‘Sweeper rapid testing’ in Lapu-Lapu

CEBU, Philippines — The Lapu-Lapu City government started yesterday the COVID-19 testing on residents from sitios without infection cases.

The initiative is called the “sweeper rapid testing,” which is scheduled for three days—from May 16 to 18.

Mayor Junard Chan said the primary target of the testing are sitios that did not record cases of the infection.

“Sweeper, murag manilhig ta’g balik sa mga barangay ug sitio nga wala maigo,” he said in a statement.

He said the testing is a scientific way of getting samples in sitios and puroks to help determine the health status of a certain area.

Testing teams from the city’s health department were sent to barangays that logged low turnout during the targeted rapid mass testing for COVID-19 last week.

The teams conducted tests in six different venues.

Grace Carungay, head of the testing team, said yesterday’s testing covered residents of Barangays Santa Rosa, San Vicente and Sabang on Olango Island. It was held at the Sta. Rosa gymnasium.

Also tested were residents of Barangays Tingo, Talima, Caw-oy, Baring, and Tungasan. The testing was done at the mini Hoops Dome.

Residents of Barangay Gun-ob also underwent testing held at the Mahayahay Cockpit.

Those from Barangays Marigondon, Subabasbas, and Canjulao were tested in their respective barangays.

Today, the sweeper teams will conduct test in Barangays Pusok, Buaya, Babag, Agus, and Calawisan.

Tomorrow, they will visit Barangays Basak, Pajac, and Looc.

Carungay said they might add more barangays that were not included in their official list for sweeper testing.

Rapid Testing

As of Friday, only Barangays Punta Engano, Caubian, Pangan-an, Ibo, and Pajo exceeded the number of residents targeted for rapid mass testing.

The island barangay of Caohagan, on the other hand, tested 100 percent of its targeted number of residents.

Of the city’s 30 villages, 14 were able to test half of their target, while 10 others reported a below 50 percent testing rate.

Chan has urged residents to submit themselves to COVID-19 testing.

“Kadtong wala na-test pwedi mo moadto sa maong barangay para magpa-test, pag-tabang sa syudad, pagpakita sa kinatibuk-an nga hitsura sa syudad mahitungod aning COVID-19,” he said.

He also asked residents to continue wearing face mask, washing hands, and maintaining social distancing.

Cebu City

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the city will conduct a “shooting test” in all 80 barangays to meet the target.

The city targets to test 10 percent of the total number of households per barangay or 46,896 individuals.

“We are pursuing our rapid testing and there will be a shooting test in all barangays so that we can achieve the ideal 10 percent number of household, and so that we can have a credible sample size to get a good picture of the prevalence of the spread of the virus in the City of Cebu,” he said.

The city reported a low turnout during  the strategic mass testing for COVID-19.

Only 5,429 of the 17, 536 individuals identified from Cebu City have been tested, reporting a 31 percent turnout rate as of May 14.

Labella asked his constituents to participate in the free testing.

“I urge each and everyone to be tested and be a hero, if you get tested you do not only help yourself, but it is also a way of helping others to protect other people, so be tested not just for you but for the sake of the others especially your loved ones,” he said.

Moreover, Labella said the city is evaluating the situations in Sitio Callejon, Barangay Labangon and Sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz after reports of new recoveries for the possible lifting of the lockdown order.

Sitio Zapatera, for instance, has reported 76 recoveries yesterday.

Recently, Labella lifted the lockdown in Sitio Cabajar in Barangay Guadalupe and Sitio Sto. Niño, A. Lopez of Barangay Labangon. KQD (FREEMAN)