PH receives PCR machine, Covid-19 test kits from Singapore

I received today a donation from the Singapore government of 3,000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests and one polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine. The turnover ceremony was led by Singapore Ambassador Gerard Ho Wei Hong pic.twitter.com/jef3nUs7ZX

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) March 24, 2020

MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. received on Tuesday a total of 3,000 test kits for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and a thermal cycler from the Singaporean government.

“I received this afternoon a donation from the Singapore government of 3,000 Covid-19 diagnostic test kits and one polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine,” he said.

The equipment was personally handed to Locsin by Singaporean Ambassador to Manila Gerard Ho Wei Hong.

In a tweet, Locsin thanked the Singapore government.

The donation is among the assistance pouring in from the Philippines’ foreign partners as it addresses the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in the country.

Last week, China donated a total of 100,000 Covid-19 test kits and essential medical supplies.

The US government also allocated over PHP139 million to assist the Department of Health (DOH) in its infectious disease threat prevention and response.

In a tweet, Locsin said “someone is willing to donate refrigeration facilities”.

“I have good news. DOH told me the process of accrediting the big hospitals and labs with secure facilities to contain virus will be complete this Friday. They’ll be doing testing. Also China shipments (are) farmed out. I referred someone willing to donate refrigeration facilities,” he wrote.