Gov’t eyes 78 Covid-19 testing centers by end-May

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte updates the nation on the government’s efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on May 4, 2020. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – The government targets to have 78 laboratory testing centers in strategic parts of the country as part of measures to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, according to National Policy Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vivencio Dizon.

During a taped meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte with members of the Cabinet and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases aired late Monday evening, Dizon said 58 more laboratory testing facilities will open until the end of the month.

To date, 20 laboratory testing centers are operating nationwide from only three testing facilities in February.

Dizon said the 58 testing centers are already in the advanced stage of accreditation.

“We need to speed up the accreditation in order for them to begin operation for the month of May,” said Dizon, who is also the Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects as well as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive officer.

He added that the government is also building four mega swabbing centers in Metro Manila, which will be completed next week.

These swabbing centers are located at the Philippine Sports Stadium inside the Philippine Arena, the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Enderun Colleges in Taguig City, and the Palacio de Maynila Tent in Roxas Boulevard.

Dizon pointed out the need to ramp up testing capacity for the government to quickly identify and isolate those who are infected as well as to ease the current community quarantine measures which are slowing down the economy.

“We need to ramp up testing to save lives.

What the challenge now is how we ramp up our testing, in which we are comfortable enough in easing the restrictions,” he said.

He added that the country could draw experience from countries like Vietnam, Germany, and New Zealand, which are aggressive in doing mass testing for Covid-19.

“It is necessary that we really need to invest in testing capacity because vaccine is not coming soon,” Dizon said.

As of Monday, confirmed Covid-19 cases in the Philippines reached 9,485, with 1,315 recoveries and 623 deaths.