Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 31) — The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine is suspending its laboratory operations on November 1 and 2 in anticipation of the impact of Typhoon Rolly.
Although the move is seen to reduce the country’s coronavirus testing output, Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is a necessary preventive measure.
“Kailangan po natin maintindihan…Maaaring masira nito (Typhoon Rolly) ang mga mamahaling equipment. Maaring masira nito ang mga facilities natin,” Vergeire said in an online media briefing on Saturday. “Mas magkakaroon po tayo ng delay sa ating outputs.”
[Translation: We need to understand… Typhoon Rolly can destroy our expensive equipment. It might destroy our facilities. That will result to further delays in our outputs.]
The RITM in Muntinlupa was the first facility in the country to conduct RT-PCR tests, considered the gold standard in detecting the presence of the coronavirus. It has since done over 331,000 tests, or nearly 7% of the 4.75 million total samples tested.
In a statement on Friday, the RITM said it is working on testing all the samples it has received until Saturday, since the typhoon is forecast to bring heavy to intense rains over several regions, including Metro Manila, starting Sunday morning.
“Those that would not be tested within the day (Saturday) will be stored in our -70° freezer for priority queuing when we resume operations,” said RITM Director Celia Carlos.
The RITM also assured that its personnel would reinforce facilities, secure equipment, and back up files, data, systems and programs. To prepare for possible power interruptions, the RITM also made arrangements with the DOH for the transfer of vaccines stored in the institute for the National Immunization Program.
“While the three testing streams in RITM will resume accepting referred samples on Tuesday, November 3, clinical services within the Institute will remain unhampered. Outpatient swabbing and walk-in patients will still be entertained. However, only COVID-19 cases will be admitted at the hospital,” the institute added.
The institute will provide first aid to victims who sustain injuries due to the typhoon and then have them transferred to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa.
