RT-PCR results, vaccination in Manila to be slower after personnel get COVID-19

Releasing of RT-PCR results and the COVID-19 immunization program in Manila will get slower as a number of swabbers and vaccinators of the city were infected with COVID-19, the local government said Monday.

In a press conference, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno asked for understanding from the public that the vaccination against COVID-19 will slow down after some vaccinators were diagnosed with the severe respiratory disease.

"Mga kababayan, ipagpaumanhin ninyo, dahil babagal nang kaunti ang time and motion ng vaccination sapagka't marami sa doctor at nurses ang nakadestino sa vaccination site ay may nangyaring dalawang bagay," said Moreno.

(Please understand that time and motion of vaccination will slow down because there were two things that happened to many doctors and nurses deployed in vaccination sites.)

"Una, ibinalik sa kani-kanilang ospital dahil sa paglago ng COVID-19. Second, marami sa kanila infected and reinfected," he added.

(First, they returned to hospitals because of the COVID-19 spike. Second, a lot of them got infected and reinfected.)

Meanwhile, Moreno said swab test results will also take 72 hours from the standard 24 hours because personnel at a molecular laboratory in the city were sickened with COVID-19.

"Ang resulta ng ating swab test baka tumagal ng 72 hours. Dati rati'y policy natin 24 hours. Pero bakit po tatagal ng 72 hours? Sapagka't ang ating molecular lab or RT-PCR swab, employees, medical frontliners, 14 out of 25 were infected of COVID-19  and they are all in quarantine but they are in good condition," Moreno said.

(Results of swab test will now be up to 72 hours. Our policy is 24 hours.)

Likewise, Moreno reminded the public to get isolated while waiting for the swab result.

As of January 10, 2022,  Manila has 95,557 total confirmed cases with 92,012 recoveries and 1,785 deaths.—LDF, GMA News