DOH urges COVID-19 testing labs to stay open during Holy Week

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday urged COVID-19 testing laboratories to continue operating even during Holy Week holidays as the country battles a fresh surge in infections.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH has released a memorandum ordering regional directors to ensure the continuity of laboratories’ operations for the upcoming holidays.

“We ask all our laboratories, because of this increase in the number of cases that we are experiencing, we implore to all of our laboratories, please do not close [down],” she said in a mix of English and Filipino during a briefing.

“We need to stay open so we can continue to monitor new cases,” she added.

The DOH earlier announced that it would include antigen test results from the “NCR Plus” bubble in the official tally of COVID-19 infections. 

The antigen test results from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna will be included in the national tally as soon as the 500,000 test kits procured by the government are delivered. 

The Philippines has logged 747,288 COVID-19 cases with 603,746 recoveries and 13,297 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/RSJ, GMA News