DOH asks repurposed labs to wait before returning to normal operations

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday advised repurposed RT-PCR laboratories to wait for the go signal from the agency before returning to their previous operations.

“‘Yun po kanilang laboratory ngayon, puwede na ulit gamitin para sa ibang sakit pagka nag tuloy-tuloy po ang pagbaba ng sakit ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at the Palace briefing.

(They can use their laboratories again if COVID-19 cases continue to decrease in the country.)

“Pero I am advising all laboratories, please wait until the Department of Health can provide guidance kung kailan pwede niyo po isara na o kaya ay mare-purpose na ulit sa dating operasyon ang inyong mga laboratoryo,” she added.

(But I am advising all laboratories, please wait until the DOH can provide guidance on when you can close down or repurpose your laboratories to previous your operations.)

Vergeire reiterated that the virus is still here.

“Patuloy pa rin tayo mag te-test. Although the demand, of course, atsaya ‘yung requirement natin bababa at liliit. Pero hindi po talaga pwedeng totally wala tayong ganitong laboratoryo sa ating bansa,” she said.

(We will continue to test. Although the demand, of course, and the requirement will decrease. But it shouldn’t be that we don’t have these kinds of laboratories.)

The National Capital Region and several other areas will be under Alert Level 1 starting March 1 to 15. 

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities. All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards. — RSJ, GMA News