Quezon City rolls out mobile testing truck

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government launched yesterday its mobile community testing unit to ramp up efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The city’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU) said the modified truck would conduct rapid diagnostic and polymerase chain reaction tests on residents, especially barangay officials and frontliners.

“We will deploy the truck in areas with high number of active COVID-19 cases and places that are under special concern lockdown,” ESU chief Rolly Cruz said.

Sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Quezon City (PCCI-QC), the mobile testing unit is equipped with a generator, a mini-laboratory, negative pressure and a self-decontamination area. Three to five ESU personnel are manning the truck.

Joseph Juico, community testing project manager, said the unit would be able to help the local government cover more areas for testing. It is easier to set up due to lesser logistical re-quirements.

The city government recently hired more than 300 contact tracers and healthcare workers. Additional quarantine facilities were also established to boost the fight against COVID-19.