DOST to set up sample collection booths nationwide for COVID-19 mass testing

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will establish sample collecting booths nationwide for the mass testing of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said Thursday.

In a Facebook post, De La Peña said the regional offices of DOST will partner with the Department of Health (DOH) in setting up the specimen collection booths in the country.

“Magiging katuwang ng DOH ang lahat ng regional offices ng DOST sa paghahatid at pag-iinstall ng mga nasabing specimen collection booths,” he said.

“Aming ilalabas ang mga karagdagang detalye ng mga napiling pasilidad na mapagkakalooban ng mga collection booths sa mga susunod na araw,” he added.

Initially, the DOST targets at least 132 specimen collection booths in different regions across the country:

• NCR – 34
• CAR – 6
• Region 1 - 6
• Region 2 – 6
• Region 3 – 8
• Region 4A – 4
• Region 4B – 2
• Region 5 – 5
• Region 6 – 6
• Region 7 – 7
• Region 8 – 3
• Region 9 – 10
• Region 10 – 5
• Region 11 – 4
• Region 12 – 3
• Caraga Region – 4

As of Wednesday, the DOH has certified 16 laboratories that are capable of conducting test for COVID-19. It said it is working on strengthening the testing capabilities of more laboratories. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News