tested to ensure that they remain healthy and coronavirus-free while performing their duties at the testing centers.
Olivarez said police and traffic enforcers will be tested next, followed by individuals identified with probable cases and are being monitored by the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the city health office.
He said mass testing is for free and those who wanted to be tested must register to be given a schedule, a procedure necessary to avoid long lines at testing centers, which would be detrimental to stemming the spread of the disease.
The mayor also told city residents to be patient with the testing because the local health office can only test by groups.
Olivarez also said the city government will do its best to help residents who want to be tested.
Dr. Olga Virtusio, Parañaque city health officer, said that after testing probable and suspected cases, they will conduct mass testing for those who have had contact with individuals positive with COVID-19 even when they don’t exhibit any symptoms. These include overseas Filipino workers and those who have had trips to other countries.
Virtusio said that the city’s testing centers are located at Parañaque National High School (main campus) in Bgy. San Dionisio, San Antonio High School in Bgy. San Antonio, Ospital ng Parañaque (main) in Bgy. La Huerta, and Ospital ng Parañaque 2 located at Bgy. Don Bosco.
The testing centers, Virtusio said, are open from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.
The city health officer said these testing center will be disinfected and sanitized on Saturdays and Sundays.
Meanwhile, Mar Jiminez, chief of the Parañaque’s Public Information Office, said that the city government aims to test at least 300 residents per day.