Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 28)- The Department of Health said the 19 testing facilities in the country can now conduct up to 6,320 tests on COVID-19 a day.
It was an increase from the approximate 4,500 testing capacity it reported recently.
However, it is a little bit far from its target of 8,000 tests daily at the end of the month. DOH is also targeting to conduct 30,000 daily tests by May 30.
Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said that the agency is doing its best to increase the testing capacity by procuring equipment and other supplies for sub-national laboratories, hiring of more laboratory technicians, faster approval of licenses for laboratories, and activation of GeneXpert laboratories.
DOH says it had conducted 84,738 laboratory tests as of yesterday. Of this number, 74,743 test negative, while 9,858 are positive for COVID-19, including repeat tests.
