Makati City looks for medical personnel to conduct mass testing

The local government of Makati City is looking for individuals with medical background who could help them in the mass testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its mayor said on Monday.

"Kailangan ho natin ng team, 'yung ating swabbing team. Batay ho sa DOH (Department of Health), kailangan ho medical practitioner ang kukuha ng SWAB. Hindi ho puwedeng walang medical background," Mayor Abby Binay said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

"Dahil ho gusto namin makacover ng mas maraming tao, mas maraming teams ho ang kailangan namin. Kami po ay naghahanap ng mga may medical background," Binay added.

Binay assured that those who will qualify for the job will be paid: "It's not fair na hindi ko ho sila babayaran dahil at risk din ho sila, they are exposed..."

She also said even those who are not residing in Makati City are free to apply to be part of the team conducting the mass testing.

The city mayor said the need for additional health personnel came as the city added quarantine facilities for suspected COVID-19 patients.

"Kulang pa ho. 'Yung iba ho nagkakasakit kaya kailangan ko palitan," Binay said. "We need to build again the manpower."

So far, the Makati City Health Department has recorded a total of 321 confirmed cases with 34 deaths and 77 recoveries. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LDF, GMA News