Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 31)— The Health Department is appealing to COVID-19 testing centers and laboratories nationwide to continue operations even during the Holy Week in order to monitor the trends and new cases coming in.
“Nakikiusap kami na sa ating lahat ng laboratoryo, because of this increase in the number of cases that we are experiencing, we implore to all of our laboratories, please, do not close,” Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday in a media forum.
“Kailangan lang po tayong bukas para magkaroon pa rin tayo ng tuloy tuloy na pagmo-monitor nitong ating mga kasong pumapasok,” she added.
[Translation: We are appealing to all laboratories, because of this increase in the number of cases that we are experiencing, we implore to all of our laboratories, please, do not close. We need to remain open so we can continue to monitor the new cases coming in.]
Vergeire’s appeal comes amid concerns that the DOH may report a lower number of new virus infections in the next few days if testing centers take a break for Holy Week.
She said the agency has released a memorandum for regional directors to ensure “continuity in operations” of all its laboratories this coming holidays.
The Philippines has been recording continuous spikes in new daily COVID-19 cases, which reached a record 10,016 on Monday.
Tuesday’s nationwide tally stood at 9,296, but the latest figure did not include data from nine testing laboratories which have not submitted their reports, DOH noted.
