DOH to procure COVID-19 test kits good for next 3 months

The Department of Health (DOH) will be stocking up on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test kits for the next three months, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday.

"Sa ngayon mayroon ho tayong enough. It's sufficient for our estimate. Mayroon pa tayong pino-procure, galing 'yung pera sa Bayanihan Act kung saan magpo-procure tayo ng estimate natin for the next three months," Vergeire said in an interview on Unang Balita.

The DOH has earlier projected that it will be able to conduct 3,000 COVID-19 tests per day starting April 14. The capacity to test is expected to reach 8,000 to 10,000 daily by the end of the month.

Chief implementer of the national action plan against COVID-19 Secretary Carlito Galvez has earlier said that the government eyes mass testing to start on April 14.

Vergeire reiterated that the mass testing will be "risk-based and progressive," meaning those who are vulnerable, seriously-ill, and working in healthcare facilities will be prioritized.

"Base doon sa target ng inter-agency task force natin, kapag nakawalong libo na tayong tests [daily], maaari na po nating i-expand ang pagtetest sa iba naman po nating sektor ng population like those who have symptoms at mayroong exposure," she said.

As of April 12, there were 33,814 persons who have been tested in the country. Those who tested positive numbered to 4,648. Of this number, 297 died and 197 recovered.

Galvez on Sunday said the number of institutions that have been certified to conduct independent COVID-19 testing has climbed to 15 with the addition of St. Luke's Medical Center Quezon City, V. Luna Hospital, The Medical City, Makati Medical Center, and the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory. --KBK, GMA News