Mass testing for COVID-19 to be continuous, says DOH exec

The mass testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be continuous and progressive, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday.

"Ginagawa na po natin ang expanded testing na ito kung saan mayroon tayong risk-based approach at saka progressive po siya," Vergeire said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

"Ito po ay tuloy-tuloy na tayo hanggang umabot tayo sa ma-detect na natin lahat ng kailangang ma-detect," she added.

The Department of Health (DOH) targets to increase the country's testing capacity to around 8,000 to 10,000 tests daily, Vergeire said.

Upon reaching that point, all symptomatic persons and those who had possible exposure to the virus will be included in the mass testing.

For now, those who are vulnerable, severely ill, and working in health facilities are being prioritized.

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

He later on clarified that the DOH has already started the mass testing of suspected and probable cases of the novel coronavirus disease.

There are 15 institutions that have been certified to conduct independent COVID-19 testing nationwide.

In a briefing on Monday night, Galvez said the government will procure P3.2 billion worth of PCR-based test kits to test 900,000 in the country. He added that the careful use of rapid test kits is being considered to facilitate around 2 million tests.

According to the DOH's online tracker, 33,814 individuals were tested in the country, as of April 11.

The Philippines recorded a total of 4,932 cases of COVID-19, with 315 deaths and 242 recoveries.—AOL, GMA News