DOH allows home collection of COVID-19 specimen

The Department of Health (DOH) has allowed private laboratories to collect specimen from the homes of suspected COVID-19 cases but with certain conditions.

"Ito hong home collection ng specimen, it has to be coming from a licensed laboratory also, so parang extension nila ito, puwede silang mag-provide ng home service pero may mga condition po tayo o requirements," said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an interview on Unang Hirit on Friday.

According to Vergeire, laboratories must duly inform the DOH that they are going to offer such services for monitoring purposes.

Personnel who will do the collection must also wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

As of Thursday, September 3, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines was at 228,403 after the DOH recorded 1,987 new infections, the lowest since July 29.

The bulk of the newly reported cases was still logged in Metro Manila at 818, followed by Cavite with 153 new infections, Laguna with 125, Negros Occidental with 122, and Rizal with 78.

The DOH said 82% or 1,627 of the newest cases caught COVID-19 in the past 14 days. —KBK, GMA News