Gov’t eyes more quarantine facilities, better testing capacity in Cebu

The government is eyeing the establishment of more quarantine facilities and an expansion of the testing capacity of laboratories in the province of Cebu, the deputy chief implementer of the government’s COVID-19 response said Sunday.

“We know there are cases in this area, there are over a thousand cases. While this is a big number, what we want to tell the people of Cebu is that we can beat this thing together,” Bases Conversion and Development Authority chief Vince Dizon said in a statement.

Cebu logged 1,318 cases of the coronavirus disease with 25 recoveries and 14 deaths as of May 8, according to the Department of Health.

Dizon said the government’s goal is to increase the province’s testing capacity to 3,500 tests per day from the current 1,000.

He also lauded Cebu officials for implementing the national government’s test, trace, and treat strategy in dealing with COVID-19.

“We are very happy that this system is already in place here in Cebu, and the national government will put all of its efforts to even strengthen and augment the things that the officials here in Cebu have already done,” Dizon said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways also committed to creating more quarantine facilities in the province.

The NTF COVID-19 also delivered PCR test kits to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and rapid diagnostic test kits and personal protective equipment to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas. — DVM, GMA News