Mass COVID-19 testing not yet necessary – DOH

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) said mass testing of Filipinos for the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not yet necessary even if confirmed cases in the country have reached the 200 mark.
“Sa ngayon po, hindi pa naman nakikitang kailangan nating gawin itong mass testing na ito,” according to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that, citing challenges in the government’s testing and laboratory capacities.

“If we have enough resources and the government can do it, and it is already imperative for the government to do it, gagawan po natin ‘yan (mass testing),” the DOH official added.
Vergeire also said that, for now, people in the Philippines who can only be tested for COVID-19 are those who have been showing severe symptoms of the disease, the elderly and high-risk pregnant women.
“‘Yung mga napapabalita po na may delay, totoo po ‘yun. We are being challenged right now with our testing capacity and laboratory capacity,” Vergeire said.
The DOH on Saturday confirmed there were 77 new positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 307. The death toll due to COVID-19 in the country is 19 and 13 patients have recovered from the disease./PN