Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) — The Department of Health is eyeing to certify 17 more laboratories to augment the country’s coronavirus testing capacity and meet the daily target of 30,000 tests by the end of the month.
“Meron ho tayong tinitignan na mga laboratoryo para ma-expand natin ang capacity natin, na ma-expedite po natin ang paglisensya. Ito po ay labimpitong laboratoryo sa ngayon na nasa various stages, Stage 3 and Stage 4 of the process for licensing,” Health Spokesperson Dr. Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in a Laging Handa virtual briefing on Friday.
[Translation: We are looking at some laboratories to expedite their licensing in order to expand our (testing) capacity. These are 17 laboratories that are in various stages, namely Stage 3 and Stage 4, of the process for licensing.]
In the same briefing, national Task Force on COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez said the country has already breached the 11,500 mark for tests conducted in a day.
Vergeire said specific teams have been assigned to help speed up the certification of laboratories. These will raise the country’s testing capacity and allow it to reach its target by end-May.
Vergeire added that the private sector is also helping the department to attain its goal, with the establishment of pop-up laboratories. She reminded firms to coordinate with certified laboratories should they intend to use company nurses to conduct testing for workers.
She reiterated the DOH recommendation that companies only test workers with symptoms at the time of screening and 14 days before it.
The government earlier said it does not require employers to test their workers, but if they wish to do so, they must shoulder the cost.
