DOH appeals vs. faking COVID-19 test results, says it could worsen problem

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday appealed to the public not to fake COVID-19 test results as this would only exacerbate the pandemic.

"Dapat maintindihan ng mga tao na 'yung ginagawa nilang 'yan might cause the further transmission of diseases if we do that," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual interview.

"Kailangan lang talaga paigtingin ng mga local government and other institutions na gumagamit niyan (rapid test) 'yung pag-release ng results," she added.

On Thursday, police, acting on a viral post, discovered a print shop in Caloocan City for allegedly tampering the result of an anti-body rapid test. The name and age indicated on the document were reportedly changed.

The Department of Health (DOH) has already referred the matter to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Meanwhile, Vergeire assured the public that the release of RT-PCR test results is secured.

"Ang aming RT-PCR tests na galing sa mga lisensyadong laboratoryo, ito ay ini-email lang sa specific individuals na nagpa-test and also to the facilities which requested for the test. Other than that, walang makakakuha ng resulta na 'yan," she said.

Coronavirus testing czar Vince Dizon also warned the public against faking COVID-19 test results.

"Hindi po pupuwedeng mameke ng resulta, hindi puwedeng magbago ng resulta. Mabigat po ang magiging penalties para sa ganiyang mga violation kaya nanawagan tayo sa ating mga kababayan, ‘wag na ‘wag po nating gagawin ‘yan,"' he said.

As of July 23, there are 74,390 cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, of whom 24,383 recovered and 1,871 died.  —KBK, GMA News