Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) head Dr. Esperanza Arias, said the city government is set to conduct an initial 1,300 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests next week using test kits coming from the Department of Health (DOH).
Arias said the tests will be done in areas of Quezon City that have the highest number of persons under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19.
“We will test people with cough and colds, influenza-like symptoms.”
“We need to flatten the curve by testing PUIs and putting them in one of our facilities while waiting for their results,” said Dr. Arias.
“We want to avoid a situation where the patient might infect a relative whose immune system is compromised,” she added.
The city local government will also obtain an additional 1,500 test kits through its partnership with the Philippine Red Cross next week.
Quezon City is also in the process of procuring 10,000 swab kits and universal transfer mediums, where samples will be placed for testing.
Dr. Rolando Cruz, head of the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the QCHD, said people showing symptoms of COVID-19 will also be tested.
“We can secure our city and protect the population from further contamination.”
“We will test people with cough and colds, influenza-like symptoms o mga tina-trangkaso, and acute respiratory infection,” said Dr. Cruz.
Testing centers will be equipped with swab booths that could provide protection for healthcare workers and help save on personal protective equipment (PPE) at the same time.
Samples taken will then be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa for testing, with results expected to be released in two to three days, said Dr. Arias.
“Sa ngayon, RITM lang ang nagra-run ng tests kaya it will take that long. Pero we are setting up partnerships with Red Cross, St. Luke’s, and the Lung Center,” said Dr. Arias.
If the partnerships with various hospitals are finalized, Dr. Arias said waiting time will be drastically reduced to just about an hour.
“Those who have symptoms from urban poor communities as well as those who will be test positive will be referred to our HOPE facilities,” said Dr. Arias.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said community-based testing is crucial in flattening the curve, in addition to social distancing and mass testing.
“If we can have all three things together, we can secure our city and protect the population from further contamination,” said Belmonte.