Number of COVID testing facilities now at 97, NTF spox says

The number of accredited COVID-19 testing facilities in the Philippines has increased to 97, according to National Task Force against COVID-19 spokesman retired Major General Restituto Padilla on Friday.

"'Yung accredited testing facility natin noong nagsimula tayo ng March, anim lang ito... 97 na siya ngayong Agosto so napakadami na nating laboratory para magsagawa ng testing," Padilla told Super Radyo dzBB.

"'Yung test output nagsimula tayo sa 1,000, nabanggit natin RITM lang ang karamihan niyan, ngayong August nasa 32,000 to 35,000 na," he added.

Padilla further noted that in April, there were only 4,876 contact tracers, but at present, it has increased to 84,000.

Of this number, 58,000 are already trained and oriented.

Padilla also said the national task force has been assisting local government units in enhancing their testing and tracing capacities in order to curb the spread of the virus.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government is eyeing to hire additional 50,000 contact tracers once the Department of Budget and Management gives them the fund. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News