St. Luke’s, Lung Center to begin COVID-19 testing this week —DOH

Three more hospitals in Metro Manila will begin testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) this week, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said St. Luke’s Medical Center Quezon City and Global City will soon begin COVID-19 testing, while the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City will start on Tuesday.

Five sub-national laboratories earlier received certification from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to conduct COVID-19 testing. 

The sub-national laboratories can process over 200 samples each day, while the RITM can conduct 900 to 1,000 tests daily, according to the DOH.

Vergeire said over 40 other public and private hospitals and free-standing molecular biology laboratories have also signified interest in receiving RITM certification to conduct COVID-19 testing.

“Sila po ay pupuntahan ng ating mga team para sila po ay i-assess at makita natin kung sila ay puwede nang mag-proseso ng COVID-19 specimen,” she said.

Other facilities interested in conducting COVID-19 testing were directed to coordinate with the DOH through doh.covidlab.info@gmail.com.

The department has repeatedly attributed the surge in COVID-19 cases this month to the country's increased testing capacity.

The Philippines has recorded 1,546 COVID-19 cases with 78 deaths and 42 recoveries as of Monday afternoon. — RSJ, GMA News