Philippines surpasses 9,000 mark in daily tests conducted for COVID-19

The Philippines has breached the 9,000 mark in the number of tests conducted daily for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with only a day to go before the May 15 target date for conducting 15,000 tests per day.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday reported that the country’s licensed laboratories conducted 9,465 tests on Wednesday, the highest number of daily tests conducted so far.

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the government’s COVID-19 action plan, added that 9,200 were conducted as of Thursday.

“Ngayon po, mayroon na po tayong 9,200 a day na [tests],” he said in a virtual briefing.

“Bukod pa rito ay tumaas ng 70 percent ang actual tests na kaya nating i-conduct mula 5,000 tests kada araw hanggang 9,200 tests per day sa ngayong araw,” he added.

Galvez previously said that the government’s goal is to conduct 15,000 tests daily by May 15 and 30,000 tests per day by May 30. 

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier announced that there are now 31 certified COVID-19 testing centers across the country. 

A total of 102 other facilities are undergoing the five-step laboratory accreditation process, with 80 laboratories already on Stage 3 and above.

“Ngayong linggo, 10 kaagad ang ating na-accredit so mabilis na ang ating accreditation,” Galvez said. “Inaasahan po natin na mas lalawak pa po ang ating kapasidad sa pag-te-test kapag natapos na ang accreditation.”

However, deputy chief implementer of the COVID-19 action plan Vince Dizon said there are still 7,000 tests that need to be processed. 

Dizon said the backlogs may be cleared in two weeks through the help of the private sector.

The DOH reported that 184,857 people had been tested for COVID-19 as of Wednesday night, with 91 percent testing negative and 9 percent testing positive.

The Philippines has recorded 11,876 cases with 2,337 recoveries and 790 deaths as of Thursday afternoon. — BM, GMA News