DOH: No need for mass testing for COVID-19 yet

The health undersecretary, however, admitted that the government has limited testing capacities and laboratory capacities and that the DOH is “being challenged” right now due to the overwhelming demand of testing kits. (Shutterstock File Photo)

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday that there is no need for mass testing for the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that is spreading throughout the country for the meantime.

But Health Undersecretary Rosette Vergeire assured that the mass testing is included in the contingency plan that the government will provide in the efforts to eradicate the threat of the coronavirus disease in the country.

“Sa ngayon po, hindi pa naman nakikitang kailangan nating gawin itong mass testing na ito pero nasa taalaan, nasa mapa, nasa radar, na kung sakaling dumating ‘yung panahon, and if we have enough resources and the government can do it, and it is already imperative for the government to do it, gagawin po natin ‘yan kung saka-sakali (For now, we don’t see the need for mass testing, but it will be included in the plans when the time comes. And if we have enough resources and the government can do it, and it is already imperative for the government to do it, we will do it if it is needed,” Vergeire said in a press briefing in Malacañang

The health undersecretary, however, admitted that the government has limited testing capacities and laboratory capacities and that the DOH is “being challenged” right now due to the overwhelming demand for testing kits.

“So ‘yun pong nababalita na medyo may delay, totoo po iyon (The reports saying that there are delays in the results are true),” Vergeire said. “Gusto nating maging straightforward (We want to be straightforward). We are being challenged right now with our testing capacity.

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The DOH previously said that the testing kits to be used in detecting COVID-19 would be produced within 24 to 48 hours.

Currently, there are 298 patients suspected to have COVID-19 registered in the government data that are still awaiting results.

The Health Department also has previously said that due to the limited amount of testing kits available in the country, the elderly and patients who are displaying signs of the coronavirus disease such as fever, headache, cough and colds will be prioritized.

Vergeire assured that more test kits and medical gears for health workers will arrive in the country.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday also said that around 125,000 of test kits will arrive from China and South Korea will arrive within this week.

As of the latest record on Thursday, the Philippines currently has 217 patients who were confirmed positive of the novel coronavirus with a death toll of seven, and eight recoveries.