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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Red Cross laboratory starts COVID-19 tests

Red Cross laboratory starts COVID-19 tests

Published Apr 15, 2020 12:00 am
By MB Online The laboratory of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) can now conduct tests independently for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health announced Tuesday night. This brings to 16 the total number of facilities capable of testing people for the respiratory disease. "We now have 16 certified laboratories in the country that are capable of conducting Real Time RT-PCR for COVID-19!," DOH said in an advisory. "DOH is committed to strengthen testing capabilities of the country and capacitate more laboratories to conduct tests," it added. COVID-19 Response Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that the health authorities are expediting the accreditation of 15 other facilities. He also said the country is aiming to conduct at least 10,000 COVID-19 tests per day to stop the spread of the disease. As of Tuesday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 5,223. Of those, 335 died and 295 recovered.
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