Cavite to begin mass testing for COVID-19 on April 14

The Cavite provincial government will start mass testing for COVID-19 disease on April 14, Tuesday, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said Monday.

In an interview with Dobol B sa GMA News TV, Remulla said that the provincial government secured three Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines which have 97 percent reliability in conducting COVID-19 testing.

“We have 110 COVID-19 positive patients, and almost 500 suspected COVID-19 cases. Nacertify na ang aming laboratory, in cooperation with De La Salle University Dasmariñas,” Remulla said.

“Bukas, makakapagsimula na kami ng mass testing. Malalaman ang result in 24 hours. In the next two weeks, baka maging lima na ang PCR machines namin. When that happens, we can do 3,000 to 5,000 tests a day,” Remulla added.

Remulla said that suspected COVID-19 cases with symptoms will be tested first, followed by health workers and other front liners, public utility vehicle drivers, grocery and market workers and those working in manufacturing industries.

Likewise, Remulla said that the services of Cavite’s COVID-19 testing lab with five PCR machines will also be extended to the rest of the Region 4A or Calabarzon region.

Remulla added that the provincial government will shoulder the COVID-19 testing expenses of health workers and PUV drivers, while employees of private firms will shoulder the COVID-19 test of their employees.

“Our aim really is mass testing because we want to restart the economic activity,” Remulla added.

The Philippines has recorded 4,932 COVID-19 cases. Of this, 315 have died while 242 have recovered. —Llanesca Panti/LDF, GMA News