Quarantined OFWs to be prioritized in mass testing

Over 20,000 overseas Filipino workers who have returned to the country will be the priority of the planned mass testing, the national government said.

According to Joseph Morong’s 24 Oras report on Wednesday, the 40,000 OFWs who are returning in May and June will also be prioritized.

This is to decongest the quarantine facilities in Metro Manila where OFWs are being isolated.

OFWs who will turn out negative will be allowed to go home to their respective provinces.

“Plan po natin na magkaroon ng massive testing dito sa ating mga OFWs at tsaka sa ating mga suspected COVID cases dito sa Manila para po makita natin ang Metro Manila ay made-decongest na ng mga OFWs at the same time, mate-test na residents na possible carrier," National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer  Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government is targeting to finish COVID-19 testing by May 15 for the Inter-Agency Task Force to decide if the enhanced community quarantine will be lifted in Metro Manila.

“Puwedeng maibaba ang ECQ sa Metro Manila, anything is possible at puwede rin na ’yong mga hotspots sa Metro Manila will remain under ECQ. It will depend sa datos na makakalap natin bago magdedcide IATF kung ano gagawin on or before May 15,” he said.

Galvez added the government is eyeing to conduct 15,000 tests per day by May 15 and 30,000 per day by May 30.

“At least ma-lift natin ‘yong restrictions once ma-isolate natin at ma-trace na po natin ang possible carriers ng COVID,” he said. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News