Manila starts targeted mass testing for COVID-19

The Manila City government announced it can now conduct targeted mass testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at over 1,600 tests a week, its Public Information Office said on Monday.

A woman enters a disinfection booth before undergoing a swab test to detect if she is positive for COVID-19, at the MHD/Delpan Quarantine Facility in Tondo, Manila on Monday, April 13, 2020. The City of Manila started its community-based testing for COVID-19 on Monday. The city government said it can do at least 232 swab tests per day or 1,624 tests a week.  Danny Pata

In a Facebook post, Manila PIO said the following health facilities under the city government can manage at least 232 swab tests per day or 1,624 per week:

• MHD/Delpan Quarantine Facility — 50 tests per day
• Ospital ng Maynila — 20 tests per day
• Sta. Ana Hospital/MIDCC — 30 tests per day
• Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center — 50 tests per day
• Ospital ng Tondo — 17 tests per day
• Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital — 15 tests per day
• Ospital ng Sampaloc — 50 tests per day

Department of Health’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM) and the University of the Philippines Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) will process the collected swabs.

UP-PGH Director Dr. Gap Legaspi assured the Manila City government that the results will be released in two to three days.

Mayor Isko Moreno designated Manila City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan to lead the localized targeted mass testing operations, the PIO said.

Currently, at least 934 swab tests have already been conducted by the Manila City government:

• Sta Ana Hospital/MIDCC — 451 tests
• Manila Health Department — 190 tests
• Ospital ng Maynila — 106 tests
• Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center — 55 tests
• Ospital ng Tondo — 30 tests
• Ospital ng Sampaloc — 44 tests
• Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital — 40 tests

This effort is part of the city government’s CODE COVID-19 (Contain and Delay) action plan, which aims to slow the spread of the disease as the government works on the isolation of patients from their communities.

“Likewise, hospitals operated by the Manila City government are now authorized to send COVID-19 patients to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which was recently turned into a quarantine facility by the national government,” the PIO said.
 
“Manila City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan said the local government will be sending three COVID-19 patients to the facility today, April 13,” it added.

As of April 11, the number of COVID-19 cases in Manila reached 305. Of this number, 25 recovered while 38 died. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News