Philippines now has 8 COVID-19 testing centers, says Nograles
MANILA, Philippines — There are now eight COVID-19 testing centers across the country, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Friday morning.
Nograles, spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the following facilities can now process tests for COVID-19:
Luzon
- Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City
- San Lazaro Hospital, Manila City
- UP National Institutes of Health, Manila City
- Lung Center of the Philippines, Quezon City
- Baguio General Hospital and Mendical Center in Benguet
Visayas
- Western Visayas Medical Center, Iloilo City
- Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City
Mindanao
- Southern medical Center in Davao
More accredited COVID-19 testing centers will mean faster identification and isolation of COVID-19 infected individuals, Nograles explained.
Mass testing
On Thursday night, presidential adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the task force is eyeing to start COVID-19 mass testing on April 14.
Galvez is the appointed chief implementer of the National Action Plan against COVID-19.
In a press briefing, he said that the task force has asked the Department of Health to expedite accreditation of more hospitals to boost testing capability.
"On massive testing for [Patients Under Investigation] and [Patients Under Monitoring], we are also determined to fast track the accreditation of substantial laboratories so we can start the massive testing," he also said.
"We expect that by April 14, we shall be able to start massive testing," he added.
National COVID-19 infections tally is currently at 2,633 while death toll is recorded at 107.
Data from the health department also showed that there are additional 1,154 persons under investigation and 6,321 persons under monitoring. — Kristine Joy Patag
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Photo shows members of the Philippine National Police deployed in Manila amid COVID-19 threat. The STAR/Edd Gumban
President Rodrigo Duterte on March 16, 2020 declares an enhanced community quarantine over all of mainland Luzon, an expansion of an earlier general community quarantine over the National Capital Region.
The entire National Capital Region—16 cities and a municipality—is under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, which means the enforcement of social distancing measures like letting fewer people on public transportation, reduced store hours, and the possibiity of curfews.
According to a memorandum issued by the Palace on Saturday, March 14, the quarantine means that "movement of people shall be limited to accessing basic necessities and work; and uniformed personnel and quarantine officers shall be present at border points."
Travel restrictions in and out of the capital will also be implemented.
A labor group says another lockdown will never resolve rising COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after the government announced that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under the enhanced community quarantine starting Monday.
“The Duterte government seems to be deliberate in focusing its efforts in imposing quarantine and lockdown measures instead of addressing the rising cases of COVID-19 and the worsening state of the pandemic through medical solutions and scientific approach,” says Defend Jobs Philippines.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque says the implementation of enhanced community quarantine is meant to slow down the increase of COVID-19 cases, so hospitals and health workers will not be overwhelmed.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announces that Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal are placed under enhanced community quarantine starting Monday, March 29.
Tuguegarao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine from January 20 to 29 due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the city.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba approved the request of Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano to place the city under ECQ for 10 days.
According to the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the city currently has 246 active cases.
BREAKING NEWS | ENERO 19, 2021 RIATF INAPRUBAHAN NA ANG PAGSASAILALIM SA TUGUEGARAO CITY SA 10-ARAW NA...
Posted by Cagayan Provincial Information Office on Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Batangas, one of the provinces hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, has reported no new cases of the disease for two consecutive days.
The provincial DOH Office says the number of COVID-19 cases in the province stood at 91 with no new cases as of Wednesday afternoon.
Lipa City has the most cases with 26, followed by Batangas City (21) and Nasugbu (11).
Tanauan City has the fourth most cases with eight, followed by Bauan (5) and Alitagtag (3). Cuenca and Sto. Tomas City had two cases each, while the municipalities of Calaca, Lemery, Lian, Lobo, Mabini, Mataas na Kahoy, Padre Garcia, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual and Taal had one case each, respectively. — The Filipino Connection
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