Dizon says 10M COVID tests by Q1 next year attainable

The national government is on the way to its target of having 10 million Filipinos tested for COVID-19 until the first quarter of 2021, testing czar Vince Dizon said Friday.

At a Laging Handa press briefing, Dizon, the deputy chief implementer of the government's effort against COVID-19, said over 6.5 million individuals have already been tested across the country.

"Ngayon po mahigit 6.5 million na ang na-test. Makikita niyo naman napakalaki talaga ng dami ng na-test natin pero hindi pa rin po tayo dapat magpakakampante dahil alam naman natin nandiyan pa rin ang COVID," Dizon said.

"Ang initial na target na nilagay natin ay 10 million tests by the first quarter of 2021... Ngayon nasa 6.5 million na tayo mahigit, on the way tayo sa target na 'yun," he added. 

"Pagdating ng 2021, kampante tayo na maaabot natin at malalagpasan pa natin 'yung sampung milyong tests..." 

He expressed confidence that by the end of 2020, the number of people tested could reach seven million.

He pointed out that while the country's testing capacity has already improved, there is still much space for expansion especially in areas that have no testing laboratories of their own.

He mentioned Tagum and Digos in Mindanao, Bislig in Surigao del Sur, Dipolog in Zamboanga City, Valencia in Bukidnon, Borongan City in Samar, and Sorsogon City in Sorsogon as areas that do not have their testing laboratories yet.

According to him, there are already 200 testing laboratories across the country. —LBG, GMA News