Negative pressure ambulances, testing machines to arrive –Red Cross

Additional vehicles and testing equipment for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response were expected to arrive in the country soon, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) announced on Monday.

"May darating pa tayong pito o anim na ambulansya na negative pressure para ang pasyente hindi makakahawa masyado at pati mga nakukuhang pathogens ilalagay diyan para hindi sisingaw at hindi tatamaan ang mga taong magdadala niyan," PRC Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon said in a virtual press briefing.

He added that the PRC's own COVID-19 testing laboratory in Mandaluyong City would be operational this week.

"Baka siguro mga Wednesday magbubukas na. Ito ay para sa buong Maynila at magdadagdag tayo ng karagdagan diyan na test machine," Gordon said, noting that 2,000 tests can be done daily.

"By appointment 'yan, mayroon na kaming usapan ng DILG na makakapasok. Papadalhan namin ng special text 'yung mga tumatawag sa amin at sasabihin ganitong oras pumasok ka, pumunta ka doon sa Mandaluyong," he added.

Swab samples from Quezon City would also be transported by the local government to the PRC's laboratory.

Gordon said the Red Cross planned to open three testing centers to cover the east and west sides of Metro Manila.

The PRC also planned to deploy more testing machines to Los Banos, Laguna; Clark, Pampanga; Batangas; Cebu; and Mindanao areas.

"We can do it in two weeks, mabubuksan 'yan. Lalagyan namin ng makina,"  he said.

According to the DOH, there were currently eight accredited laboratories in the Philippines that could test 1,200 individuals each day.

Dozens of other facilities nationwide were seeking certification to conduct COVID-19 testing. — DVM, GMA News