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MANILA, Philippines, – The total number of new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country exceeded the 6,000 mark on Saturday, as the Department of Health (DOH) continued to monitor two communities where it is trying to contain the spread of the virus.
Undersecretary of Health María Rosario Vergeire said the department had turned to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to evaluate people detained at the Quezon City jail, where it was confirmed that nine inmates and nine members of the The Prison Administration and Penology Office had contracted SARS. CoV-2 virus, which causes respiratory disease.
“We will test them based on our extended tests [protocols]isolate them in our quarantine centers to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the correctional facility, and track contacts to immediately monitor and evaluate those in need, “Vergeire said.
Extended tests
Under DOH’s expanded testing protocol, priority is given to the seriously ill and those with pre-existing conditions. Those with mild symptoms and those who are asymptomatic but who were exposed to a known case are third and fourth, respectively, on the list of individuals to evaluate.
Vergeire said a similar protocol would apply to Sitio Zapatera in Cebu, which was put under lockdown after 135 cases were registered there in just one week.
Residents of the nearby Cabantan Site are also covered by the expanded tests.
“They were blocked to limit the possibility of the virus spreading. That is why we ask residents to stay in their homes for 14 days. DOH-Central Visayas is working with local government to ensure strict compliance with our quarantine protocols and that the needs of residents are met, “said Vergeire.
Bello’s sister
As of Saturday, the number of COVID-19 cases nationwide totaled 6,087, with the addition of 209 new cases.
Twenty-nine more patients have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 516. Ten patients succumbed to the disease, bringing the number of deaths to 397.
Among the most recent deaths is the sister of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Catherine, who contracted the virus on March 25.
“She was my favorite. He was about to recover. I don’t know what happened, “Bello said.
PRC test objective
Also on Saturday, the PRC said it could conduct 12,000 tests a day in Metro Manila once all of its China facilities are operational.
Senator Richard Gordon, president of the People’s Republic of China, said the humanitarian organization hoped to install a total of eight polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines at its office in Mandaluyong City, which is already DOH-accredited. as a test center for COVID-19.
Four other PCR machines are planned to be installed at PRC’s Manila office next week, Gordon added in a telephone interview.
Each machine is capable of running 1,500 tests a day, but since the PRC is starting the operation, the senator said he would be happy to complete 1,000 tests a day, with the results available in 24 to 48 hours.
The 12 machines would be supported by six RNA extraction machines.
“If I put all of these machines in order, we can theoretically have 12,000 tests in one day,” Gordon said.
Test-takers can request the test by calling 1158, the PRC hotline for concerns related to COVID-19.
The tests cost P3,500 each.
The People’s Republic of China said it already had spaces for the first 50 people accepted for the evaluation. They will be tested with materials delivered from China.
New kits
At his press conference on Saturday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesperson for the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the country had acquired new test kits that can be used on GeneXpert machines, which have a 45 minute response time.
These kits would be used in conjunction with the rapid test kits and the PCR tests, Nograles said.
Vergeire said 3,000 units of GeneXpert kits are expected to be delivered next week, but would have to be validated first before distribution.
– REPORTS FROM JOVIC YEE, LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND NIKKA G. VALENZUELA
For more news on the new coronavirus, click here.
What you need to know about the coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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