BORACAY – Rapid antigen tests may be the more affordable and faster testing alternative in spotting workers infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) here.
Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores said the local government of Malay under Acting Mayor Floribar Bautista recommended rapid antigen tests for returning workers to help workplaces reopen and ensure tourists’ safety.
Rapid antigen tests – designed to detect antigens or proteins found on the surface of the virus – are much cheaper than the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and provide results more quickly.
In a study, rapid antigen tests are useful for population testing in a high prevalence setting like screening returning residents or workers. Even if they are vaccinated, they need to be tested without exemption because not all vaccines are equal and coping well with COVID variants.
Miraflores said the rapid antigen testing was considered in a recent Aklan provincial inter-agency task force meeting. Majority of the COVID-19 cases in the island were traced to workers, he added.
Boracay Island has 514 confirmed cases including 55 active infections and five deaths due to COVID-19 related complications.
Currently, tourists outside the province of Aklan are required to submit a negative swab or saliva test 72 hours prior to entry to Boracay Island./PN
