San Juan starts mass testing

MANILA, Philippines — San Juan started mass testing residents yesterday as the city government ramped up its testing capacity with the national government’s move to hand it the reins to a “mega swabbing” facility in Manila.

Mayor Francis Zamora said the city government would be able to test an average of 500 to 700 people each day since San Juan now manages the Palacio de Maynila swabbing facility.

Palacio de Maynila, which has over 70 testing booths, was converted into a swabbing facility in May and was said to be able to test more than 7,000 individuals on an 18-hour schedule and over 5,000 on a 12-hour schedule.

It is one of the government’s mega swabbing centers in Luzon. The others are at the Enderun Tent in Taguig City, Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

Zamora said the city has also maximized its quarantine and contact tracing capabilities, making the city ready, no matter the quarantine status of Metro Manila.

The city government ­­– with its offer of free health care, medicine, food, internet connection and P3,000 cash assistance to COVID-19 patients who would voluntarily admit themselves in the city’s quarantine centers ­– has sped up contact tracing and sending patients to isolation facilities, he added.

As of Aug. 10, San Juan has recorded 363 active cases, 54 deaths and 825 recoveries ­­– a total of 1,242 confirmed COVID-19 patients.