ABOUT 125,000 test kits for the coronavirus disease will arrive in the Philippines this weekend from South Korea and China, Manila’s health minister said Friday.
A limited number of testing kits has
prompted the Philippines to reserve it only for the elderly and patients who
have been exhibiting symptoms of the respiratory disease including fever,
headache, cough and colds.
“Tinututukan ko iyong mga test kits kasi may parating na 25,000 from South
Korea saka 100,000 from China,
tomorrow at 5 a.m.,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque.
“Tinututukan ko na iyong Bureau of Customs at FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ay bilisan ang release kasi nga iyon ang number one nating kakulangan,” he added.
The test kits from China were a donation, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr earlier said. It was not immediately clear whether the kits from South Korea were also donated.
The FDA said Thursday it had approved the sale of COVID-19 test kits from South Korea and China.
COVID-19 kits by the University of the Philippines might be available in two to three weeks, said the scientist that led its development, Raul Destura. (ABS-CBN News)
