Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25) — The government received on Saturday 700 coronavirus test kits from South Korea capable of conducting a total of 35,000 tests, amid efforts to increase the country’s diagnostic capacity.
South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man handed over the test kits in a ceremony attended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin, Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and (ret.) Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesperson of the National Task Force on COVID-19.
The shipment, worth around ₱25.38 million, arrived on Friday night.
“The test kits are compatible with local COVID-19 testing systems and were immediately delivered to the [Department of Health],” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet.
The Philippines currently has 18 accredited laboratories that can conduct 4,500 coronavirus tests daily.
The Department of Health eyes to increase its testing capacity to 8,000 daily this month and further expand it to 30,000 tests daily by May 30.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 7,192 on Friday with 477 deaths and 762 recoveries. To contain the spread of the virus, President Rodrigo Duterte extended the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other high-risk provinces until May 15.
Today, Sec. @teddyboylocsin, together w/ Health Secretary @secduque and NTF on COVID-19 Spokesperson Gen. Restituto Padilla, received on behalf of the Philippines, 700 COVID-19 test kits from the Gov’t of the Republic of Korea, represented by Ambassador Han Dong-man. 🇵🇭🤝🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/rjE17A2i15
— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) April 25, 2020
