Backlogs in COVID-19 test results all cleared —DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said there are no more backlogs in the issuance of results of COVID-19 tests in the country.

Interviewed on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH also reminded laboratories to send the copy of the results to concerned persons and local governments.

“Yes (cleared na ang backlogs sa COVID-19  test results)… Ito pa naman po ay nagsa-submit sila sa atin ng mga kanilang line list,” Vergeire said.

“Nagkaroon po ulit ng paalala ang kagawaran na kailangan ng mga laboratoryo magbigay nang direkta sa mga individual ng kanilang mga resulta at saka sa mga local government units po,” she added.

In a statement over the weekend, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said their laboratories will start immediately informing individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.

The PRC said it requested the authorization from DOH after concerns that individuals who tested positive were not being informed in a timely manner resulting in the spread of the disease.

Vergeire, meawhile, noted that there are no backlogs in the validation process as the data management unit of the DOH has been checking the information of COVID-19 cases immediately.

“This is a quick action surveillance unit, kung saan nagkaroon na kami ng malawakang paglilinis ng datos.,” she said.

“So hindi na tayo nagkakaroon ng validation backlogs. Every time the laboratories send us the list, nalilinis ho natin 'yan within 24 hours,” she added.

On July 10, the DOH reported more than 12,000 backlogs in COVID-19 testing in various laboratories.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines leapt to 194,252 on Monday after the DOH announced 4,686 new infections.

The total number of recoveries rose to 132,042 while the death toll climbed to 3,010. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News