Manila opens second drive-through COVID-19 testing center

MANILA, Philippines – Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday opened a drive-through testing center for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

This is the city’s second drive-through testing center after the one at the Bonifacio Monument near the city hall was launched on Wednesday.

At least 1,131 people were tested in the drive-through center at the Bonifacio Monument since it was launched, the city hall said. At least 68 persons tested positive and would undergo confirmatory swab testing.

Moreno said the testing center at the Quirino Grandstand can accommodate 700 individuals while the one at the Bonifacio Monument can accommodate 200.

The testing centers are open to all motorized vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles driven by both Manila and non-Manila residents.

“It got so much traction. We’re happy and honored that the people trust our latest move to fight COVID-19,” Moreno said.

The drive-through centers will be open from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Blood samples will be taken for processing at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc and Ospital ng Maynila, which houses the city government’s three serology testing machines, public information officer Julius Leonen said.

If a person tests positive in the serology test, he or she needs to undergo swab testing for confirmatory results. The person will be informed of his or her results within 24 hours by phone call or text message, Moreno said.

Manila residents will receive his or her results by sealed envelope personally delivered by the city government, Moreno added.

The city government will also purchase a fourth serology testing machine to be installed at the Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, Leonen said.

As of Friday, there were 3,714 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Manila, of which 1,376 were active cases while there were 2,145 recoveries and 193 deaths.