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Testing still a priority to Task Force vs COVID-19, special adviser says
By JOVILAND RITA, GMA News Testing remains a priority of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, its special adviser clarified on Tuesday after supposed ‘miscommunication’ in the government's announcement that it will not shoulder the cost of mass testing for returning workers.
Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, University of the Philippines (UP) executive vice president Ted Herbosa said the government is actually implementing expanded targeted testing.
“Mukhang may miscommunication kasi special adviser ako ng National Task Force. From Day 1 ng National Task Force ng implementation plan, testing po ang prayoridad,” he said.
Herbosa, a former Department of Health undersecretary, highlighted that the government improved its testing capacity from 2,000 to 11,000 tests per day since the start of the community quarantine.
He added that 35 laboratories have been approved for COVID-19 testing.
Due to piling of backlogs and increase in swab collection centers, Herbosa said the release of test results are slowing down.
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“Tapos lahat ng dumadating na OFW, pagbaba nila ng eroplano, ite-test na kaagad ‘yan. Libo-libo po ‘yan. ‘Yung mga test results nila, hindi pa lumalabas,” he added.
On Monday, Malacañang said the government will not shoulder the costs of mass testing for COVID-19 to employees amid the eased quarantine measures which allowed people to go back to work.
Citing the report of his team in UP, Herbosa implied that he was not satisfied with the direction of the response against the virus.
“Hindi ko masabing okay at happy na ako kasi ‘yung computations ng UP team ko: Ang reproductive number nasa 1 pa rin. Hindi nagbe-below 1,” he said.
“So the virus is there, umiikot. May transmission sa Metro Manila,” he added.
Herbosa warned of resurgence of COVID-19 cases especially in crowded communities if health measures are not observed.—AOL, GMA News