Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) — Iloilo City has joined the list of localities conducting targeted mass testing for COVID-19.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said they have started using rapid test kits to examine those suspected to have contracted the disease. Once they get positive results, the patients would be isolated and shall undergo confirmatory PCR testing, he said.
Among the first batch they have tested for COVID-19 are three “undocumented” overseas Filipino workers who came home to Iloilo.
The usage of rapid tests for COVID-19 still lacks approval from the country’s Food and Drug Administration.
According to the mayor, one of the three OFWs was found to have been infected using both rapid and PCR tests. Meanwhile, all three initially tested positive using only the rapid tests.
The mayor has earlier expressed his frustration towards the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for allowing the said undocumented passengers to join the group of other repatriated OFWs, who have already finished their mandatory 14-day quarantine.
“I was terribly shocked to learn that there was a violation of protocols established by the IATF,” he said in a statement. “Protocols established by the IATF are there for a reason, and we should adhere to them.”
According to Treñas, they are still waiting for more test kits coming from Manila, which are PCR-based, as well as additional test kits from Korea donated by Ilonggo businessmen.
They are also purchasing test kits developed by the University of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the city of Mabalacat in Pampanga is also preparing to begin localized mass testing next week.
Mabalacat Mayor Crisostomo Garbo said they aim to conduct around 100 to 200 tests per day.
“Dito sa ating data, ‘di pa naman gano’n kalaki pa ang ating mga PUMs,” Garbo told CNN Philippines. [Translation: Here in our data, the number of our persons under monitoring is still not that large.] He added that out of the 804 persons they are monitoring so far, 607 have already completed their quarantine.
‘Rapid tests not recommended’
The Department of Health earlier reiterated it does not recommend using rapid tests for COVID-19, as there is still no clear evidence that these are reliable.
The reminder came after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered on Monday the immediate purchase of rapid test kits, saying he will “take the risk.”
READ: Duterte orders purchase of rapid COVID-19 test kits
Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said that should these tests be used, patients will have to undergo a confirmatory PCR test afterwards.
She also stressed that only licensed doctors may administer or interpret rapid test kits.
The other two are still awaiting confirmatory PCR test results.
