Philippine Genome Center now a COVID-19 testing facility –DOH

The Philippine Genome Center has been certified as a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing facility, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Friday.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 labs across the country to 18, while the number of referral hospitals for the virus was recorded at 75. 

"Patuloy ang proficiency testing sa mga stage four na laboratoryo upang masigurado natin na accurate ang mga procedures nila," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a live briefing.

The Philippines has reported a total of 7,192 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide with 762 recoveries and 477 fatalities.

According to Vergeire, the DOH had tested 68,765 individuals for the virus as of Thursday.

Of these, 8,645 or 12.57 percent have reportedly tested positive while 60,004 or 87.26 percent have tested negative.

"Muli, lilinawin po namin na ang total positive test... may maaring mas mataas kaysa sa total confirmed cases dahil ito ay dumadaan pa sa case validation at processing," Vergeire said. — DVM, GMA News